National ECW Province 1 Representative Shirley Greiman and Social Justice Member-at-Large Irene Miller Radcliff join Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori at the UN Conference on the Status of Women
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 Episcopal Church Women at the UN
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Reflections on Beijing +15 by Shirley Greiman
On February 25th Shirley Greiman was on Amtrak going to New York to the 54th Session of UNCSW (United Nations Commission on the Status of Women) Global Forum for Women from March 1-12: Beijing + 15, representing Province I on National ECW Board. Rev. Irene Radcliff, Columbus, Ohio, Social Justice on the National ECW Board arrived the next day, due to weather problems, and we shared a room.

After 2 ½ weeks we are still speaking to one another.

Feb 27 and 28th forum was to educate first time participants so they could catch up to speed with women who have been coming for quite a few years.

On February 27th, after Registration, The Salvation Army Brownsville Corps Steel Orchestra loosened us up and the Forum began with:
  • Panel I - Advancing Women’s rights, 1975-2010: What The World Conferences On Women Accomplished.
  • Panel 2 – The State of the World’s Women: Patriarchy, Violence Against Women and Girls, Women’s Health, And Climate Change. February 28th:
  • Panel 3 - Voices From Around The World: Regional Priorities and Action.
  • Panel 4 – Fulfilling the Promise of Gender Equality, Peace, and Development: Women, Peace, Security, Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms, World Economic Crisis, Building Women’s Leadership, and the Millennium Development Goals.
Women on those panels were from Geneva (Italy), Afghanistan, Philippines, Tanzania, Peru, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Kenya, (Iran/USA), Mexico, Vienna (Austria), Netherlands, India, Germany, China, Lebanon, Botswana, Latin America, Caribbean, USA and United Nations Representatives were on these panels.

March 1, The Reverend Margaret Rose opened the Anglican part with Prayer and the Eucharist.

Every day after, our morning started with worship service in the United Nations Church Center; this was ecumenical and inclusive. We then moved on to morning Briefings, Caucus Gatherings, Mission Visits, Plenary Sessions at United Nations. We had Parallel (or side events, we chose on what we wanted to go to from 8AM to 6PM) Sessions on Violence, Drugs, Women’s Rights, Leadership, Status, Education, Peace Actions, Trafficking of Women/Girls/Boys/Men, Gender Equality, Women/Family, Human Rights, Freedom To Have Choice, Radifications, CEDAW, Exploitation of Children, Nationality Issues, War and Conflict, Proper Funding, Religion Cultures/Women, Solidarity, Awareness, Education, Legislation, Health, Climate, Women’s Role, Economic Crisis, Institutional Mechanisms for Advancement, Women and Media, Girl-Child, Women and the Economy, Women and the Environment.

Then we either had debriefings of the day or went to invites we had from various churches in NY.

The Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, March 1st opened the session.

There was a tea in honor of the Anglican Delegates to UNCSW at Good Shephard Church.

Meryl Streep, an activist spoke to us on human rights and equality. Meryl Streep then introduced “Women Can’t Wait” written and performed by Sarah Jones, in celebration of International Women’s Day, March 5.

Had the opportunity to help Irene Radcliff, our Social Justice Chair on the National ECW Board, draft an intervention speech on violence against women. Irene, addressed it to the UN on March 11th. The draft is on the National ECW website under Social Justice. We attended, St James Church, Madison and 71st street, Celebrating their Bicentennial, where a Panel Discussion on The Church and Global Reconciliation was held between three great friends, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu, retired Primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, The Rt Rev. Gordon McMullan, retired Bishop of Down and Dromore (Belfast), Northern Ireland and the Rt. Rev. Hays H. Rockwell, retired Bishop of Missouri, former Rector of St. James Church, 1976-1991.

AWE (Anglican Women Empowerment) held a reception, Back to the Future: Fueled by Faith, at The Church of the Heavenly Rest.

Friday the last day, we heard Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, at the United Nations on “Women’s progress is human progress.” She was at the opening of the Beijing Circle in

1995 and her speech marked the anniversary of her speech there, in addition to say there have been remarkable advances since 1995. Clinton’s remark, “Woman’s Progress is Human Progress, and Human Progress is Women’s Progress” was a real energizing talk.

We attended the 8:00 am Service at St. Bartholomew’s Church on Park Ave.

The next Sunday, Margaret Ann Cash, Province II Representative National ECW Board invited us to St Andrew’s Episcopal Church located at 2067 5h Ave at 127th street in Harlem, New York. It is also a historic church added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 18, 1980. It was built in 1872 and designed by noted New York City architect Henry M. Congdon.

There is so much more to write about, but my papers are being sent home via Fed Ex. and at this writing they have not arrived yet.

For me, it was an awesome experience to see, meet, sing, dance, pray, converse, share be a part of and become a sister to many women globally. The consensus of opinion is all these women/girl concerns are faith based and it is up to each of us, women and men, on the local level, to teach, learn and stand up for women’s status and rights globally.



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