By Sylvia Farley, Executive Director, Manitoba Federation of Labour

I have been given the wonderful opportunity of participating as a member of the Canadian Labour Congress Delegation attending the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCWS) which runs from March 4th to 15th in New York City. There are approximately 85 women activists from 27 countries as part of the ITUC-EI-PSI-UNI Global Union Delegation this year.

Each year, the UNCSW focuses on one priority theme and negotiates “Agreed Conclusions” on this theme. The main theme of the UNCSW57 is the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

All accredited Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) are invited to submit a statement to the UNCSW each year. These statements form part of the offical UNCSW documentation. The global union federations – the International Trade Union Confederation(ITUC), Public Services International (PSI) and Education International (EI) typically submit a joint statement to the UNCSW, providing the trade union perspective on the priority theme.

As part of the Labour delegation it is our responsibility to identify our allies and make links with like-minded orgaizations. In meeting with these organizations we look for common ground in their position statements that we can work together on.

Governments, or “Member States,” attend the UNCSW to report on the progress made on the main theme, and to negotiate the “Agreed Conclusions”. Each Member State presents a statement on the main theme during a plenary session. Each year, UN Women prepares “Draft Agreed Conclusions” as a starting point for the negotiations between Member States during the Session. These Draft Agreed Conclusions are made available online prior to the opening of the UNCSW Session. Once negotiated and agreed on, these become the outcome of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

The UNSCW is arguably the biggest gathering of women in the world. Check out the website and follow the 57th session HERE.

Get daily updates from a labour perspective at the UNCSW 2013 Trade Union Blog.

Watch the proceedings live: