People's Voices for the World We Want – Women and the Post-2015 Agenda | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Last Friday, 7 March, the Policy Strategy Group of the World We Want 2015 platform hosted its Seventh Interactive Session of its People's Voices Series. The “People's Voices” Series is an opportunity for people to showcase various points of view and ideas for global development around important themes and topics. This month’s theme was Women’s Voices in the Post-2015 Agenda, which coincided with the High Level Event on ‘The Contributions of Women, the Young and Civil Society to the Post-2015 Development Agenda”, organized by the President of the General Assembly, as well as the celebrations on the International Women’s Day 2014 “Equality for women is progress for all”. The Peoples’ Voices event aimed to explore how gender equality and women and girls’ issues can be featured prominently in the next development agenda, from the perspectives of ageing, indigenous, disability, grassroots and other communities.

Following an introduction by Rosa Lizarde, Co-chair of the World We Want Policy and Strategy Group, Nebila Abdulmenik, a pan-Africanist and feminist, began the panel discussion with a unique perspective on women’s empowerment. Ms. Abdulmenik, currently based in Nairobi as the Head of Communications at FEMNET, presented a number of ways to encourage mobilization and participation among African Women. She also stated that “Rural African women are the central indicator used to measure development outcomes whether its poverty, illiteracy, health, etc. and therefore they are the rightful holders of change, if change is to happen.”

Marta Benavides, founder of Siglo XXIII, representing older persons, stated that “women, youth, children, migrants, refugees, older adults, first nations, LGBTQ, people with special challenges, rural and coastal peoples, who have been and are traditionally excluded must be intentionally listened to, and brought into the Circle of All.”

Lori Johnston from Yamasi People, conveyed the urgency to respect the history and plight of indigenous women, while at the same time recognizing their powerful voices in today’s society.

After a short Q&A section, the event continued with Cynthia Rothschild, an independent human rights and sexual rights activist, who spoke on behalf of LGBTQI groups. Ms. Rothschild highlighted that “the intersectionality of LGBTQI/SOGI issues and development means that decisions made at the global level affect the daily lives of many, in terms of education, healthcare, basic rights…”

Vandana Chaudhry, an Assistant Professor at City University of New York, spoke on behalf of peoples with disabilities, offering insight into ways to enhance representation of these marginalized groups in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Lastly, Abigail Ruane, the PeaceWomen Program Manager for the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, emphasized gender equitable conflict prevention and post-conflict peace building in the Post-2015 sustainable development agenda. Ms. Ruane stated, “Currently, there is investing in inequality and war, rather than women, equality and peace. Just a fraction of the US $1.7 trillion arms trade would finance the MDGs”. As part of her work, Ms. Ruane has taken a leading role in advocating to strengthen gender equitable conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding in the Post-2015 agenda.

Representatives from Member-States, non-governmental and civil society organizations, women’s and girls’ organizations, UN agencies, media and academia attended the event, which took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Live Stream Recording of the event can be found here.

Photo: UNSDN