Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, London

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) invited women’s rights NGOs and those working towards gender equality to comment on their priorities for CSW60.

The Priority Theme for CSW 60 – taking place 14^th – 24^th March 2016 at the UN Headquarters in New York is:  Women’s Empowerment and its relation to the Sustainable Development Goals

The Review Theme is: Violence Against Women (review of the Agreed Conclusions for CSW58).

Nicky Morgan, Minister for Women and Equalities, followed Helene Reardon-Bond (Head of UK Women’s National Machinery, GEO) with a speech welcoming those present.  Nicky said that NGOs ‘represent the heart of the women’s agenda’.  She commented that it can be hard to translate talking in to tangible action.  The UK Government it was urged have gender equality as a priority, and support CSW ‘as a global forum acting on behalf of women everywhere’.  Gender Equality is also at the top of the UN agenda, which underpins the importance of CSW, in addition to the knowledge that ‘no country has gender equality’.  Opportunity, Freedom and Choice are the signs of women’s empowerment.  The Government in recognising this has done important work Nicky asserted, including; getting more women in to work and business, reducing the gender pay gap, doubling the amount of women in FTSE 100 companies, and ensuring that prosecutions and convictions for gendered violent acts are at an all-time high…

This is an excerpt, read more here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][vc_accordion][vc_accordion_tab title=”NAWO’s successful event with the World Bank”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”‘World, Business and the Law 2016: getting to Equal’ – 4th Nov 2015″ font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]

On the 4th of November the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations and the World Bank Group’s Women, Business and the Law collaborated, with the support of Rt Hon Baroness Lindsay Northover, to bring people together to discuss advancing towards gender equality; the next steps we need to take in ‘Getting to Equal’.  

It was fantastic to see so many gathered to share knowledge and discuss with international experts t he challenges women currently face, the economic as well as moral necessity of gender equality, and the path we must take to ensure its realisation.

Chaired by Dr Wendi Momen MBE, Trustee of NAWO, with Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director of the Global Indicators Group at the World Bank and Colin Douglas, Interim Director for the research project ‘Is Britain Fairer’, and Rt Hon Baroness Northover, the knowledge sharing session empowered those present with new information and acquaintances which we hope will enable us all to feel more confident in the issues and actions necessary to advance towards gender equality. 

To learn more of the World Bank’s enlightening report and the passionate and informative ideas shared by the speakers and audience members alike, read the summary report here, including biographies, a letter from our Chair and following up from the event’s success – and look out for the full report with added speakers’ notes to follow!

We will be joined by the RT Honorable Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on International Development), Augusto Lopez-Claros (Director of Global Indicators Group, World Bank Group) and many more!

This event is free to attend, book your place (and places for colleagues, friends and interested parties) here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”UN Women Thought Leaders Meeting in New York – NAWO blog from inside the event”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][trx_image url=”2918″ align=”none” shape=”square” icon=”inherit” animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Annette Lawson blog on behalf of NAWO” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Annette Lawson (NAWO Chair until June 2015), was honoured by UN Women with an invitation to their Civil Society Thought Leaders Meeting in New York on 24th September.  Annette was one of only 50 persons invited to attend from all over the World, chosen for her longstanding commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s rights.

The Thought Leaders meeting focused on the Sustainable Development Goals in the run up to the United Nations Sustainable Development on 25th – 27th September, at which the SDGs were officially adopted by Member States.

Read more on this story.

Read Annette’s Blog from the event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_accordion][vc_accordion_tab title=”NAWO AGM 2015 – another successful year”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][trx_image url=”3020″ align=”none” shape=”square” icon=”inherit” animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”NAWO AGM held in Houses of Parliament” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]We were delighted to update Members on our projects, finances and upcoming priorities and to see so many engaged, enthused attendees (over 50 women were present).  We were fortunate to host Joanna Maycock, Secretary General of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), at the meeting.  Joanna spoke with eloquence, insight and candidly on the challenges facing women’s rights NGOs within the European Union, and how we can collectively work together to influence change in this region and in the United Kingdom.

