AMWA Leaders attended the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, NY. This year’s event was symbolic as the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Women’s Conference where nearly 30,000 participants gathered at the NGO Forum. This year’s Session was preceded by a March for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in commemoration of the 20-year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and in celebration of International Women’s Day. Featured speakers included the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, New York’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray, Actor Paul Bettany, and other dignitaries and celebrities who marched for gender equity with thousands of women and men from around the world.
Ruchira Gupta, an Emmy-winning Indian filmmaker, journalist, abolitionist, and human rights activist was recognized for her work in empowering women and girls and honored with the 2015 NGO CSW Woman of the Year Distinction Award.
Read more here. Watch her keynote at the UN CSW Consultation Day.
Watch the PSB special featuring her work on human trafficking in India: Part One Part Two
MWIA hosted a parallel UN CSW event – co-sponsored by AMWA and the National Council of Women – The Role of MWIA in Promoting Health and Reproductive Rights since Beijing and Beyond
Moderated by Dr. Padmini Murthy – Communications Secretary NGOCSWNY and Alt Rep MWIA to UN
Welcome
Dr. Shelley Ross – Secretary General MWIA Canada
H.E. Professor Malgorzata Fuszara Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment. Poland
Beijing and Beyond
Dr. Satty Gill Keswani MWIA Main Rep to UN USA
Health Consequences of Prostitution
Ruchira Gupta, Apne Aap Founder, Women of Distinction Awardee NGOCSWNY2015
Guyland: University Campuses and Violence Against Women
Dr. Gail Beck, MWIA Treasurer, Canada
Strength in Synergy: An Empowered Global Approach to Leadership, Medicine & Science
Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla – AMWA President
Beijing Platform of Action and Its Implementation in Africa 20 years later
Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi – Past President Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria
MWIA in partnership with the Australian Federation of Medical women helped provide the donation of portable ultrasound machines funded by Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS – the Australian arm of Rotary International). Coordinated by MWIA leader, Professor Gabrielle Casper BSc(Hons) MBBS FRANZCOG, the ultrasound machines were donated to health care facilities in LDC (Least Developed Countries).
MWIA in partnership with Zonta International also provided Grenada with 300 birth kits.

Dr Haffizulla sits with fellow global leaders as she prepares to address the attendees at the United Nations Parallel event

Dr Haffizulla Speaks at the United Nations Parallel event with MWIA Seated-honoree Ruchira Gupta

Dr. Mini Murthy presenting an ultrasound machine to Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade and the Governor General of Greneda.

MWIA and AMWA Leader, Dr. Mini Murthy (center), presenting Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade and the Governor General of Greneda with the birthing kits

L-R Dr. Eliza Chin, Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, Ruchira Gupta, Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, Dr. Mini Murthy, Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla, Dr. Dyani Loo

AMWA Leaders with Japanese physician delegates.

Dr. Mini Murthy (L) and Ruchira Gupta

International Women’s Day March L-R Dr. Mini Murthy, Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla

L-R Dr. Mini Murthy, Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber

Post March Rally

Post March Rally

Australian Medical Students attending MWIA event

AMWA Leaders with Soon-Young Yoon, Chair NGO CSW/NY

Ruchira Gupta, 2015 NGO CSW WOMAN OF THE YEAR DISTINCTION AWARDEE

International Women’s Day March L-R Dr. Eliza Chin, Dr. Dyani Loo, Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla, Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, Dr. Mini Murthy