NGO CSW69/Beijing+30 Forum at the UN

 

Nina Kennedy at the United Nations

During the Commission on the Status of Women's Forum over the past two weeks, I was reminded of how privileged I am to be an American. Thousands came to the United Nations to participate, and this year we were celebrating 30 years since the World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. 

During several panels I learned that some women from some countries have no rights of inheritance after their husbands deaths. In some cases, members of the deceased husband's family can kick the pregnant widow and her children out of the house. Several international foundations exist to support these women and children.

In this country we hardly ever hear of the ILO Convention 190. With 44 ratifications in five years, Convention 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace is the fastest ratified International Labour Organization's convention of the past decade. (The United States has yet to ratify the ILO C190.)

There were several meetings for LBTQ+ groups, including a panel on the LBTQ+ Movement in Asia, and a reception for LBTQ+ participants at the offices of Outright International.

At one poignant moment we were asked to look at our own countries' online statements on the Status of Women, only to learn that the White House page on the status of women had been deleted.

In another panel on the status of women during genocide, we heard horrific details of the treatment of the women and children of Gaza at the hands of Israeli soldiers. This is something we hardly ever hear or see on the news in this country. During the Q&A, one white American woman wanted to blame Kamala Harris for the continued death and destruction in Gaza by not speaking up against Israel. I felt the need to stand up to defend Kamala, and stated that as Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris could not speak out against Biden's policies. She lost so much support because of this. And look at what we have now as a result!

It pains me to see that women could not come together to support Kamala Harris for President. Again, like Hillary, she was the most qualified candidate you could want. But too many Americans simply would not vote for her because she was Black. She was certainly aware that many Americans who are pro-Israel were already suspicious of her because they feared that she would be too pro-Palestinian. Anyone who is brown-skinned is a suspect, it seems. She did what she could to appease the naysayers, but it was not enough to keep Trump out of office. What a tragedy!

Overall it was agreed upon that the Status of Women is most precarious in war, and our hearts go out to the women in Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, et al.

Mexican Lesbian activist Gloria Careaga Pérez speaking at Outright International

In spite of the political climate, I'm happy to say that I made many new friends from all over the world, and look forward to developing these friendships in the future.