More on this story.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Videos to honour life long feminists – view them here”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_video link=”https://animoto.com/play/A6XrCMxgp395zn9j05TBpA”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”NAWO Project Officer Rosie Fox creates videos to honour ‘Elder’ Feminists” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]NAWO hosted it’s first Elder Awards Ceremony and paid homage to four remarkable women, we celebrated the lives of each woman with videos, speeches and much applause.

We hosted this event to promote the significant impact of these women on the feminist movement and individual women and girls within and without it.

Watch the videos marking poignant moments in our recipients and read all about the event at this link.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_accordion][vc_accordion_tab title=”Director of Widows for Peace through Democracy Open Letter on Syria featured by the Evening Standard”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][trx_image url=”3378″ align=”none” shape=”square” icon=”inherit” animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Margaret Owen calls on Governments to assist those fighting IS in Rojava” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Margaret Owen, Director of Widows for Peace through Democracy (WPD), highlights the importance of Government’s responsibilities to those in Rojava (Autonomous Kurdish Region of Syria) fighting IS.  The Open Letter was signed be representatives from the Region, in addition to Margaret Owen who has traveled there extensively over many years.

Letter to Evening Standard.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Anti FGM Organisation 28 Too Many publish Report on FGM in Mali”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][trx_image url=”3383″ align=”none” shape=”square” icon=”inherit” animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”‘9 in 10 young women in Mali at risk of FGM’ Report States” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]28 Too Many has published a report in to FGM in Mali, following on in their series of Country Profiles.

The Report highlights in depth the situation in Mali, the Country context and attitudes and work related to FGM.

Ann Marie, Director of 28 Too Many, says:

‘In September 1995 the 4th UN Conference on Women held in Beijing noted a ‘lack of adequate documentation and research on violence against women and girls (VAWAG) (D.120)’. Since I began humanitarian aid work in 2001 and anti-female genital mutilation (FGM) work in 2005 that has been my experience and the reason for founding 28 Too Many.’

This report shines a light on the situation, and evidences that knowledge is a powerful foundation for change.

Full Report.

Executive Summary (English)

28 Too Many Website[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_accordion][vc_accordion_tab title=”Social Inclusion in an Ageing Society – Informative Speech”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][trx_image url=”3387″ align=”none” shape=”square” icon=”inherit” animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Read the talk given by Ferdous Ara Begum on a policy approach to protect the human rights of older people” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]NAWO highlights this important talk – which gives an overview of the concerns related to lack of social inclusion for older persons, and how to effectively promote and protect these individuals – in line with our belief in cross generational working, and the necessity for all human rights to be established and enjoyed across the nuances of the life cycle.

Ferdous Ara Begum (former Member of the UN CEDAW Committee) gave this talk at the Second International Forum on the Rights of Older Persons in Mexico City, 2014.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Debate in the House of Lords on the Commission on the Status of Women”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][trx_image url=”3390″ align=”none” shape=”square” icon=”inherit” animation=”none”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Baroness Hodgson introduces debate in the Chamber on the Impact of CSW” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Baroness Hodgson introduced a debate in the House of Lords on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (the annual and largest International Intergovernmental gathering on the rights of Women) and its impact in the United Kingdom.

This debate has been described as ‘important and powerful’, and urges for the inclusion of International commitments to women to be progressed and implemented at the Government level throughout the UK.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_accordion][vc_accordion_tab title=”‘Equally Ours’ – powerful video on Rights and Disabilities”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/dyH9TRQiijw”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_custom_heading text=”8 Organisation Partnership creating videos to document impact of Human Rights on our everyday lives” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Montserrat%3Aregular%2C700|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Equally Ours – a partnership of 8 national Charities – promotes stories of how Human Rights have been used by people in the UK in their everyday lives.  Their videos illustrate these stories and showcase the importance of the maintenance of human rights legislation and effective use across the UK.

Watch their video on how Jan fought for increased care to cater appropriately for her, and to improve her quality of live.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]