Episcopalians share reflections on learning, advocacy work, 30 years of Beijing Declaration at UNCSW

[Episcopal News Service] The six Episcopal leaders who represented Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe at the 69th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, or CSW69, meeting in New York City shared their experiences during a livestreamed closing Eucharist at the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan.

The delegates joined representatives of U.N. member states, U.N. entities and accredited nongovernmental organizations March 10-21 to learn how to increase and improve women’s equality and empowerment worldwide.

The Gospel passage read during the Eucharist was Luke 24:1-11, which tells of the women – Mary, the mother of James, Mary Magdalene, Joanna and others – who told the apostles that Jesus was missing from his tomb.

“I hear hope and possibility, even in the midst of so much work that is yet done,” the Rev. Margaret Rose said during the March 21 Eucharist. “For this, UNCSW, for all the women who’ve been here and will be, I give great gratitude.”

Some delegates, like Rose, shared their reflections in lieu of a traditional sermon during the Eucharist.

Rose is the presiding bishop’s ecumenical and interreligious deputy and former deputy director of The Episcopal Church’s women’s ministries. She was one of the six Episcopal delegates to CSW69, alongside Lynnaia Main, The Episcopal Church’s representative to the United Nations; Rebecca Blachly, church’s chief of public policy witness; Julia Ayala Harris, president of the House of Deputies; Nicole Hosein, director of Episcopal Relief & Development’s gender initiatives; and Troy Collazo, policy adviser with the church’s Office of Government Relations.

CSW69 mostly focused on reviewing the implementation and outcomes of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was adopted in Beijing, China, in 1995 during the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace. The declaration is a resolution that promotes gender equality and women’s rights through a set of principles addressing 12 critical areas of concern, including economic empowerment and political participation.

The church’s goals for the CSW69 were outlined in a statement written by former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry before he retired last fall:

• Prioritize resources and programs for marginalized women and girls, including LGBTQ+ women, women of color, women with disabilities, migrant women, elderly women and others.
• Increase access to resources, public services, social protections and infrastructure.
• Increase access to economic and political power and decision-making.
• Eliminate all forms of gender-based violence.
• Address climate change and environmental issues, which disproportionately harm women and girls.

“While celebrating progress for and by women and girls in all their diversity in the 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we lament persistent injustices and call for change,” the statement says.

Today, many women worldwide are still vulnerable to physical or sexual violence, and the intentional killing of women and girls, or femicide, is also a global crisis, according to data compiled by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as U.N. Women. Femicide targeting LGBTQ+ women and women of color is also increasing globally.

Women worldwide are also paid about 80% of what men are paid for the same work, and that wage gap is higher for women of color.

Education access is also limited for many girls. Nearly 130 million girls, most living in poorer countries, aren’t enrolled in school. Girls in Afghanistan are forbidden to attend secondary school.

Main said during the Eucharist that CSW69 delegates discussed internalized oppression being a form of gender discrimination and gender-based violence, and that women not calling out gender injustices is “part of being a patriarchal society.”

“Every year, CSW seems to fall during Lent. And sometimes I’m asking, ‘Jesus, why do you have this the busiest time of the year for those of us working at the U.N., when we’re supposed to be reflecting inwardly?’ One of my own Lenten reflections this year has been on how I am complicit in my own internalized oppression, that I’m so conditioned by the system that I don’t speak up enough,” Main said. “For that, I ask for forgiveness from our Lord and savior and leave it with him as we reflect together on how Christ redeems our world.”

The delegates will share a report back to the church on CSW69 and brainstorm ideas for plans addressing advocacy work for women’s equality and empowerment churchwide during a webinar March 31 from 4-5 p.m. Eastern, called “Beyond Beijing+30: Realizing the Dream.” Register here for the Zoom link. In the meantime, Episcopalians interested in learning more can visit the Episcopal UNCSW web page or email episcopalun@episcopalchurch.org with questions.

-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.