CWGL MESSAGE ABOUT CSW AGREED CONCLUSIONS
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From: Ann S.
Date: Monday, March 18, 2013, 2:17 PM
Subject: CWGL Message about CSW Agreed Conclusions
ID: 273476

Dear Advocates for Women's Rights, As many of you already know, on Friday, March 15, 2013, at the CSW 57, UN Member States adopted Agreed Conclusions with reservations on the priority theme of the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. The outcome document is forthcoming and will be available on the UN Women website: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/57sess.htm.

While the negotiations resulted in a set of agreed conclusions, it is not as strong as we had hoped. Most importantly, member states failed to reach consensus on language related to violence against women because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. However, the Agreed Conclusions highlight the role of small arms and light weapons in the perpetuation of violence against women and girls; and for the first time in a negotiated document, there is acknowledgement of the risks faced by women human rights defenders and states’ obligation to support and protect them.

We are heartened by the overwhelming response to the Statement of Feminist and Women’s Organizations on the Very Alarming Trends in the Negotiations of Outcome Document of the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Over 400 organizations and individuals endorsed the statement and we look forward to working with all of you in the days, weeks, and months ahead to advance women’s rights! The struggle continues! In solidarity, CWGL -- Center for Women's Global Leadership School of Arts and Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 160 Ryders Lane New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8555 Tel: 1-848-932-8782 Fax: 1-732-932-1180 Email: cwgl@rci.rutgers.edu Website: http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu