The Commission on the Status of Women at the U.N.

This week marks the fifty-eighth (58th) session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which is taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City from March 10 – 21, 2014.

Obviously in the context of fashion and international trade, the role of women is paramount to the industry and the manufacture of wearing apparel.

I had the privilege of attending together with the Hon. Weatherspoon (next to me in photo) a briefing at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations by U.S. delegates to the CSW conference, which included Ambassadors Cousens, Russel and King (center of photo), and Sharon Kotok.

 "Countries where women can reach their full potential are more stable "

On the U.S. agenda, priorities include the adoption of the agreed conclusions from 2013 without any erosion to them (Draft Version).  Other priorities are in 3 specific areas:

1) Gender Based Violence: Includes intimate partner violence and a “national action plan” for women and security – don’t be fooled by the language however, according to a source of mine, while this is called a “national” plan, it does not actually include any plan for U.S. women. (I would love to be corrected on this if it is, in fact, untrue)

2) Women’s Economic Empowerment: Shifting the focus to women as drivers of economic empowerment and agents of change.  Also, to knock down barriers women face, including

• -         A lack of meaningful decision making at every level
• -         Women’s leadership in government
• -         A lack of access to credit
• -         A lack of access to education
• -         Inheritance laws (I witnessed this bias first hand in my own family)
• -         Marriage laws (Luckily, no pressure there!)

3) Adolescent Girls: This looks directly at child marriage and keeping girls in school, since by staying in they are more likely to have economic empowerment and more likely to support their community (as compared to men – not my words)

For more information about the CSW click here.

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