OSI's Network Women's Program, in cooperation with other networks and funders including the Network of East-West Women (NEWW), UNIFEM, the Global Fund for Women, and Mama Cash, supported the participation of over 65 women's rights advocates and activists from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Mongolia at the 49th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The aim was to mainstream CEE/CIS issues into the larger UN processes and policy documents.
From February 28 to March 11, 2005, the UN CSW conducted a ten-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action (Beijing +10), and commemorated the 30th anniversary of the first UN World Conference on Women, held in Mexico in 1975. The Beijing +10 process marks a political moment to bring attention to the status of women's rights nationally and globally. It provides the global women's movement the opportunity to give voice to issues important to women worldwide, and to unite in advancing a global women's rights agenda.
In addition to official high-level events, several NGO-coordinated events were scheduled, including an NGO Consultation "From Mexico City to Beijing and Beyond," NGO Orientation and Lobby Training, NGO receptions and luncheons, commemorative events, and artisan craft fairs. March 1 8, in the framework of the Global Week of Action, women across the globe organized local, national, regional, and international actions to address a broad range of concerns, demand action on commitments to women's rights and gender equality, and celebrate gains of recent decades.
On March 1, NWP and NEWW co-hosted a reception and panel discussion at the Open Society Institute to discuss advocacy efforts for Bejing +10 with participants from and advocates for Central Eastern Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States, and Mongolia.
NWP and NEWW also co-hosted a regional caucus, "Beyond Beijing: Next Steps in Advocacy for CEE/CIS Region," to discuss possibilities for NGO advocacy, including efforts for integration of Beijing and CEDAW with the Millenium Development Goals. The caucus took place March 5 at the UN Church Center. NWP arranged a caucus space for daily check-ins for the region during official events.
During the Beijing +10 processes, NWP sought in particular to promote Roma women s rights, networking and advocacy entry-points for new EU member states and accession countries, the use of Beijing for restoration of national machinery, cross-regional and international linkages, and connecting NGO voices with government dialogue.
To find out more about the CSW and the Beijing +10 process, please visit the following website: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/englis h/49sess.htm.