Challenges for cooperativism: United Nations discusses women’s empowerment
Authorities of the Regional Committee on Gender Equality of Cooperativa de las Américas attended the LXI Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Representatives of Member States, United Nations entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accredited by ECOSOC, including the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and its regional chapter Cooperativa de las Américas; Were present at the Sixty-first Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held from 13 to 24 March in New York, United Nations Headquarters.
The representation of Cooperativa de las Américas was given by Xiomara Nuñez de Cespedes, President of the Regional Committee on Gender Equality (CREG), and María Eugenia Pérez Zea, vice-president of the Committee and Chair of the World Committee. They gave a speech on the contribution of cooperatives in favor of improving the quality of life of women.
The priority theme of this session was the economic empowerment of women in the changing world of work. As a topic of review, the challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls (from the conclusions of the fifty-eighth session) and the empowerment of indigenous women as an emerging issue.
For Xiomara Nuñez, this session offers an opportunity to examine progress in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, identifying challenges, setting international standards, and formulating policies to promote gender equality around the world. "It is an important opportunity for those who are responsible for policies, research, activism and advocacy for women rights; to exchange views and strategies, to mobilize and to plan new initiatives in favor the empowerment of women" said the CREG president.
The Commission on the Status of Women is a global policy-making body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women (CSW). It’s a member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. The Commission also contributes to the follow-up to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in order to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
"Women have little representation not only as voters, but also in management positions, either in elected positions, in public administration, in the private sector or in the academic world. This reality contrasts with their undoubted capacity as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance. Some women have managed to overcome these obstacles, and they have been highly praised for this, often positively influencing society as a whole. However, in general terms, we must continue working to achieve equal opportunities for all", concluded Nuñez de Céspedes.
La presente publicación ha sido elaborada con la asistencia de la Unión Europea. El contenido de la misma es responsabilidad exclusiva de Cooperativa de las Américas, y en ningún caso debe considerarse que refleja los puntos de vista de la Unión Europea.
