NGO CSW GenevaPanel on the current situation of girls and women in Afghanistan
on Thursday, June 9 from 3-5 in Room XXV
This Panel follows up on the letter that the Committe sent to the HRC President and others concerning the very disturbing report of Dec 9, 2010 from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The person who wrote that report will be among the speakers.
Download: Event Flyer
Downloads:
A High Level Panel will be held as a side-event during the Human Rights Council – 17th Session
FGM – FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION PROGRESS – REALITIES – CHALLENGES
on June 1, 2011 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. in the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Download: Event’s Flyer (with list of speakers)
Conchita Poincini as President of the NGO Committere on the Status of Women Geneva and Convener of the Working Group on Women’s Employment and the Economics of Gender was adamant on organising a two hour lunch event in preparation of the ILO Labour Conference (ILC), which is to be held June 1-17, 2011.
The ILO Labor Conference will discuss for the second year running the adoption of a Convention and/or Recommendation on “Domestic Workers” a particularly exploited and unprotected group of workers, who are mostly women.
In relation to this conference, the NGO-CSW Working Groups on Employment & the Economics of Gender, Displaced Women and Women’s Right to Health, will hold a panel on
“Domestic Work: Human Rights of Women- Towards an ILO Convention on Domestic Workers”
on Monday, May 30, 2011
in Room S4 at the Palais des Nations.
The Event Flyer can be downloaded here
Dear colleagues and friends of Conchita,
It is with great sadness that I am writing to you with the news of the passing of Conchita last Friday morning. I’ve only just heard the news today.
We’ve all been amazed by Conchita’s unwavering commitment to her principles and vision for the empowerment and dignity of all women- while enduring such a tremendous suffering over the recent months. I often thought when I saw her continued determination throughout her illness- and genuine concern that no opportunity be lost, “could I do that?”. I do not know, but seeing her courage has touched me deeply.
So many have been enriched by her knowledge and so impressed and encouraged by her life- and this will live on. I can say that I really love her and many share that sentiment with me. She has been a great mentor, model and partner, as she always closed her letters “yours in solidarity”. Her vigilant presence will be greatly missed at the United Nations and many, many other circles and I would propose that we could honor her memory in some meaningful way and continue to build upon her good work.
Conchita’s son Albert, has sent a mail, which some of you may have already seen, but which I am copying here.
Our family, Conchita’s sons, grandchildren and daughters-in-law are deeply saddened to inform you that Conchita Jimenez-Poncini has left us today, Friday May 13th 2011, after a long struggle against cancer. She fought this sickness with courage and dignity. She left peacefully this morning, her family beside her. We will miss her love, kindness and generosity. Our world is now very different without her.
Her funeral will be held at the Catholic Church of Troinex, Geneva, on Wednesday May 18th, 2011 at 14h30.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
– Albert & Julie, Alexandra, Sebastien, Louise
– Richard & Laurence, Mélanie
Very sincerely,
Carolyn Handschin
TIME named Ms. Bineta Diop, Founder and Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) and Convener of the Working Group on Women , PEace and Security, to the 2011 TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Ms. Diop of Senegal has led numerous peacebuilding initiatives in Africa with a focus on the protection of women during armed conflicts and their inclusion in peace processes.
See FAS press release here
On the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, the NGO CSW Geneva organized a roundtable on “Celebrating Women’s Rights: Higher Education – Pathway to Gender Equality and Decent Work”, which was held on 8 March 2011 in the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Speakers:
• Kyung-Wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights – see her statement (on the OHCHR website)
• Patricia Schultz, CEDAW Committee, former Director of Federal Department of Equality in Switzerland
• Daniel Kull, World Bank
• Marianne Haslegrave, President, International Federation of University Women (IFUW)
• Jane Hodges, Director, ILO Bureau for Gender Equality
Download: Event report by Carolyn Handschin, Women’s Federation for World Peace, Int’l.
As decided in the last general meeting, a letter to Michelle Bachelet was written by Conchita Poncini, NGO CSW Geneva President, on February 15.
This letter was handed it to her personally in New York by Simone Ovart, Vice-President.
It can be downloaded here : NGO CSW Geneva letter to Michelle Bachelet february 2011
Simon Ovart, our Committee’s Vice-President was elected President of the Italian National Committee at UN Women, the new UN Agency dedicated to Women.
UN Women National Committees support the mission of UN Women through their dynamic membership programs, public education about UN Women and global women’s issues, and private sector fundraising to support UN Women programs worldwide.
Simone also had the opportunity, during the CSW 55th in New-York last february, to meet with UN Women’s head, Mrs Bachelet, and delivered a letter from the NGO-CSW President Conchita Poncini.
On 2 September 2010, the Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, chaired by Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS) and co-chaired by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), organized, as a pre-side Event to the review process of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, a panel discussion on the mechanisms of Prevention.
Speakers:
Chair: Ms Madeleine Rees, Secretary General, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
The Event flyer can be downloaded here.