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#TeamGirl takes to CSW61 in bid to build an equal world

by World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts | World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Monday, 13 March 2017 10:38 GMT

* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

(New York, USA)  - THE World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is supporting a youth delegation of 11 young women from across the world to speak out and be part of the 61st session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61) in New York.

CSW is an annual event, held from 13-24 March 2017. This year’s theme is women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work. The delegation will add their voice to those demanding a better future for girls and young women.

With the world is one year into the 15-year journey of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the urgency of women’s economic empowerment is gaining momentum. For years, despite increased recognition of the importance and the potential of women’s and girls’ economic empowerment, the pace of improvement in closing the gender gaps in the world of work has been incredibly slow.

Too many women and girls are locked out of opportunities to get equal pay, have access to land and property, work in the formal sector, acquire relevant skills, start a business and acquire positions of leadership, to name a few.

As the world’s only movement for every girl and any girl, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts is concerned that if we follow the recent pace of developments, women won't reach economic parity with men until 2133.

Girls such as Danae Fredes, 24, from the Association of Guides and Scouts in Chile, are not prepared to wait so long. The current generation needs to see transformative change during their lifetime.

Attending the 61st session will provide an opportunity for Danae and 10 other volunteer members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts delegation to ensure that the voices of 10 million Girl Guides and Scouts in 146 member countries around the world are heard on the issues that matter to them.

According to Danae:

“I am a National Coordinator for WAGGGS’ Stop The Violence campaign and Voices Against Violence curriculum. Before these projects, we didn’t advocate on issues important to us, but now it’s a key focus and we are making our voices heard on issues such as gender inequality.

“I am looking forward to attending CSW and I hope my experience will help my country and Guiding group establish stronger policies so we can put a stop to gender-based violence.”

The key issues WAGGGS delegates will be advocating for governments to commit to at CSW61 include:

  • Tackling harmful norms and stereotypes that continue to hold girls back, so they have the opportunity to pursue an education and leadership opportunities. 

  • Ensuring girls are visible and don’t fall through the cracks of data that measures the impact and drives policy. By giving girls the power to speak out, we want to see their views listened to and represented at all levels as well as reflected in policy papers. 

  • Tackle stereotypes that prevent girls from choosing male-dominated disciplines.Through WAGGGS’ programmes, we are empowering girls with world-class leadership skills so they can have the confidence to pursue their dreams and be the change they want to see.

Find out more about WAGGGS’ youth delegates

ENDS

For more information, full biographies or to set up an interview with one of the youth delegates, please contact:

Angela Singh, Communications Manager, Media World Association of Girl Guides and Girl ScoutsPhone: +44 (0)20 7433 6460Email: Angela.Singh@wagggs.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

About World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is the world’s only movement for every girl and any girl because it believes that each girl deserves to be the best she can be. The diverse Movement represents ten million girls and young women from 146 countries. Free to make what they want from the Movement, girls learn by doing, make friends and have fun. In safe, local spaces, girls develop the skills and attitude to change themselves, their communities and our world. WAGGGS keeps the global Movement thriving, united and growing.

For more information, please visit www.wagggs.org

About Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations and UN entities gather at the UN headquarters in New York.Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields. 

For more information, visit http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw61-2017

 

 

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