The Rev. Irene Miller Radcliff
Member at Large,
Social Justice
National Episcopal Church Women 2009-2012
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The Rev. Irene Miller Radcliff
ECW Social Justice at the United Nations
Click to read about Irene's impressions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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Dear Episcopal Church Women,
Shirley Greiman and I attended the
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York City, February 26th - March 13th, 2010. For the opportunity, I am most grateful. We listened, learned and obtained information that will be of benefit to the Church, National ECW Board, all ECW's, and our work on issues important to and for women.
Please pray for us and all the others attending the UNCSW as we travel on this journey.
Thank you.
Yours in Christ,
Irene
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Madame/Mr. Chair, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Panelists, NGO and Civil Society Members
We, the Ecumenical Women, a network of faith-based NGO's at the United Nations, thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning about violence against women.
While we appreciate the efforts that have been made to improve women's rights by governments, civil society, including the church. However, areas of critical importance remain to eradicate violence against women.
Panelists have noted......
Education, training and reform are essential for the police, military, legal and judicial sectors.
Community programs with gender awareness and human rights education are necessary for men and boys.
Women need to be included in these programs and training.
We believe that in areas of conflict, it is cruical that women be involved in all peace building and peace keeping initiatives.
We would like to know if there are national and international audits that include the culture and practice of impunity in relation to violence against women, war, trafficking, ethnic conflict, migrant workers and indigenous people.
Survivor Center registration and international mechanisims must be funded and implemented to support and protect women and girls. This legislation must include wording to insure that perpetrators are held accountable, face appropriate consequences and receive professional and spiritual help to change behavior.
We strongly recommend that impunity be the future theme for the Commission on the Status of Women.
Sent Thursday, March 11
Beijing, MDG's and CEDAW
Key issues:
Poverty Education and Training
Health
Violance against Women
Armed Conflict
Economy
Power and Decision Making
Institutional mechanisms
Human rights
Media
Environment
Girls
15 years after Beijing, why is it that women are the most venerable in all of the above areas?
Women are still under-represented in decision-making positions. Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic.
In some parts of the world, little progress has been made on reducing maternal mortality rates.
Do you know what The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW) is?
Neither do our Congress. It is a treaty that needs to be ratified.
The United States is the only major industrial country that has not ratified CEDAW.
Read more about CEDAW
Irene has compiled a list of Acronyms and their meaning
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