CSW64 African Women's Position

António Guterres
United Nations Secretary General
405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10017, USA
 
Mher Margaryan
Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia
119 E 36th St, New York, New York 10016
 
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
UN Women Executive Director
220 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, United States
 
Dear Excellencies,
 
Subject: There should be NO CSW64… until ALL women are present!
For the last 64 years, women across the globe have defied both natural and man-made pandemics to converge annually without fail at the UN Headquarters in New York for the annual pilgrimage for women – the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Africa has stood tall and engaged throughout the CSW journey and still maintains her determination to mark CSW64 – alongside all the women in the world – even as the world grapples with containing the devastating COVID-19.
The decision to postpone the CSW64 by Member states is indeed critical and necessary. In the face of the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting the lives of women and girls, just like all humanity must be the priority.
Nevertheless, the sustained spirit and focus of the CSW64 must be maintained and indeed re-imagined to uphold this year’s very crucial process of the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted twenty-five years ago during the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995.
To us women of Africa, as it is to all women globally the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was the pivotal revolution to the mandate of gender equality and women’s empowerment and hence 25 years after its inception it is extremely critical that we substantively unpack this process in platforms such as the CSW64.
In global solidarity therefore, as the world battles to contain the ravages of COVID-19, in our African resilience, tenacity and unwavering spirit to sustain the journey for gender equality, we reiterate the following to salvage the possible exclusion of a CSW64 by ensuring that it indeed occurs at a later date.
We the women of Africa:-

1. Reiterate for the postponement of the CSW64 to a later date when the global COVID-19 health crisis has been managed and lives are not being put at risk NOT a cancellation or a reduction of the traditional 14 day CSW pilgrimage to a mere one-day procedural meeting as adopted by the informal CSW meeting held on 2nd of March 2020. The issues of gender discrimination, violence against women, sexisms, misogyny and a myriad of ills directed at women and girls because of their gender are too important to be reduced to a one-day discussion.

Postponing CSW is to uphold principles of ‘equitable participation’ and setting a precedence to stay true to our collective values and principles despite the circumstances. Reducing CSW to either a day session or to New York based delegates only is telling women’s rights organizations and activists across the world that you don’t matter. This is not the message the UN needs to send to millions of women and girls who continue to face structural exclusion and marginalization. African women in all our diversities are refusing to be excluded in our own space.
Therefore, the procedural CSW64 meeting set for next week will NOT be an indicator of the actual CSW process for this year but will seek clarity for a postponement of the CSW64 to a feasible later date in the year when health risks will be under control. As the resounding clarion call abound, there will be #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs!  #LeaveNoOneBehind.

2. Urge the UN to uphold her global stewardship role to support women’s rights organizations to fully recover costs incurred due to the unprecedented postponement of the CSW64 such as flight cancellations and hotel accommodation. The UN is very much aware of the resourcing strains and challenges of Women’s Rights Organizations in Africa and across the globe and thus should rise up to this eventuality and be the buffer support for flights and accommodation cancellations by issuing official directives to airlines, hotels and service providers to refund full costs already incurred.

Given the importance of this year’s CSW (review and appraisal of the Beijing +25), most women’s rights organizations invested their resources to participate and engage in a meaningful way. Ignoring the reality of the plight of Women’s Rights Organizations and Feminist groups especially from the global South is unethical and inconsiderate of governing bodies and resource partners such as the UN.  We propose UN to setup a support system that can assist Women’s Rights Organizations in negotiating and recovering related costs.
Lastly, it should be noted that it is on the basis of local, regional and global processes and platforms for addressing gender equality and women’s rights that transformational change on equal rights and dignity continue to be realized.
The Women of Africa continue to be in the center of positive impact on women’s empowerment, rights and justice and reiterate their commitment to work in solidarity and close collaborations with the UN and Member States regardless of challenges and hurdles both foreseen and unforeseen.
As we march on in power and confidence to make the world an equal, fair and just place for all women and girls, we say Aluta Continua! – The Struggle continues! #PostponeCSW
Signed by: