Bennett Belle Takes NYC: Day 3

Hi everyone!

Today, Patience and I had a very long and adventurous day. We set out for the Armenian Church Center at 8:30 AM this morning, eager to attend a session by the Umauda Igbo Nigeria organization. We got lost but eventually reached our destination. This session was on Managing the Challenges of Women and Girls Empowerment in Nigeria. We also attended a session by GAWFC entitled, Refugee Women Need Social Protection in the Arab Region. Our third session was by the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous People entitled, Thriving Indigenous Women and Girls: Socio-Cultural Empowerment Strategies. Following the third event we attended Young Women’s Roles In Social Protection: Through Experiences in Japan by YWCA of Japan. I learned that “chikan” is a Japanese term meaning sexual harassment. According to the YWCA of Japan, 51% of chikan happens on a train, 21% in a station, 11% in a shop, 8% in the street, and 3% in a commercial facility. 

Patience and I also said farewell to a new friend of ours from the Soka Gakkai International, as she will be flying back to Japan tomorrow:(

(Pictured: L to R Patience, Miyuki Kawaoka, and Africa)

Day 3: Unpaid Work & Digital Technology

Amelia, Jada, Sara, Dr. Riemann, and I were debating over breakfast whether we would make it into the Unpaid Work and Its Consequences session hosted by Spain, and, over oatmeal and hard boiled eggs, we decided that we would just try to make it in. This session showed us 1) the power of translation earphones 2) the phenomenal feminist that is Dr. Durán. Dr. Durán is one of the most well-regarded researchers in unpaid care work, and she set the scene well by stating that there is a difference between ideas, which are explicit and codified, and beliefs which often haven't been debated. In our capitalistic economies, we assume that wealth of nations come from selling, but unpaid work, which isn't sold, creates as much wealth as paid work. Women spend 3.2 times more than men in unpaid care work which often even isn't accounted for when calculating a nation's wealth. At the end, I asked a question: if unpaid care work constitutes a large proportion of women's time, then it would seem that women desire greater flexibility in their work. I'm curious about how this greater desire for flexibility will affect women's labor force participation in the gig economy where jobs are more flexible.
After this exciting opportunity, we sat in on the General Assembly where we listened to at least six presidents and prime ministers in a span of an hour. The President of Croatia specifically said that it is a problem that women go into social sciences and men into STEM, because STEM is the future. In hearing a world leader confirm a problem that I was actively working to address in the space of computer science, I felt more validated in my mission. While I am constantly doing research and on the ground work in computer science education, I felt a high-level confirmation that my energy and time has been well-spent in solving this thorny problem.

In my last panel, I learned that Sustainable Development Goal 5 is enabling technology use for women. This can be extended not only to use but also to creation of technology. In fact, the European Union is creating a a strategy for developing the digital economy. Susan Kuaria, Senior Gender Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization at the United Nations, shared that technology must be adaptable to the needs of women, which are often different than the needs of men. In my opinion, the only way to ensure that future technology meets the needs of all individuals, we must invite all people to collaborate in making this technology. She also shared how a local community in Papua New Guinea is using blockchain technology to track the quality of pigs. While I have done little work in blockchain, I am curious to understand more about why blockchain is specifically necessary and helpful in this work. Additionally, one of the most interesting aspects of this conversation was that women in business recruit other women. This means that by investing in recruiting and advancing one women in technology jobs - this women will have ripple effects in recruiting and advancing more women. Finally, Liat Shenster, Director of Systems Engineering Sales at Cisco, shared with us about the Cisco Networking Academy which has 15 academies across Jordan and 8,00 graduates with better coding skills. While she emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in this work, I'm wondering how PPP's can play a role in more sustainable, systematic education efforts, like co-curriculum creation or teacher training in computer science education.

Presentation Day has finally arrived!

Our big day has finally arrived! The day we planned for after months of dedicated research, we presented at our parallel event at the United Nations!!

