16 Days: Safe World – Day 5

14 young women delegates will represent WAGGGS at the upcoming 57^th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The CSW is the functional body of the UN that looks at gender. UN Member States meet annually at the CSW to look at gender inequality and women’s rights, to evaluate progress and identify any challenges. Each year, the CSW looks at a different gender issue. This year it will focus on ‘the elimination and prevention of violence against women and girls.’

As a global Movement with 10 million girls and young women worldwide, WAGGGS will play an important role in the conversations at the CSW. As part of the Stop the Violence campaign, WAGGGS delegates will lobby decision-makers at the CSW to ensure a global commitment to implement safe spaces where the rights of girls are protected and championed.

WAGGGS calls all Member States at the CSW to action to implement 9 key points to ensure safe spaces for girls:

1. Protect and support – provide support services for all girls and young women.
2. Work together – ensure integrated and holistic multi-agency working approaches to addressing violence against girls and young women.
3. Resource – Commit funds to support programmes and services that address violence against girls and young women.
4. Action Plans – create and implement strategic national action plans for tackling gender-based violence.
5. Education – Deliver gender equality education to build young people’s understanding of violence.
6. Representation – end the objectification of women and girls by regulating and restricting sexist and violent imagery
7. No excuses – avoid using excuses to justify inactivity on tackling violence against girls and young women.
8. Justice – Protect the rights of girls and young women through legislation that criminalises all acts of violence against girls and young women.
9. Data – create international standards for recording and monitoring girls and young women’s experience of violence.