Sambhali U.S. Board Members Attend UN Conference
In March, Sambhali U.S. board members Esther Pujol Rodriguez, Sarah Abedin, Dina Baker, and Shereen Arent represented Sambhali Trust at the 65th session of the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The CSW is a global champion for women and girls, dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Sambhali Trust was granted Special Consultive Status by the Economic and Social Council on the Status of Women in 2015, allowing it to officially attend the session.
Esther led our delegation at the meeting and Sarah had previously led the creation of a statement on gender-based violence, one of the key themes of this year’s meeting, that was published for the conference.
During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations, and UN entities gather, usually at the UN headquarters in New York. This year, the event was completely virtual.
In the meetings, presenters and attendees discussed progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly held in 2000, as well as emerging issues that affect women around the world.
“I was at the meeting representing Sambhali Trust and using my voice to speak on behalf of the thousands of women and girls that Sambhali has helped and will help in the future.”
Unsurprisingly, the session largely focused on the disparate impact Covid-19 has had on girls and women, including the marked increase in child marriage rates, gender-based violence, and economic disparity between women and men. Esther noted the extensive discussion on the evidence showing that providing education to girls is the best way to fight child marriage. “This was important to me as it is one of the programs that relate to the work of Sambhali,” states Esther. “I was at the meeting representing Sambhali Trust and using my voice to speak on behalf of the thousands of women and girls that Sambhali has helped and will help in the future.”