Women’s Voices Need to Be Heard
Photo from CSW63 in 2019: BVMs Saskia Karina Alquinga Cahuatijo (l.), Mary Frances (Virginia Mary) McLaughlin, and Roberta (Caritas) White share experiences with women from all parts of the world like Suman (r.) from India.
More than 26,000 women virtually attended this year’s United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women! Many mentioned that when we return to in-person attendance, we continue this virtual outreach to so many women around the world . . . and it’s free, empowering information!
After two weeks participating in Zoom sessions, more than 700 to choose from, I was Zoomed out! But the information and stories were powerful, engaging, and enriching.
Some were at the same time soul searching, searing, and scary. Sample topics were: “Girls and Tech,” “Urgent Need for Women’s Leadership in Migration Issues,” “Dual Pandemics: COVID-19 and Violence against Women,” “Women in Politics,” “Voice, Value, Visibility,” “Global Women’s Movements and the New Biden Administration,” “Improving Self-Esteem of Girls,” ”Report from Syria,” and “Indigenous Women/Girls in Australia.”
Most groups mentioned the severe impact of COVID-19 on women’s rights and said many are unaware of the “shadow” pandemic: the 50 percent or more increase in violence against women and gun violence this past year.
Loss of women’s influence has occurred in all areas: economic, government, education, social, and political. This brings about male-dominated economies and governments, which continue male-dominated solutions in our world.
Women need to push for their voices to be heard in the discussion of solutions for all problem areas of inequality in governments, in businesses, in social systems, in education, and everywhere!
We need fair, safe, just, and equal treatment in laws, business, education, and government. Laws need to be put in place with accountability measures against discrimination, inequalities, and all other injustices. It is necessary to have social justice for all—equally.
Women need to be trained and educated in science, technology, engineering, and math. The pandemic hit feminine presence in the tech industry hard, with many women leaving to attend to childcare and home education. Mentorships need to be encouraged and men and women partnerships need to be supported by all investors.
The session on Syria was one of the most difficult because the war in that country has devastating effects, especially on women and children, and is now continuing in its 10th year. Conditions are horrific and without much relief.
In the self-esteem workshop it was mentioned that if a young girl has low self-esteem, 72 percent will be hesitant to voice opinions or even hold opinions.
Every young girl needs to be taught how to deal with negative criticism and learn not to conform to the standards of others. The session said to remember: Your diversity is your strength, your power. See yourself as different, unique in your own way, and powerful.
Unmute yourself, speak out, and share your story. Change the world!
We are all in this global feminist movement for a better future for ourselves and all the world. We have power as an individual and as a collective movement.
We will not be stopped!