Young women made their voices heard during the 51st session of the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW). What were the issues discussed and some of the recommendations? Also, new resources and reports were also released in time for the session.

For the first time, young women spoke up during the opening of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women's (CSW) 51st Session, highlighting this year's priority theme, “The Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination and Violence against the Girl Child.” The session was held from February 26 to March 9, 2007 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Quilinta Nepaulas, a 17-year-old South African girl, reminded everyone, during her opening speech, that discrimination and violence against girls continues to undermine their rights, and that these have harmful effects on societies.

More than 200 young people attended this year's CSW to speak about issues ranging from rape, trafficking, education, labour, and health care. Young women also spoke about incidents of gender discrimination, female genital mutilation, education inequity for girls, and the experiences of girls who were put in prison. Also discussed were topics on women and girls with HIV/AIDS, the status of Palestinian women, and forced and early marriages.

The recommendations in the panel discussions included:
- Gender mainstreaming policies bolstered by legal frameworks and constitutional guarantees;
- Developing national laws that do not allow certain cultures or religions to opt out;
- Penalising  violations;
- Supporting girls whose rights had been violated;
- Putting up programmes to resolve community resistance to cultural patterns of conduct, in cases where girls’ rights compete with cultural norms; and
- Capacity-building of multisectoral linkages.

On the last day of the session, the CSW adopted agreed conclusions as well as specific resolutions in the following areas:
(1) Women, the Girl Child and HIV/AIDS
(2) Situation of and Assistance to Palestinian Women
(3) Ending Female Genital Mutilation
(4) Forced Marriage of the Girl Child

Another important issue that was given attention both within and outside the UN spaces at the CSW was the recommendation to strengthen the gender equality architecture of the UN. At this year's CSW, and in honour of International Women's Day, representatives from over 150 women's organisations and allies delivered an Open Letter to the Secretary-General of the UN and to UN Member States to support the proposed gender architecture. In the coming months, the General Assembly will meet to discuss the Panel's recommendations while women's groups will strategise and organise around next steps in the process.

Over a thousand representatives from NGOs participated in the CSW, together with more than 100 member states of the United Nations, and representatives from UN agencies and multilateral institutions.

Feminist organisations and progressive women's rights activists from across the globe actively participated in the session, as they tirelessly lobbied delegations and disseminated information for negotiations processes in order to ensure girls’ empowerment to help them ensure their own human rights as women.

For next year's CSW, the priority theme will be devoted to financing for gender equality.

Low media mileage

Unlike in the previous years, this year's CSW is marked by the lack of press coverage and media attention as only 10 journalists from the world's mainstream media were reported to apply for accreditation.

The mainstream media seems to be ignoring a global annual event where women, governments, and NGOs join together to collectively address and advocate for women's rights and gender equality at the international level.

New reports on violence against girls

Human Rights Watch (HRW), an organisation dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world, has recently released three reports on violence against girls based on its investigations in 15 countries, including: Afghanistan; Brazil; the Democratic Republic of Congo; Egypt; El Salvador; Guatemala; Indonesia; Iraq; Malaysia; Morocco; Papua New Guinea; South Africa,; Togo; the United States; and Zambia.

These reports highlight the threats to girls' safety, including physical and sexual violence in their schools, places of work, and in detention facilities.

The reports revealed that governments have largely failed to implement key measures preventing and responding to these abuses. Hence, HRW is calling for governments to take immediate steps to: 
- Create confidential, fully staffed and toll-free hotlines to receive reports of abuses against girls;
- Ensure the prompt and effective investigation of such complaints, and prompt and appropriate action against perpetrators;
- Ensure that medical examinations, trauma counseling, emergency contraception, and post-exposure HIV prophylaxis are available to sexual assault survivors;
- In situations of insecurity, devise and implement a strategy to monitor, prevent, and respond to attacks on education; and
- Ensure that children in conflict with the law are only detained as a last resort and for the shortest possible time. Prohibit the excessive use of force, and any disciplinary measures that may compromise the health of the child.

Download the three reports:
(1) Violence against Schoolgirls <http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/15/global15342.htm>
(2) Violence against Child Domestic Workers
<http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/20/global15343.htm>
(3) Violence Against Girls in Conflict with the Law
<http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/02/20/global15345.htm>

New resources for people working on girls rights

A new compilation of materials for people working on girls rights is now available for free at the International Women's Tribune Centre (IWTC) website <http://www.iwtc.org/>.

The compilation includes free games, training manuals, and workshop guides, among others that are useful for teachers, trainers, and development workers who are working for and with girls. This collection includes interactive and participatory training guides and resources on rights, empowerment, violence against women and girls, HIV/AIDS, sexuality and reproductive health, and leadership development.

IWTC is an international non-governmental organisation that provides communication, information, education, and organising support services to women's organisations and community groups working to improve the lives of women. For more information, contact Joeyta Bose <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> or Sofia Binioris <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.

Related article:
“UN women commission meeting centres on girl-child rights” in we! February 2007, No. 2

Sources:
“Forgotten Women” from Isabel Hilton, posted on March 2, 2007, <http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/isabel_hilton/2007/03/just_imagine_that_it_was.html>.
“International Women's Day: Girls Face Widespread Violence, Governments Slow to Enforce Basic Protections for Girls” from Human Rights Watch, posted on March 7, 2007, <http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/03/07/global15459.htm>.
“Panel Discussions In Commission On Status Of Women Focus On Need For Stronger Laws Protecting Girls Policy Initiatives, Capacity-Building For Mainstreaming Gender Perspective Also Highlighted” from United Nations Economic and Social Council, posted on February 27, 2007, <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/wom1610.doc.htm>.
“The Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination and Violence Against the Girl Child: 51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York from February 26-March 9, 2007” from The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), posted on March 9, 2007, <http://lyris.spc.int/read/messages?id=52304>.
“Young Girls Speak, are Focus of 51st Meeting on Status of Women” from Feminist Majority Foundation, posted on March 8, 2007, <http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=10190>.