A chaotic 54th session of the UN Convention on the Status of Women

Since the arrival in N.Y., I can only deplore the CSW process and access conditions, which have been so far unacceptable.

Let me give you a few examples of disagreeable and unwelcoming working conditions for participants to the meeting:

Firstly, on the accreditation procedures, pre-registered participants waited until 9 hours for UN passes on Monday. Over the weekend we waited three hours.

At the opening session also we encountered difficulties: the room was opened to top officials only, even regular staff was not allowed. Consequently, representatives of the civil society had absolutely no chance to get in contact with or influence governments’ reps. Instead, together with colleagues of civil society organisations, I was sent to and overflowed room, with no access to audio retransmission or translation. The only space available, the balcony was occupied by a double of its capacity...

Secondly, concerning the outcome document, we were informed that it had been already agreed and will be announced at the official plenary. On draft resolutions, even member states do not receive the draft. So you can guess that there is a major obstacle to negotiation process there too!

As for public PC, main way of contacting the outside world in all this turmoil, there are only two of them, to be shared between more than 300 participants.

EI delegates from Spain, Sweden, Brazil and Canada, absolutely infuriated, have already contacted their delegations and requested action.

So which form will the action take?

My colleague Jan Eastman, EI Deputy General Secretary, will address the plenary session tomorrow or Thursday for three minutes on behalf of trade unions. As there is still no clarity on time slot, I do not know yet when she will take the floor, but you will be able to read the final  text of her intervention soon on this blog. The main point of the statement is the following: “This year, at this landmark session of the Commission on the Status of Women, it should be a priority to seek input and feedback from trade unions and civil society. Instead, we have experienced insurmountable problems of access and engagement with the process. And we have been silenced.”

An open letter, whose text has already been presented and endorsed by participants, will be sent to Ban Ki Moon. It has been posted on the blog, calling “on the United Nations and on governments to make social dialogue a reality, ensure that civil society, trade unions and NGO’s assume their rightful place in the process, and we submit that what has transpired at this year’s CSW must never occur again.”

It was a good way to turn the many frustrations into more proactive energy. The pledge of more than 200 million members of the International Trade Union Confederation, Public Services International, Education International and UNI Global Union can simply not remain unanswered!

So let’s hope for the best and that this crucial Conference for all women worldwide will turn out to be a real forum where their voices can be heard and taken into account.

Do not hesitate to show support by commenting on the blog!

R.S.

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