NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York facts for kids

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York (NGO/CSW/NY) is a special group that helps women and girls around the world. It's one of three committees connected to a bigger organization called the Conference of NGOs (CoNGO). Since 1972, this committee has been a place where women's voices can be heard at the United Nations.

The NGO/CSW/NY helps girls and women of all ages speak up and work together. They focus on making sure important global agreements are put into action. These agreements include the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Millennium Development Goals, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This committee also works closely with similar groups in Geneva and Vienna.

What the Committee Does

The main goals of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York are:

• To create a space for people to share ideas and talk about important issues related to women. This happens especially during the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings.
• To help the world put into practice the Beijing Platform for Action and other big decisions made at UN meetings. These decisions are all about helping women move forward.
• To help its member organizations work together. They share common interests and support the UN's goals for women.
• To keep working with the United Nations, especially with its Commission on the Status of Women and UN Women, along with other UN groups.
• To make sure that women's perspectives are included in all parts of the UN's work. This means thinking about how decisions affect both girls and boys, women and men.

Who Leads the Committee?

The committee has a team of leaders who help guide its work. Here are some of the people in charge:

• Co-Chairs: Ivy Koek (from Soka Gakkai International) and Pamela Morgan (from Zonta International)
• Vice Chair: Rosa Lizarde (from Servicios Ecumenicos para la Reconciliacion y Reconstruccion)
• Treasurer: Rahel Beigel (from Women's Refugee Commission)
• Recording Secretary: Luisa Kislinger (from United Nations Foundation)
• Communications Secretary: Gillian D’Souza Nazareth (from Red Dot Foundation Global)
• Members at Large: Rosemary Barberet (from International Sociological Association), Sulekha Frank (from International Alliance of Women), Saphira Rameshfar (from Bahá'í International Community)
• Past Chair: Houry Geudelekian (from Unchained at Last)

Who Can Join?

The committee has almost 200 members. These members are national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals. They all work to improve the lives of women around the world. They do this by focusing on issues that the United Nations cares about, working at local, national, and international levels.

The NGO/CSW/NY represents over 80 member organizations that are active at the UN headquarters in New York. If an organization has a special "consultative status" with the UN through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), they get one vote. Individuals can also be members, but they don't get to vote.

Members get updates on UN activities and invitations to special events. The NGO/CSW/NY also helps NGOs write joint statements, join CSW meetings, and offers training. They also run an international email list to keep women worldwide informed about important issues.

How the Committee Works

The NGO/CSW/NY helps connect different groups, like women's NGOs, the UN, governments, and private businesses. They do this during important meetings of the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations General Assembly, and other UN commissions.

Working with its sister committees in Geneva and Vienna, the NGO/CSW/NY organizes a special "NGO Consultation Day." This day helps prepare everyone for the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings. During the annual CSW meetings, the committee also holds morning briefings at the UN, special group discussions, and other events for NGOs.

The NGO/CSW/NY also partners with other CoNGO committees. They share information with the UN and UN Women on many topics. These include stopping violence against women, women's health, helping women who are migrants or refugees, the rights of indigenous people, and protecting the environment.

Special Events

The NGO/CSW/NY has a busy year with several important events:

• NGO Consultation Day: This is followed by ten days of NGO activities during the CSW meetings.
• Woman Ambassadors’ Luncheon: At this event, awards are given to new women ambassadors.
• Roundtable Briefing: This meeting helps prepare for the CSW and is co-sponsored with UN Women.
• Monthly Meetings: Members meet each month for panel discussions about current issues at the UN.