The line waiting for passes for CSW; we were such a mix.
UN Women and CSW
My first task in New York yesterday was to get my pass for the CSW, the Commission on the Status of Women.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the two-week annual CSW presented by UN Women.
I had to stand in line for two hours. What an opportunity to meet some of the women who are here from around the world for CSW!
I spoke with an Ethiopian woman who is the Commissioner for Children’s and Women’s Affairs in her country. I met a woman from Queens who works with the Jewish World Congress.
Waiting in line for CSW. Love the army uniform, left, and braids on right.
A woman from Guinea, in West Africa, said she has created a nonprofit to help her countrywomen with micro-finance. She gave me her card and asked if I or my organization could contribute. If she asks everyone she meets throughout the two weeks, she may find support.
After the line had moved inside, I spotted three women with Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora displayed prominently on their blouses. Umuada Igbo means the daughters of Igbo-land. You can see pictures and read about them on their website.
I greeted them in Igbo, first just saying their organization’s name with the correct pronunciation, and then adding Nno unu, or welcome to you all.
They were of course completely shocked to see a white woman addressing them competently in their own language.
Igbo women, in fact Igbo people in general, are not known for being soft-spoken, nor were they! Everyone nearby got engaged in listening and watching as we interacted. The women asked how I spoke Igbo, where I live now, and where my husband is from. I was sure I would see them again.
Then I had lunch with my dear friend Marilyn who had introduced me to the opening on the board of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women. Being on the that board is the reason I am attending CSW now.
Besides official meetings there are many side events. Altogether CSW has hundreds of programs.
In the afternoon I went to one called “Enhancing Nigeria’s Women Participation in Peace and Security.”
Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia, Director, Women & Gender Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, was the moderator.
Moderator and speaker from Victim Support Fund at CSW’s Nigeria event.
A man from the Victim Support Fund in Nigeria described his organization’s work with people who have been displaced by Boko Haram. He gave us a distressing picture of the state of the camps for the Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs.
Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, now Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, spoke about the work of her ministry, including the VAPP – Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act passed in 2015.
She distributed a handout with the list of 26 provisions and the penalties, beginning with rape and ending with indecent exposure.
Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi told us that she is actively implementing strategies to increase the presence of women and girls in peace efforts. Her organization is running “Peace Clubs” where girls are taught skills for reducing violence.
She spoke with a reporter three years ago about her work. She mentions UN Resolution 1325 which urges increased participation of women and the incorporation of gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts.
The Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora women I’d met earlier were there. This time I asked someone to take pictures with my phone so I could show you!
Umuada Igbo Nigeria and in Diaspora at CSW
I’ll go back to the CSW on Thursday and Friday for meetings of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women and other natioanl committees. I trust these will make me more familiar with UN Women’s programming so I can explain it better.
Quite a few programs of CSW are live-streamed, so you can watch if you want! Here’s one presented by Canada, the Group of Friends of Indigenous Peoples, the United States, and the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. “Indigenous Women and Girls: Pathways to Equality” 17 March, 1:15 PM-2:30 PM 
Watch the live stream of this event on UN WebTV: http://webtv.un.org/ Check the schedule for others.
Next week Tuesday I will attend a session presented by Umuada Igbo Nigeria and Diaspora. It didn’t make the overall CSW schedule but they informed me about it yesterday. I think they’d come find me in Connecticut if I fail to show up!
CSW and My Small World Experience
During the session yesterday I asked a question, and gave my name and organization affiliation as we were asked to do. As soon as the session finished a woman wearing the Umuada Igbo blouse came up to me. “I know your family,” she said. “Your sister-in-law was my teacher in secondary school in Nigeria!”
“Monica!” I said, naming my sister-in-law who’d been a teacher and then principal in Nigeria before moving to the U.S.
Apparently her daughter, my niece Nonso who lives near her mom in California, had noticed my Twitter post about being at the CSW and attending the meeting on Nigeria. Nonso had texted this woman to tell her to look out for an Igbo-speaking white woman who was her aunt!
I love these connections. What small world experience have you had recently?
Have you attended any events about the UN, CSW, or the SDG’s?
If you decide to watch on UN webTV, use the comment section below to share the info about what you watched.
Fairfield Senior Center
I spoke today at the Fairfield Senior Center. I’ll share pictures next time!
