President's Message Winter 2022
March 11th marks the second anniversary of the day that Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. Since then, our lives have changed significantly; we have had to learn to adapt. As an organization in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, IWC earned the right to send delegates to the annual meetings of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March. The 2020 session of CSW was nothing but a few brief statements and press releases and was not open to the public. Last year, we learned how to use a platform to present our first “parallel events” at the virtual CSW NGO Forum, running alongside the official CSW meetings. This year, changes have been made to how parallel events will be offered, allowing us the opportunity to invite guests to our events even if they have not registered with the platform. The use of online platforms has opened our eyes to new opportunities, but it has also left many feeling isolated.
Whether you embrace this virtual world or feel intimidated by the wide array of apps, online platforms, and social media, digital technology definitely helps to make our world feel a little smaller and bridge the gap between continents. This is a uniquely historic time and we must take advantage of the opportunities available to us to create a world where women and girls are accepted as fully human, deserving respect in all regards. I hope many of you will participate in the CSW events from the comfort of your sofa or your desk at home - please see details here.
We have much to be proud of in our work to make IWC a strong and resilient organization with increased visibility within U*U communities and beyond. We are always looking for more hearts and minds - and hands - to help us achieve our mission. If you are not already involved in any of our committees, please consider joining where your interests lie. We’d love for you to become an active member of our team!