Serré returns from UN Commission on the Status of Women

Serré returns from successful 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women hosted in New York City

NICKEL BELT/GREATER SUDBURY– Against the backdrop of unprecedented global efforts for women’s rights and gender equality, Marc Serré, MP for Nickel Belt and member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, traveled to New York City as a Canadian Delegate of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to participate in the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW62). This is the UN’s largest gathering on gender equality and women’s rights, and the single largest forum for UN Member States, civil society organizations and other international actors to build consensus and commitment on policy actions on this issue.

The 62nd CSW is focused on the priority theme of “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”.

The Canadian Delegation at the UN Commission on the Status of Women co-hosted a number of important side events with international delegates to discuss the following important topics: Barriers to Justice for Indigenous Women; The New “A-Team” for Gender Equality: Advocates, Assembly Members, and Auditors; Violence Against Young Women and Girls; Empowering Rural Women and Girls; Engaging Men and Boys; and Rural Indigenous Women in Incarceration.

Additionally, on Tuesday, March 13th, MP Serré attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at CSW 62. The meeting was broken up into three sessions; 1) Amplifying the voices of rural women and girls; 2) Addressing discrimination against rural women and girls; and 3) Mitigating the impact of climate change on rural women and girls.

MP Serré had the opportunity to participate in deliberations on key issues that significantly impact gender equality and the empowerment of all rural women and girls, ranging from how to ensure their adequate living standards with increased access to land and productive assets, decent work, infrastructure and technology, education and health, including their sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, and ending all forms of violence and harmful practices.

“It was an honour to attend and participate in this conference with my peers, representatives from Members States, UN entities and NGOs (Non-Governmental organizations). This massive conglomerate of people from around the world gathered with unified intentions: to listen, share and work towards a better tomorrow for all women and girls around the world. I believe the work done by the Commission on the Status of Women has made progress internationally and will continue to help foster gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls.”

– Marc Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt