Today's Reports

CSW Ecumenical Women Orientation Day Justice
Ecumenical Women          2016-03-12          Eirwen Pallant

Brief Summary of presentation of information made?
(NB: This section seeks to factually report what was said in the presentation. No inference should be drawn in terms of Salvation Army position or policy from this section)
Dr Phumzile
Ecumenical Women work together despite the diversity of our beliefs. The theme for CSW this year is Women’s Empowerment and the links to the SDGs. CSW this year will define not only our role for 2030 but also give impetus for each year. The priority theme is –Implementation . We must leave no-one behind, focusing first on those who have least- these are often women and girls. We must institutionalise ‘leave no one behind’ in the way we work. It is about changing the way we live, the way we work, the way we relate to others and also relate to the environment. In 2020 we need to evaluate whether we are on the right track. FBO’s have been involved in many issues that are now in the SDGs. All countries have some form of discrimination against women, all have issues of violence against women. It is not just in countries where there is no law to protect women but there are many underground practices in many countries. Other issues are extremism, low intensity patriarchy that extends from generation to generation and stereotyping. All need to be addressed from the pulpit. Some of the most vulnerable are girls but also the older women. The SDGs and the Bejing Agreement both need implementing and we need strategies for both.
Lopa Benerjee representing UN women
SDGs are about transformation. 80 governments have signed up to the Bejing Agreement. This is an immense achievement. Now major conversations on violence, peace and migration which all affect women. But there are still major challenges. The way forward is with partnerships and organization of monitoring of the implementation of the changes.
Delegates need to:
Reaffirm the aims
Focus on the implementation of the SDG aims noting their inclusivity and indivisibility
Focus on the monitoring and evaluation of  state involvement
Caterina Tino representing UNICEF
Religion impacts people from the time they are born. Religious communities are often best placed to reach children & families. 2/3 of UNICEF offices are working with religious communities Religious organisations will be important in achieving the SDGs  A fundamental shift in thinking is needed for gender equality and justice. Rape is condoned as compensation for unpaid salaries by S Sudanese soldiers. Gender justice goes beyond violence to fundamental beliefs about who girls and women are as people. Illustration of religious community involvement with SDGs heard a sermon in church on Elijah and the widow.
 The 3 sermon points were:
Poverty- the widow was poor
Environment – there had been a drought and famine
Gender Justice – the widow had no means of earning an income
Tatiana Dwyer representing United Methodist Women
The SDGs are a vision setting the agenda for change. Poverty is rooted in inequality. Women are central to development and need to be central in decision making. Need to move from national agreement to local delivery. Panel discussion revolved around conversations. UN needs to be safe space to have the conversations. Congregations need to hold the difficult discussions.

What was of particular significance to share with The Salvation Army globally?