The New York Solidarity Rally, in Photos

Day 4 - After the UN session we joined fellow trade unionists in front of Fox News. The rally was in support of Wisconsin trade unionists fighting against union busting tactics of governor and also against the awful coverage by fox of this struggle.



Julie White at the rally.



Knowledge is power!



Democracy is not a spectator sport.




"You wanted a class war, you got one."




United we stand!



This is what democracy looks like.



Power to the people!



Reflections on the opening session of UNCSW.

While the opening session of the UNCSW was quite interesting yesterday – in particular Michelle Bachelet, the new UN Under-Secretary General of UN Women – it seems important to remember whose voices are part of the official proceedings and whose voices are absent.

Canadian Government seats on the
 floor of the UN

Yesterday I listened to several countries talk about the amazing work they are doing to eliminate violence against women and girls, ensure equal access to adequate health care, education and social services, and to generally work towards gender equality – the reports all sounded amazing. And yet I know that later this week Canada also will give a glowing report, likely similar to last year when then minister Helena Guergis extolled the work of the Harper government around women’s equality. Those of us on the ground knew that what was reported to the UN was an incredible misrepresentation of the reality for women in Canada. In many ways the official proceedings are a bit of a PR campaign where countries work hard to show they are doing what they have committed to do.

In New York at these meetings there are over 2000 delegates representing NGO’s who are on the ground pushing and challenging governments to live up to their commitments around gender equality – labour groups among them. The side events here at the UNCSW meetings, hosted by NGO’s, provide a clearer picture of what is actually happening in countries around gender equality and provide inspiration for others in our work for economic, political and social equality for women and girls.

In sisterhood,

Day 3 & 4 at UNSWC 55

Special Briefing with Jane Hodges,
Director of the ILO Gender Bureau

Our last two days at the United Nations (UNSWC55 ) have been exciting, rewarding and empowering. More that 2000 delegates representing 27 countries from around the world are committed to working for change in education,training and technology for women and girls around the world.

This year's theme of "access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology" calls for the promotion of  equal access to women's full employment and decent work, and highlights the necessity for women to be actively engaged in the process. Women need to know that the "door is open" and education and training are available to accelerate their progress. For this to happen we need political will, financial resources and action! And women must be at the table, lending their voices, their experiences and their unique perspectives to the debates and discussions taking place. Women must have the tools and training to make full equality a reality.

Yesterday started early with an orientation briefing by staff from the ITUC-PSI-EI for all trade union delegates from around the world. We heard from Jane Hodges, Director of the ILO Gender Bureau, selected parallel side events and ended our day with FAFIA representatives as delegates worked to prepare for the opening session of the United Nations CSW55.

Our access today was limited at the opening session due to ongoing construction, so delegates shared passes and attended parallel events. Parallel events included panels, documentaries, briefings and high level round tables providing delegates with opportunities to hear and share our best practices and develop responses to the many challenges that lay ahead. Parallel NGO events covered a host of issues including peace, climate challenges, dignity for domestic workers, Haitian women's fight against rape, women's access to full employment, decent work, engaging young women and building a women friendly state.



Solidarity Rally NYC

  Today the day ended in a show of international solidarity for Wisconsin public sector workers as delegates from the UNSWC55 joined with the NY labour movement in a vocal rally chanting "We are Wisconsin", leaving the rally with a commitment to fight collectively in solidarity with Wisconsin workers until the Republicans retreat...a wonderful finish to two incredible days!
                     Fighting back makes a difference!

Day two: Orientation for UNCSW 55

Canadian delegates attending the UNCSW55 trade union orientation meeting were asked to identify 3 challenges women are facing today in Canada ...our responses came quickly ..

1) Women's economic equality - pensions, child care, precarious work, pay equity.

2) Marginalization of aboriginal women and girls in education, health, violence, rights and status including  infant mortality.

3) Democratic marginalzation - defunding of feminist women's orgainizations by the Harper government; new criteria for funding became an emphasis on service rather than policy and advocacy; underrepresentation of women at all levels of government, and ongoing attacks on hard-won rights like reproductive choice.

Women left the orientation session ready to push back once again...and angry as hell !!

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.~ Rebecca West

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead