United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Encyclopedia
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW or UNCSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), one of the main UN organs
within the United Nations
.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. UN agencies actively followed their mandates to bring women into development approaches and programs and the conferences. They participate at the prepcoms, design strategy, hold caucus meetings, network about the various agenda items being negotiated in the different committees, and work as informed lobbyists at the conferences themselves. The CSW is one of the commissions of the UN that do not limit participation to states only. For example, NGOs are also allowed to participate in sessions of the CSW, attending caucuses and panels and organizing their own parallel events through the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NY (NGO CSW/NY). This is particularly important for contested territories such as Taiwan
, which is not a member of the UN. In the past few years, NGOs from Taiwan (such as the National Alliance of Taiwan Women's Associations
) have been able to participate in the CSW sessions.The Commission consists of one representative from each of the 45 Member States elected by the Council on the basis of equitable geographical distribution: thirteen members from Africa; eleven from Asia; nine from Latin America and Caribbean; eight from Western Europe and other States and four from Eastern Europe. Members are elected for a period of four years. Among its activities, the CSW drafted several conventions and declarations, including the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
in 1967 and women-focused agencies such as UNIFEM
and INSTRAW. Some groups that sponsor parallel events or caucuses at the commission have advocated population control
, reproductive rights
and contraception
, while at the same time criticizing the position of the Roman Catholic Church
on sexual morality and fertility
.
February 1947. All of the 15 government representatives were women which separated the
Commission from other UN movements and through history continues to maintain a majority of women delegates. During its first session, the Commission declared as one of its guiding principles:
Contributing to the drafting of the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] became one of the first tasks. Commission members inserted gender-sensitive language—arguing against references to “men” as a synonym for humanity and phrases like “men are brothers.” They received resistance from members of the Commission on Human Rights, but succeeded in introducing new, inclusive
language.
, known for its poor treatment of women and history of femicide
.
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
(ECOSOC), one of the main UN organs
United Nations System
The United Nations system consists of the United Nations, its subsidiary organs , the specialized agencies, and affiliated organizations...
within the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. UN agencies actively followed their mandates to bring women into development approaches and programs and the conferences. They participate at the prepcoms, design strategy, hold caucus meetings, network about the various agenda items being negotiated in the different committees, and work as informed lobbyists at the conferences themselves. The CSW is one of the commissions of the UN that do not limit participation to states only. For example, NGOs are also allowed to participate in sessions of the CSW, attending caucuses and panels and organizing their own parallel events through the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NY (NGO CSW/NY). This is particularly important for contested territories such as Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, which is not a member of the UN. In the past few years, NGOs from Taiwan (such as the National Alliance of Taiwan Women's Associations
National Alliance of Taiwan Women's Associations
The National Alliance of Taiwan Women’s Associations is the only umbrella group for organizations promoting women’s interests across the island of Taiwan. The Alliance is both a Non-governmental organization and a Non-profit organization. Founded in 2001, the alliance consists of 67 member groups...
) have been able to participate in the CSW sessions.The Commission consists of one representative from each of the 45 Member States elected by the Council on the basis of equitable geographical distribution: thirteen members from Africa; eleven from Asia; nine from Latin America and Caribbean; eight from Western Europe and other States and four from Eastern Europe. Members are elected for a period of four years. Among its activities, the CSW drafted several conventions and declarations, including the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
The Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is a human rights proclamation issued by the United Nations General Assembly, outlining that body's views on women's rights. It was adopted by the General Assembly on 7 November 1967...
in 1967 and women-focused agencies such as UNIFEM
UNIFEM
The United Nations Development Fund for Women, commonly known as UNIFEM was established in December 1976 originally as the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women in the International Women's Year. Its first director was Dr. Margaret Snyder, Ph.D...
and INSTRAW. Some groups that sponsor parallel events or caucuses at the commission have advocated population control
Population control
Human population control is the practice of artificially altering the rate of growth of a human population.Historically, human population control has been implemented by limiting the population's birth rate, usually by government mandate, and has been undertaken as a response to factors including...
, reproductive rights
Reproductive rights
Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
and contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
, while at the same time criticizing the position of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
on sexual morality and fertility
Fertility
Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
.
The Bureau
The Bureau of the Commission plays an important role in guiding proper preparation for, and in making sure that the annual sessions of the Commission are successful. Bureau members serve for two years.History
It was established in 1946 as a mechanism to promote, report on and monitor issues relating to the political, economic, civil, social and educational rights of women. It was a unique official structure for drawing attention to women’s concerns and leadership within the UN. The Commission on the Status of Women first met at Lake Success, New York, inFebruary 1947. All of the 15 government representatives were women which separated the
Commission from other UN movements and through history continues to maintain a majority of women delegates. During its first session, the Commission declared as one of its guiding principles:
to raise the status of women, irrespective of nationality, race, language or
religion, to equality with men in all fields of human enterprise, and to eliminate
all discrimination against women in the provisions of statutory law, in legal
maxims or rules, or in interpretation of customary law.
Contributing to the drafting of the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights] became one of the first tasks. Commission members inserted gender-sensitive language—arguing against references to “men” as a synonym for humanity and phrases like “men are brothers.” They received resistance from members of the Commission on Human Rights, but succeeded in introducing new, inclusive
language.
Fifteen original members of the Commission on the Status of Women
- Jessie Mary Grey Street, Australia
- Evdokia Uralova, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Way Sung New, People's Republic of China
- Graciela Morales F. de Echeverria, Costa Rica
- Bodil Begtrup, Denmark
- Marie Helene Lefaucheux, France
- Sara Basterrechea Ramirez, Guatemala
- Shareefah Hamid Ali, India
- Amalia C de Castillo Ledon, Mexico
- Alice Kandalft Cosma, Syria
- Mihri Pektas, Turkey
- Elizavieta Alekseevna Popova, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
- Mary Sutherland, United Kingdom
- Dorothy Kenyon, USA
- Isabel de Urdaneta, Venezuela
Criticism
The commission has come under criticism by western press for including countries like IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, known for its poor treatment of women and history of femicide
Femicide
Femicide was first used in England in 1801 to signify "the killing of a woman." In 1848, this term was published in Wharton's Law Lexicon, suggesting that it had become a prosecutable offense. Another term used is feminicide.-First feminist definition:...
.