Bulletin inserts outline work of Episcopal, Anglican women at UN conference
Episcopal News Service. February 25, 2010 [022510-01]
ENS Weekly bulletin inserts for March 7 outline the work of Episcopal and Anglican delegates to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which is holding its 54th session in New York City March 1 – 12. The meeting will mark the 15th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action on Women.
The insert text appears below. Bulletin inserts may be downloaded here.
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Episcopal, Anglican women gather for UN commission meeting March 1- 12
Women from the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada and nearly two dozen provinces across the Anglican Communion along with ecumenical women and a youth delegation are gathering for the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York City March 1 – 12.
This year, the theme of UNCSW is "Bejing + 15: Review and Appraisal of Progress Achieved Fifteen Years After Implementation of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action on Women (BPFA)."
"Since 2004, under the auspices of Anglican Women's Empowerment (AWE) and enabled by the Anglican Observer's Office, several hundred Anglican sisters have participated in the annual UNCSW meeting," noted Marge Christie, a representative of the Episcopal Church. "March 2010 will provide the opportunity to evaluate the whole under the banner of Beijing+15."
The Episcopal/Anglican representation is coordinated through the Office of the United Nations Observer at the United Nations. The Episcopal Church Center at 815 Second Avenue, New York, located only two blocks from the United Nations headquarters, is being used for hospitality, meeting, gathering and training space.
"Inspiring women to urge their governments toward meeting the principles of the Beijing Platform is an imperative this year," Christie said. "While the occasion is the celebration of Beijing+15, the reality is that not nearly enough has been accomplished in the years since that historic gathering."
Training sessions, meetings, presentations, worship services, delegation time and social activities fill the two-week UNCSW calendar. The complete schedule is available here.
In addition to other events, delegates will meet with Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and worship on Sunday, March 7 at Episcopal churches in the New York area.
Parallel events registered through the NGO/CSW are listed here.
Events sponsored or hosted by The Episcopal Church include:
- Presentation by the Rev. Margaret Fell from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota on "Creating Beijing Circles for Study, Reflection and Action";
- "Join The Circle, a Learning Opportunity Grounded in God's Call to Local and Global Action";
- Discussion about Global Anglican Networking For Mission focusing on networking opportunities and exploring how women of faith around the world can connect effectively on common mission objectives;
- Presentation by the Episcopal Church Global Partnerships and Mission Representatives on their program goals and guidelines;
- Presentation by program officers from Episcopal Relief & Development, Trinity Wall Street and the United Thank Offering (UTO) on guidelines and funding possibilities for international church based programs;
- Presentation on "Human Trafficking: The Way Forward";
- Presentations and discussions on engaging faith-based organizations and possibilities for regional partnering with the Anglican Communion on the Millennium Development Goals, issues of reproductive health, issues of sexual violence and youth-focused programs.
Young Adult participation
Ten Episcopal young adult delegates, between 18 and 30 years old, from throughout the United States will participate in the sessions and blog their experiences; their schedule and blog is here.
For more information check the websites of the Anglican Observer at the UN here and the UN Commission on the Status of Women here.