We’re kicking off this year’s International Women’s Month in New York! Alongside hundreds of allies and advocates, JASS is headed to the 63rd United Nations Commission for the Status of Women (CSW) to spotlight the incredible work that women are leading around the world. Throughout 10 days, governments, NGOs, and activists will host more than 400 events at the CSW on issues ranging from gender-based violence in the workplace to creating feminist economies.
CSW63’s theme is social protection, including public services and safety. The participation and voices of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) are essential to advancing effective social protection policies that make equality, democracy, and peace possible. Yet, amid global trends of authoritarianism and extractive capitalism, political attacks against WHRDs are rising.
The collective protection of WHRDs is front and center of our movement-building work in all of the JASS regions. We’re bringing these practical strategies and ideas to the CSW.
Here’s where you’ll find us this week:
The Politics of Protection: lessons from women human rights defenders
Join us for a panel discussion to examine the innovative ways that WHRDs are battling increased violence driven by rising trends of authoritarianism and extractive capitalism.
When: March 12, 4:30-6pm
Where: Aqua Room at 4 West 43rd Street (between 5 and 6th Ave.)
Current Challenges & Opportunities for Women Human Rights Defenders: how can the international community better support their work?
Hosted with the UN Working Group on the discrimination against women in law and in practice the panel will highlight good practices and lessons learned from WHRD networks, and encourage UN member states’ commitment to protection and non-discrimination.
When: March 13, 6:30-8pm
Where: Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters
For those without accreditation, please RSVP to barditi@nullohchr.org by March 06
Advancing Sex Workers’ Rights to Social Protection
This side event will explore what social protection means for sex workers as informal sector workers to whom labor rights should be guaranteed. Speakers will discuss how decriminalizing sex work can (and does) strengthen anti-trafficking efforts. This event is co-organized by the Count Me In! Consortium (of which JASS is a proud member).
When: March 14, 8:15-9:30am
Where: Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters
Follow our #CSW63 activities on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and hope to see you this week
P.S. For more resources on the protection of human rights defenders, check out:
- Power and Protection multimedia page, a JASS’ and Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR) collaboration
- Making Change Happen 6: Rethinking Protection, Power, and Movements
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Women, Power, and Change in Southeast Asia
- “We’ve Had Enough”: A Call to Action to Protect Women Human Rights Defenders & Their Communities
- Power and Safety: Rethinking Protection for HRDs, Article by JASS’ Lisa VeneKlasen & FGHR’s James Savage
