Global Solidarity for a Healthy and Sustainable Environment CSW 66 Consultation Day: NGO CSW Geneva / Vienna
Written by: Carolyn Handschin
An encouraging written message from the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mme. Michele Bachelet, was a welcome opening to the CSW66 Consultation Day jointly prepared by the NGO Committees on the Status of Women in Geneva and Vienna. WFWPI has been active in the NGO Committees in Geneva and Vienna over many years, working on distinct issues related to the different agencies based in each UN venue. The Consultation Day collaboration provided an enjoyable opportunity to complement each other’s expertise. In addition to launching the two weeks of CSW66, the event was an opportunity to highlight the new Human Rights Council Resolution 43/13 recognizing a Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment and the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes Resolution 10/6, also new, on Preventing and Combatting Crimes that Affect the Environment.
The NGO CSW Geneva President and Director for the WFWPI Offices for UN Relations, Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, gave opening remarks on the opportunities provided by the 2022 theme, and reflections on the Call to Action for civil society engagement that was the core of the day’s event. She introduced a video message from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to the Environment, Dr. David Boyd. Expressing great appreciation for the dedication of civil society to the issues over decades, he spoke of the significance of the new resolution as a catalyst for an even more effective partnership for stewardship of the environment.
A rich and stimulating panel followed on the theme “Empowering Rural Women in the Context of Climate Change.” The panel brought together Dr. Christine Altenbuchner of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences and Ms. Mag Theresia Weiser of the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research (Austria) for an academic and interactive look into the theme. Ms. Barbara Kunz brought in a different, and very experience-based perspective as President of the Bernese (Swiss) Federation of Rural Women Associations. Carol McConkie, Geneva Vice President (LDS Charities) graciously facilitated.
Interlaced between elements of the program were smart, dynamic video clips, including one from the UN, “Women leading Climate Change Solutions,” calling for gender-responsive action to the climate crisis in areas of physical health, livelihoods, food insecurity and gender-based violence. The final section of the program was the Declaration, Call to Action and Advocacy Resources that was introduced by young committee members from Geneva and Vienna, led by Ms. Srruthi Lekha (WFWPI), the Geneva Youth Task Force facilitator. The documents had been drafted and prepared by a small team from the Vienna and Geneva Committees, including, Ms. Laurie Richardson (FAWCO), Ms. Evelyn Durmäyer (IBPW), Ms. Zarin Hainsworth (NAWO), Srruthi and Carolyn, hoping to catch the women and youth participating in CSW66 with the intention of creating local programs and networks for the protection of nature.
