International Labour, NGO Delegations, and the CLC call on member states to reach agreed conclusions

Late last week the International Labour and NGO Delegations issued the following public statement calling on all member states to reach agreed conclusions on previously reached international commitments, with no backtracking at the conclusion of the UNCSW57:

 

International Labour and NGO Delegations’ Public Statement on UN CSW 57 Negotiations

We, union and NGO representatives of the interests of all women workers around the world, support the earnest efforts of those countries trying to reach consensus that builds on previously agreed international commitments to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

 

 

However, we are outraged by the persistent attempts, over the years, by the Holy See and certain member states to derail the democratic process of consensus-building. Violence against women exists in all countries and in all societies, and affects all groups of women and girls. One out of every three girls born today will face some form of violence in her life time. Therefore, this year of all years, we need strong agreed conclusions and a commitment by member states to take concrete action to end violence against women and girls.

 

 

Women trade unionists from 27 countries and NGOs from around the world are present at the Commission on the Status of Women to work constructively with all stakeholders to ensure that our governments meet their responsibility to end violence against women and girls. The world is watching what happens here at the largest-ever UN assembly on ending gender-based violence.

 

 

We call on all member states to reach agreed conclusions with no back-tracking on previously made international commitments. Women’s lives depend on what we do here.

 

 

Further, as the UNCS57 continues in New York this week, Ken Georgetti, President of the Canadian Labour Congress wrote to Cardinal Bertone today expressing deep concern over the persistent attempts by representatives of Holy See to derail the democratic process at the 57^th UN Commission on the Status of Women currently underway in New York City.