CSW69 Reflection: Betty Jones

“Voices from Maori and Pacific Women and Girls of Aotearoa New Zealand”

This session featured three indigenous -based women’s organizations and highlighted several programs around the issues of domestic violence, family well-being and challenges due to economic crisis.

The focus of the four programs was to strengthen grassroots, indigenous women to participate in community action leading to constitutional reform.  Poverty is growing in New Zealand, particularly among indigenous women which leads to more suicides among pregnant women.  Constitutional reform is needed to effect equal rights. Jointly these 4 organizations use Reconciliation, Remediation, Restoration and Reconstitution to bring about social change for the indigenous women.

“Innovative Approaches to Challenges of Education” sponsored by The International Council of Nursing

The group showed a film about the lack of prenatal care in California, Brooklyn, New York, Ohio and Tanzania.  The film focused on the reasons for our low infant mortality rate by interviewing mothers, community workers, grassroots women/girls, medical staff, community clinicians.  Lack of resources, fear of being rejected, language barriers, unaware of resources were the reasons for keeping women/girls from getting prenatal care which leads to high mortality rate.  The film was extremely well done and very focused.  Nurses sought suggestions on marketing the film in underserved communities.

“Assessment and Prospects of Gender Equality in Haiti: 30 years after Beijing”

I did not know that this workshop would be conducted in French without a translator.  I managed with my fading French comprehension but wanted to hear how women/girls were being protected from the current gang activity. Unfortunately most of the time was spent on the evolution of Gender Policies in Haiti, Strengthening Institutional Policies and mainstreaming gender in national politics The last 10 minutes were spent by the panel discussing the political instability which has exacerbated gang violence and economic hardship.  Essential services such as healthcare, education and shelters face severe disruptions, directly impacting women’s rights.