Our day began with orientation in the Church Center across from the U.N. Headquarters. It was incredibly exciting to feel the energy of other first time CSW attendants. The presentation detailed the difference between side, parallel and official events; as well as the difference between NGO-CSW and CSW63. It also outlined the logistics of locations and travel to various events. We then heard from guest speaker Lopa Banjeer, the Civil Society Division Director of U.N. Women. We were also able to delve into the details of Beijing 25+ and how to properly document our CSW experience on social media.

After orientation finished, we traveled downstairs to the chapel and watched the live stream of the official open ceremonies of the Commission on the Status of Women in the U.N. Headquarters. As I watched the ceremony progress within the General Assembly, it was incredible to know that it was happening just across the street and with female speakers that I sat right behind during Consultation Day!

Standing up for Girls, Women, and Justice

Hey Hey!

Today was awesome all across the board. Our day started with the NGO CSW Forum Orientation. I am usually not a fan of orientations, but this one was intriguing, informative, and engaging. I am glad that Beth and Dr. Riemann insisted that we attend the orientation, I was able to learn more about Bejing+25, the difference between NGO CSW 63 and CSW 63, and I was able to listen to a dynamic speaker. The keynote speaker was Lopa Banerjee, and she really expounded on poverty, social security, the burden of care on women, and CSW 63. Poverty extends to all aspects of U.S. society, and according to Lopa Banerjee it is not coincidental, it happens due to policy changes. She also emphasized that with poverty rates high in the U.S. social security is the means to ensure that families are able to bounce back from financial hardship. It is simply a right. She ended her talk with the hopes of CSW 63 and the future of gender equality. I thoroughly enjoyed Lopa’s talk, as it was informative and motivational.

I also attended “China-Abandoned Social Protection for Baby Girls and Elderly Widows.” Although the topic was heavy, this was my favorite presentation so far. Before attending the event, I was slightly aware of China’s “gendercide” issue (the systematic killing of members of a specific gender). Reggie Littlejohn, Esq. and Margaret Jones have their respective non-profit organizations that work to advocate for and protect China’s most vulnerable populations- baby girls and elderly widows. China has the highest female suicide rate, every day 590 women kill themselves due to the countries strict traditional and patriarchal practices. Due to China’s two-child policy, women must have a birth permit and are encouraged to give their baby girls away in favor of having a boy. The two child policy legally allows the police to force women to have non-voluntarily abortions and endure sterilization. The overall message of sex-related abortion is that women and girls are so worthless that they deserve to die. Although I was heartbroken during this presentation, I am glad that women and people are working to protect the baby girls and elderly women of China.

Tomorrow, I am excited to attend “Social Protection: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Girls” and “No Girls Left Behind: Adolescent Girls in Child, Early and Forced Marriages and Unions in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

I am looking forward to tomorrow’s presentations and more pizza!!!

XOXO,

Aravia P

CSW63 Day 2: NGO Community, A China Horror story and Cities for CEDAW

Today started off with my fellow WomenNC scholars and I attending a orientation meeting for NGOCSW as it pertains to the differences we have while being here at the United Nations. During the guide session, we were walked through the differences between the parallel events and side events. Were also graced by the presence of Dr. Lopa Bangeree, Director of Society Division UN Women. She spoke to us about the importance of setting the standard for cohesive policy action and to pursue urgent actions of implications. Soon-Young Yoon, US representative for the international Alliance of Women, also came and shared the story about "Beijing + 25" and the importance of its acceleration.

After the orientation, I went to the "China-Abandoned Social Protection for Baby Girls and Elderly Widows" parallel event. During this session I was happy, saddened, angry and I wanted to do something. I was happy to know that lawyer Reggie Little-John had brought about awareness to the mass forced abortion incidents that occur in China. I was saddened because I could feel the pain of the girls who had there babies taken away from them because they did not have a birthing permit. I felt, Why does a woman need permission to have a child, that is something women were created to do. That is to reproduce. In china now, you are allowed to have two children but the killing or taken away of a third child still remains. I was angry because of the upfront, raw de-humanization women in China have to face, Dr. Little-John shared a story with us about a client she had who was dragged from her home at 7 months of being pregnant, forced to have an abortion and was shackled while the procedure was being done. There was no care for her pain and after-which because she had no money to get rid of her now deceased baby, she was left with the baby at the corner of her bed for her to look at.  I had no idea that women in China were going through this, I knew there was a major population control but had no knowledge that this was one of the ways they kept there human population under control.  It was truly a intense session yet much needed session. As a woman of African decent I can relate through my ancestors of the way women have been forced to give up there children and endure pain as if they were not human.

