Reflecting on CSW69: A Milestone for Gender Equality

Rotary Club of Washington Global President Rose Cardarelli (second from left), with UNICEF's partners.

It was a great honor to be invited to the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations this past week as the Rotary International Representative to UNICEF. The session was a review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the outcome of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.

Since it was the 30-year anniversary of the Declaration, it is a defining moment for girls’ rights and gender parity. It was wonderful to meet up with friends and colleagues and to join in genuinely productive conversations.

Dr. Rose Cardarelli, Ms. Debra Boudreaux, and Mr. Ed Futa.

UNICEF graciously hosted a reception for their partners and a side event on Gender-Responsive Social Protection across the Life Course with Gaspar Fajth, UNICEF Director for Social Policy and Social Protection; Lord Collins of Highbury, Minister for Africa, Government spokesperson for Equalities, Government of the UK; and Honorable Minister, Sah Sudi, Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

And it’s always good to see my book, Children and the Climate Migration Crisis, on the shelves of the UN Bookstore! 

Dr. Rose Cardarelli with her book, Children and the Climate Migration Crisis.