Program Overview
One of UNANIMA’s aims is to advocate on behalf of women and children who live in economic poverty. We do this in a variety of ways. We sponsor women and children from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, for example, to speak on their own behalf at the United Nations. Their experiences play a crucial role in our work for policy change. Additionally, our members submit oral and written interventions to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and produce alternative NGO reports for country reviews on the Committee to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in both New York and Geneva. We also provide similar reports for country reviews held in Geneva on the Rights of the Child.
Working to stop human trafficking is dangerous and courageous, whose victims have been women and children, has been a focus for us since UNANIMA began. Over the years, we have been privileged to come to know and work with valiant persons who are engaged in this struggle world-wide.
In 2008, we inaugurated our annual Woman of Courage Award. Click here to learn more about the recipients.
Program Resources
UNANIMA International: CSW 55 Written Intervention (Link – NGO/58)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: UK 2010 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Cameroon 2008 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Nigeria 2008 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Australia 2007 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Australia 2006 (PDF)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Pakistan 2006 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Gabon 2005 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Italy 2005 (DOC)
Alternative NGO Report for CEDAW: Equatorial Guinea 2004 (DOC)
Read some of our recent Update entries for latest news below:
Reflections on CSW 57
Even though the document that came out of the Commission on the Status of Women was not perfect (e.g. it did not explicitly defend girls and women from discrimination or violence based on their gender or sexual orientation) it IS a “win” for women. In her blog for a newspaper, Dr. Cheryl Saban wrote “When you contemplate what it really takes to get consensus on a …document at the UN that places accountability squarely on its 193 member states to ‘do it right, or we will call you out publically,’ just close your eyes and imagine [your national legislative body] trying to pass a bill. Now think about them doing it while they are all speaking different languages…and attempting to accomplish this mission in two weeks’ time.” She said she was not sure the public has a sense of how complicated this whole process was…indeed, how complicated everything is at the UN!
Community News
The Holy Union Sisters’ American Province intranet is regularly used to transmit items about pending and current legislation, alerts, and general information about topics closely allied with UNANIMA goals: International Women’s Day/Month, Violence Against Women Act; World Water Day, Farming; Immigration Reform, Dream Act.
The Commission on the Status of Women…
…was a cry for the end of all forms of violence against women and girls. Founded on 21 June 1946, this Commission (about as old as the UN itself) is dedicated to ensuring women’s equality and promoting their rights. Yet after all these years–
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