As my day continued, I became excited about the WomenNC presentations. I had great hope that each and every WomenNC Scholarship that presented today would do a phenomenal job. They did just that! I was pleased to have seen so many women come and support WomenNC/Cities for CEDAW session today. It was simply amazing! Attending college in North Carolina has brought me so many opportunities, ones that have led me to WomenNC and has brought me to United Nations. One thing I got to do today that I have never done before was BE A PHOTOGRAPHER!! I took so many pictures on a professional camera of my fellow WomenNC scholars as they presented there research, I wanted to get every angle. I can't say they were the best, but I tried and I was just happy to be of a support to them in their moment of greatness! #WomenNCScholars2019ROCK!!

Best Regards,

Zybrea M. Knight

Bennett Belle Takes NYC: Day 3

Today was the start of the NGO CSW events! The WomenNC team started our day off early by attending the CSW Forum Orientation session at the Church Center. We each also had time to attend another event at 10:30 AM following the session. The Bennett team chose to attend China - Abandoned Social Protection for Baby Girls and Elderly Widows by the Women’s Rights Without Frontiers Organization. I chose this event because I am interested in being an international social worker and China has always been a country of interest for me. I learned that China has a One Child Law and that women are often times forced to have abortions. This is terrible, but I am glad that I have been exposed to this information because now I can help advocate against this particular injustice towards Chinese women and baby girls.

The WomenNC met up after our 10:30 AM session to take photos near the UN.

Not only was today the first day of the CSW events, but the WomenNC Scholars presented today! All of the presentations were excellent, especially Kaitlin’s! I watched my roommate rehearse before the event and she was PHENOMENAL! Her topic was entitled, “Barriers to Immigrant Workers In The Raleigh Metropolitan Area”. She represented both UNC Chapel Hill and WomenNC extremely well.

I ended my evening with my Bennett sisters at the Sugar Factory and had a great evening. I even left my cell phone in the taxi cab. This has never happened to me and surely not in a busy city like New York. I was certain that I was never going to see my IPhone again. but to my surprise the cab driver was able to return it to me. Day 3 of the Big Apple was another success!

Pictured: WomenNC Scholar Kaitlin Galindo during her presentation :)

Venturing into New Waters

Today was a great day! After a brief orientation session I attended my first self selected session this morning. I chose to brave the NYC streets and track to the Armenian Center. I love walking on city streets all alone, it feels independent and empowering to take yourself where you need to go in a new place. 

Being able to pick the session I attended allowed me to chose something in my interests. I attended the I attended the Economic Integration of Refugees and Immigrants, hosted by WoW. A non-governmental organization that seeks to enhance the access and success of women with Muslim migration background in German employment. I loved that this session was structured as a workshop. It was such a nice break from the lecture and panel style that had dominated the last 2 days to meet with women passionate about the work I am passionate about and talk about what we are experiencing in our respective organizations and work. It was nice to share my experiences and feel that they were valued by people doing the work I want to do professionally. I also got a free bag which was great because I love free stuff, and I especially love free feminist stuff.

In the afternoon was the main event, our event. I was pretty nervous for my presentation. However, once I started talking it went really well. We had a great turnout, including one of my very best friends who is from Long Island and came to support me. I felt very supported by Beth and Dr. Riemenn, the other fellows, other activists, and my friends. People responded really well to our event and came up to us after to congratulate us on our success. 

Today was a very successful day and it really got me excited for the rest of the week.