"I came to CSW because..."
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2015
Every year thousands of activists from civil society organizations around the world come to New York to take part in the Commission on the Status of Women, the global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. More than 4,400 came for this 59th session.
A snapshot of their messages and perspectives on this year’s session…
Sweden
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
and one of the facilitators rolling out the Voices against
Violence curriculum developed with UN Women.
Sudan
Karama, an independent network of women activists,
policymakers and academics for Arab women's full
participation - a grantee of the Fund for Gender Equality.
Zimbabwe
Community Activities Coordinator, YWCA, and Yvonne Hebert.
scholar
Honduras
Elementary school-teacher and YWCA member, Yvonne
Hebert scholar.
Trinidad and Tobago
Network of NGOs of Trinidad & Tobago for the Advancement
of Women, a national umbrella group for all women’s
organizations, and a grantee of the Fund For Gender Equality.
Hong Kong
General Secretary at the International Domestic Workers
Federation, a membership-based global organization
of domestic and household workers.
Haiti
Programme coordinator at a youth centre for high-risk girls,
YWCA member and Yvonne Hebert scholar.
Palestine
Computer systems engineer and member of the YWCA, and
Yvonne Hebert scholar.
Sri Lanka
Director of the Women and Media Collective, an NGO focused
on the inclusion of women and gender concerns in the peace
process and in new legislation - an FGE grantee.
Uganda
Member of the Forum for Women and Democracy, an
organization focused on promoting gender equality in
all areas of decision-making, and an FGE grantee.

France
Public Services International, a global union federation
representing 20 million workers.
“Empowering women means creating jobs, but it is also a matter of creating public service, to satisfy the caregiving needs for children and the elderly that create the conditions for good and sustainable jobs, jobs that can bring substantial development and that aren’t presented as compromises for women.”

Malawi
A medical doctor, member of the YWCA, and Yvonne
Hebert scholar.