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UN Women's 57th Commission on the Status of Women

Feb 28, 2013 — Categories: , ,

Every year in early March in observance of International Women’s Day (March 8), hundreds of international delegates gather at the United Nations for the meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women. This year will be the 57th session. The priority theme for this year will be the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

Every year in early March in observance of International Women’s Day (March 8), hundreds of international delegates gather at the United Nations for the meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women. This year will be the 57th session. The priority theme for this year will be the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

How painfully appropriate that the Commission focus its work this year on gender based violence. Given the horrific crimes against women this past year that have garnered global media attention from India to Egypt, from South Africa to the United States, it is imperative that the international community engage in this issue. We are reminded that violence against women and girls knows no boundaries.

Because this is a global problem, surely our efforts to shine the light on these issues must be global in scope. We must strategize together to create safety and empowerment for ourselves, our families, and our communities and continue to work for the eradication of gender based violence around the world. The 16 Days of Activism Campaign and One Billion Rising are but two of the current efforts by activists from around the world to organize for change.

This week at the United Nations, many groups will meet and offer parallel events which are open to the public. A number of faith-based groups are sponsoring workshops and discussions that will address the ways in which our religious traditions have been part of the problem of violence against women and encourage strategies to be part of the solution.

I and others from FaithTrust Institute will be presenting at several of these parallel events. See our schedule of events below and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to read our updates from the event throughout the week.

Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
FaithTrust Institute
www.faithtrustinstitute.org

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women – Parallel Events
March 4-15, 2013 | New York City


Monday, March 4 | 4:30 pm

Location: Guild Hall, Armenian Convention Center 630 2nd Ave.
Title: “Religion, Culture and Violence Against Women” A multifaith discussion
Speakers include: Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune and our colleague Salma Abugideiri from Peaceful Families Project
Sponsored by: Women’s Task Force of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions

Tuesday, March 5 | 10:30 am

Location: Church Center at the United Nations
Title: “Faiths Response to Domestic Violence” A discussion of how we address domestic violence from a U.S. context and a Christian perspective
Speakers include: Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune
Co-Sponsored by: United Methodist Women and FaithTrust Institute

Thursday, March 7 | 8:30 am

Location: Armenian Convention Center 630  2nd Ave.
Title: “When Pastors Prey” Dance, drumming and discussion will introduce the new publication, When Pastors Prey, edited by Dr. Valli Pillai-Batchelor
Sponsored by: World Student Christian Federation and the World Council of Churches
Speakers include: Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune

Thursday, March 7 | 2:30 pm

Location: Salvation Army 221  East 52nd St.
Sponsored by: Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department
Topic: An Interfaith Conversation on Violence Against Women
Presenters include: Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, Denise Starkey, Ph.D. (Member, FaithTrust Institute Board of Directors), Rabbi Lisa Gelber (Former Member, FaithTrust Institute Board of Directors), Dr. Nancy Murphy (Colleague from Northwest Family Life).

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