Excerpt by Malte Lei
The CSW – the Commission on the Status of Women – is an annual event. Hundreds of women from all around the world come together in New York in February in order to advocate for the rights of women and girls. These women come from all backgrounds – they are professors, teachers, social workers, economists, pastors, students, or mothers. They know what’s really going on in their communities, and are well aware of the needs of the people, probably more than the average government official in the UN system. To help the UN to hear the very needs of women and men, boys and girls “on the ground”, and to incorporate these needs into a strong statement – the Agreed Conclusion – is a main goal of the participation of women during CSW and the reason why they are invited by Ecumenical Women.