WILPF and CSW61: Demanding Meaningful Participation for All

By Marina Kumskova

(Image: UN Women)

 

Due to the exclusionary impact of the United States government travel ban on the voices and lives of women from conflict-affected settings, WILPF International has decided to not formally participate in the 61st Commission on the Status of Women.

We take this position as part of ongoing work to recognise and overcome all obstacles to women’s meaningful participation, including through shrinking space, tokenisation, and watering down of the women’s human rights agenda.

We invite actions of solidarity by member states, civil society and UN actors in and outside of New York:

  1. Make a public statement to overturn the ban and ensure women’s meaningful participation.

  2. Ask questions: Where are the missing voices?

  3. Start a conversation: What does meaningful participation look like?

  4. Raise awareness: Share and translate our statement with your networks.

WILPF has engaged with the UN system since its inception and will continue to do so. However, the UN must uphold its commitments to inclusion, non-discrimination, and human rights, including women’s human rights. Join us to demand that it delivers.

Find WILPF's official statement to Member States in English and Arabic here

Find press release in English and Spanish here

Find WILPF and CSW61 fact sheet in English and in Spanish here