AMWA Leaders attend the United Nations 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women – Beijing + 20

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