Young Women's Alliance News and Events

NAWO YWA in Geneva July 2018

From June 29th – July 5th, NAWO YWA were proud to enable many young delegates to attend the United Nations’ Human Rights Council meeting at their UN HQ in Geneva. Delegates delivered speeches on a wide range of topics including child widows, violence against women and FGM. As well as delivering their own speeches, delegates attended a session of the Human Rights Council and saw member states voting on resolutions.

Emilia Thomas, a YWA delegate,  wrote the following about her experience in Geneva: “On the 29th June at 4am, 15 Stroud High and Marling students flew to the United Nations in Geneva to attend the 38th Human Rights Council as part of the NAWO Young Women’s Alliance. We were addressing and talking about a wide range of issues: 2 girls spoke on a FGM panels along with survivors, 2 girls gave speeches on child widows and the associated lack of data, 4 delegates spoke about the Sustainable Development Goals. The talks ranged from the impact of climate change on women, how menstruation can act as a barrier to education and empowerment, the crucial importance of gender equality as a way out of global poverty. Finally, 4 delegates spoke up about economic empowerment – this ranged from how to break the glass ceiling and why aren’t women getting the top jobs.

We all had the freedom to choose to attend a various range of events being hosted by other

NGOS as well as the exciting and dynamic chamber where there was a constant discussion. We attended so many eye opening and inspiring events.  Some of the most interesting events included violence against women in Mexico, religious freedom, enforced disappearances in Sri Lanka, human rights in the Middle East and environmental human rights.

We returned on the 7th July with plans to raise awareness and share the things we had learnt in our own communities in order to make a change.”