I flew out to New York on 8 March so that I could adjust to the time difference but also to go to a United Methodist Church and meet American Methodists. The Church in the Village is a progressive Church, welcoming all in the name of God. Set out in a café style, I was greeted and invited to sit and asked what I would like to drink, coffee or warmed cider! I opted for the coffee. Michael joined me and we proceeded to introduce ourselves. He then felt it his mission to introduce me to everyone, during the service! People came off the street and joined in the service entitled Scandalous Love. The preacher was a visiting professor and spoke of the woman who wiped Jesus’ feet with her tears. How scandalous was that! We were challenged to love all with that scandalous love.
That evening I attended the UK Mission to meet with other delegates and Ministers from the Women and Equalities Team. Anneliese Dodds had resigned just before we left so was unsure who would be there from the Government. I was heartened to think that women’s rights were deemed extremely important. There were high level discussions behind the scenes which proved difficult because of the American stance on Gender issues. However a deal was struck with most countries signing a declaration of commitment to improving women’s status across the world.
A Call to Justice and Joy was the title of the morning worship at the UN Church Centre which is a Methodist building. We meditated on the word ‘Peace’ to begin with and was a marvellous way to kick of my experience. It was a joy to worship with so many women from different denominations and different cultures. The Church Centre not only hosted daily morning worship at 8am but also many NGO CSW parallel events.
On the first day I managed to get a ticket to the opening session where young women from Spain, China, Indigenous women and more shared their experiences. On the second day, at the Town Hall meeting, The Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, spoke of Women’s Rights as Human Rights and should not be an aspiration but a reality. He told us that no matter how small a Civic Society Group is (that includes our MWiB meetings), it underpins the work done at the United Nations. It was an absolute privilege to sit in the chamber where world debates happen. There were 2000 different events to go to. I chose to go to ones highlighting violence against women and girls.
I was moved to hear from Afghan women who spoke of the Taliban’s roll back of women’s rights. Girls are barred from education from Secondary School upwards. Women cannot be midwives, be employed, go out unless accompanied by a male, speak in public. They are being completely erased from society except as wives. Girls are being married as young as 8. This puts an enormous strain on the men in the families as they must earn the money to sustain the family. This pressure in turn leads to domestic abuse as well as suicide in the men. However, the women declared that they are not to be seen as victims as they see themselves as changemakers, working underground for the wellbeing of girls and women. Their challenge to us was ‘what are we doing to support them?’
I was moved again by the event which talked about FGM/C. As we gathered a video was playing with a beat which struck every 12 seconds. We were informed that the beat represented a girl being cut. Yes, every 12 seconds a girl is cut and mutilated. It is called a ‘practice’, ‘a cultural norm’ but make no mistake this is child abuse and pure misogyny. Women are trapped within their communities to conform otherwise they are ostracized.
Not my problem! Yes it is.
Not happening near me. Yes it is.
It is a global issue. It is not a practice. It is child abuse. Speak out now.
I did not only attend events but sat in the coffee area in the UN and met many other women from the Sudan, France, America, and Finland, listening to their experiences, their hopes and their aspirations. We connected over our common passion for the rights of women. Since Beijing, 30 years ago, women’s rights have moved a long way in the right direction. There are more women in education, politics, science, and technology. However, misogyny is on the rise, emboldened by certain world leaders.
What I have taken away from my time at CSW is the strength of women worldwide saying ‘No further, we stand together in our goal of women’s equality’. We need to be at the table at the highest levels to ensure this happens. Women also need to be involved in the peace-making process where there is conflict. Rape is being used as a weapon of war, as was highlighted by women who are living in conflict areas. As the UN Secretary General said, where women are involved in the peace process, the peace lasts longer.
It was an inspiring and positive experience which I am grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in. My rainbow clerical shirt garnered attention from many, which gave me the opportunity to say who I was, whom I represented and what we stood for.
Leonora Wassell