Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/521232
36 D uring my time at CSW, my thoughts largely focused on what progress has been made since the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, and since I attended my first CSW in 2006. What changes h ave improved the lives of women and girls around the world? One change has been an emphasis on ensuring that exploited or abused women are not revictimized in the pursuit of justice. Law enforcement officials, police, policy-makers and judicial, medical and social workers have been urged to create policies that do not stigmatize or harm women who have been exploited through human trafficking or who have filed complaints or taken legal action for other forms of violence. Another change I noticed was the call for men to participate in empowering women and ensuring justice for women. One side event was called "Real Talk/Real Action: Engaging Men and Boys in Prevention a nd Intervention Strategies that Address Gender-based Violence." At the end of this panel discussion, someone said people who change the world are people just like those in the room. To me, this means we can work together and achieve justice. During the main, parallel and side events I attended, progress since Beijing 1995 was recognized. But we still have more to do to ensure justice for all women, specifically younger and older women, migrants and rural women whose stories and needs are often overlooked. Magdalene Lewis is an advocate for women's justice and former synod representative on the CCT. Progress and Room to Grow B Y MAGDALENE LEWIS Magdalene Lewis with Mark Koenig, the director of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, at the orientation for Presbyterians. Here's What You Can Do Mark Koenig, director of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, offered a number of suggestions to PC(USA) delegates who want to apply what they learned at CSW. His suggestions included a number of actions that can be taken even by those who didn't attend. In which of these ways will you help ensure equality for women? • Ask how policies proposed in your congregation, community, country and the world will impact women of all ages. Then advocate for policies that are most beneficial to women. • Participate in Orange Day on the 25th of each month to call for an end to violence against women and girls. Wear something orange and tell people why. Or do this virtually: take a picture of your orange and post a photo and caption on social media. • Support CEDAW. Write to your senator, urging U.S. ratification of CEDAW (order free preprinted CEDAW postcards in packs of 10 through Presbyterian Distribution Service, 800/524-2612; item PWR112270). And/or start conversations in your city about becoming one of the Cities for CEDAW (see http://citiesforcedaw.org for more information). • Pray for, volunteer with, and support financially at least one project that increases, enhances, extends or protects the rights of women. • Seek to include women in decision-making at all levels in the church, in communities and in our world. • Encourage and support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs for girls. T