CSW, solidarity & inclusion
CSW’s goal is to “document the reality of women’s lives throughout the world” and “shape global standards on gender equality”…but there’s a catch: very few women’s rights organisations, feminist movements and women’s human rights defenders – who hold the experience, expertise and leadership when it comes to the lived realities of women – are meaningfully included in the spaces where decisions are made.
And as the official CSW event is held at the UN Headquarters in New York, many changemakers from the Global South are unable to travel due to visa regulations, high travel costs and ongoing COVID restrictions or US travel bans. In feminist solidarity with those who can’t physically get there, some organisations choose not to attend, and call for a change in venue, year on year. On Twitter, the hashtag #AfricaDisruptCSW is being used to highlight the venue controversy and demand meaningful engagement of women in the Global South.
Enter: NGOCSW Forum. Happening at the same time as CSW, this is a platform where women’s rights organisations (like Womankind and our partners), feminists and activists hold over 500 parallel events (now all online) and lobby for their inclusion in the UN deliberations and decisions; it’s a virtual space where civil society are invited to engage, have their say and influence the advancement of women’s rights – without the need for ECOSOC-accreditation or a UN grounds pass.
Womankind’s participation & the relevance of this year’s themes
Theme 1: Gender equality in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes
Theme 2: Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.
At Womankind, we know that feminism and environmentalism are inextricably linked; that there is no climate justice without gender justice. That’s why this year’s main CSW theme has key relevance to the work that Womankind and our partners do.
Women’s economic rights is another of our focus areas at Womankind: we believe that women should be able to freely choose and live the lives they want to lead. This means having their economic rights realised, including having adequate housing, an education, access to quality healthcare, controlling what happens to their land, access to decent work and living free from violence.
Our recent POWER project is just one example of how Womankind’s work ties in with both CSW66 themes: led by our partners NAPE and NAWAD, the POWER project saw the eco-feminist movement strengthened to promote and protect the economic rights of marginalised women affected by forced evictions in rural Uganda. Find out more here.
This year, Womankind is hosting one CSW/NGO event, Land is Everything: Women, climate crisis and extractivism in Uganda, and contributing to three others (see list below) – as well as attending (and supporting) many more.
How you can get involved in CSW66
Want to find out more? Anyone can attend the NGO/CSW parallel events – they’re open to all and are a good way of learning about the state of women’s rights globally and what’s being done to improve them.
Another way to get involved is via social media: search for the #CSW66 hashtag and follow the feminist organisations who are holding CSW/NGO talks. Sharing posts from feminist organisations taking part in these conversations is an opportunity to raise awareness on issues affecting women’s rights.
- Follow us on Twitter for updates and insights throughout CSW66 @woman_kind
Land is Everything: Women, climate crisis and extractivism in Uganda
When: Wednesday 23rd March, 2pm – 3:30pm GMT / 5pm – 8:30pm EAT
An NGO CSW Parallel Event presented by Womankind Worldwide, NAPE and NAWAD on the twin threats of climate change and extractivism, highlighting women’s voices and featuring changemaker panellists from Uganda and across the Global South.
Register here.
The Master’s Toolkit Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House
When: Monday 21st March, 6am-7:30am GMT / 9am-10:30am EAT
Join IWDA for an event centred around the Plan Your Power feminist toolkits, with a panel including Womankind’s Dinah Musindarwezo, and moderated by the Dutch Ambassador for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, Pascalle Grotenhuis.
Register here.
Feminist Perspectives: Progressive taxation for an equal, green, and feminist transition.
When: Monday 21st March, 2pm-4pm GMT / 5pm-7pm EAT
Hosted by the Global Alliance on Tax Justice, this event will discuss how progressive taxation can be instrumental in the fight against climate change, and support countries’ efforts in fostering feminist economic recovery measures as part of a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Register here.
Care at the Centre of a Feminist, Unionised Just Green Future
When: Thursday 24 March 10am-12.pm EDT / 3pm-5pm CET
Feminist, trade union, tax justices and human rights organisations will explain how rebuilding the social organisation of care could enable a just and equitable future.
Register here.
