As the United Nations headquarters, and home to the General Assembly, all areas of the UN’s work is discussed in New York. The centre is also the headquarters of UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, created in 2010. The team of SI UN Representatives in New York cover gender equality, ageing and older persons, the girl child, trafficking, migration, education, sustainable development, financing for development, peace and security. This team of UN Representatives also cover UN processes and functional commissions such as the General Assembly’s 6 committees, the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Commission on Social Development (CSocD), and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), all of which promote SI’s presence and enhance the impact of our advocacy efforts.
SI’s United Nations Representatives for New York are Bette Levy (Centre Contact), Barbara T Rochman, Frances Zainoeddin, Vanesa Treers, Maria Fornella, Jacqueline Shapiro, and Designate Siren Fadler.
SI at the ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2023
Blog of Vanesa Treers, SI UN Representative at UNHQ, New York The 2023 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Partnership Forum took place recently on 31 January 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ) in New York. At the start of each year, the Partnership Forum serves as an opportunity for
Our Voice at the UN
The UN’s High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is a key date in Soroptimist International’s global policy calendar and this year was no exception. With so many global challenges facing humanity and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the ability for organisations to share recommendations and for states to agree
HLPF: The Value of Partnership
SI UN Representative, Bette Levy, blogs about the the importance of partnerships at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). "HLPF 2022 is actually a blur for me due to my coming down with Covid right at the beginning. However, just prior to coming down with Covid I was honored to represent
HLPF: Voluntary National Reviews
After attending this year’s High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), Maria Fornella-Oehninger, SI UN Representative in New York, provides insight into the positives and negatives surrounding Voluntary National Reviews. “As part of its follow-up and review mechanisms, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls on member states to submit voluntary national reviews
HLPF: Major Groups and Other Stakeholders
SI UN Representative, Frances Zainoeddin, tackles the problem of inaction head on. Here, she explains why civil society coalitions are so disappointed with the weak language of the HLPF Ministerial Declaration. “The Women’s Major Group (WMG) celebrated its 30th anniversary this year – established at the RIO Conference 1992 to
Sustainable Development and Gender Equality
SI's Global Policy Advisor, Francesca Fletcher Williams blogs about the current progress made towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) on Gender Equality. "It is now the second time the UN’s High-Level Political Forum has reviewed progress towards achieving SDG5 on gender equality. Under the broad banner “achieve gender equality and
Soroptimist International HLPF Report: Empowerment & Education
We're excited to announce the release of Soroptimist International's High-Level Political Forum 2022 report, which reviews progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This report focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 4: Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, and Goal 17: Partnerships for Development. This year, the High-Level Political Forum will be
Commission on Population and Development
SI is preparing for the fifty-fifth session of the UN Commission on Population and Development (CPD 55), to be held 25 – 29 April 2022. The CPD meets annually at the UN Headquarters in New York to assess the world’s progress on implementing the ICPD Programme of Action at the national,
Our Voice at the UN
Although many restrictions remain in place, and most events are virtual or hybrid, the United Nations centers are slowly opening their doors again, and Soroptimist International representatives from across the globe remain unwavering as they advocate for the rights for women and girls. In this edition of Our Voice at
Together We’re Stronger
Blog by Sharon Fisher, Immediate Past President, Soroptimist International. "In the spirit of sharing the work of Soroptimist International and how we eradicate poverty and hunger and achieve wellbeing and decent work we were invited to participate with other NGOs in a collaborative session during the Commission on Social Development.
The Sixtieth Session of the Commission for Social Development
The sixtieth session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD60) starts today, 7 February 2022. Did you know that SI UN Representative, Maria Fornella, is Co-Chair of the CSoCD NGO Committee? This Committee is dedicated to raising awareness on the Priority Theme and bringing forward the voices and experience of
SI Voices Webinars – Session 2 CSW66
The SI Voices Series of Webinars continues with the second in a three-part Series centred on the Sixty Sixth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, taking place from 14 to 25 March 2022. Join the Soroptimist International Advocacy Team for Session Two, a Zoom meeting, on 19
AND WHAT ABOUT OLDER WOMEN?
Blog by Frances Zainoeddin, Representative to the United Nations, New York. What attention is being given to older women? NOT MUCH! A recent letter sent by the three NGO Committees on Ageing in Geneva, New York and Vienna to the new Executive Director of UN Women, expressed concern that UN Women
NEW Series of SI Voices Webinars for CSW66
The SI Voices Series of Webinars is preparing to kick off with the first in a three-part Series centred on the Sixty Sixth Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, taking place from 14 to 25 March 2022. Join the Soroptimist International Advocacy Team for Session One, a
Our Voice at the UN – December
This edition takes a look at how SI is actively advocating for the ratification and implementation of the ILO C-190 to end harrassment in the workplace, and brings news from CoNGO's Civil Society Summit on Substantiative Issues. But first, let's kick start with the latest news on CSW 66...
The 76th United Nations General Assembly
Blog by Linda Witong, SI Special Advisor to Advocacy. In September 2021, world leaders and ambassadors came together, to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They engaged in high-level meetings which focused on a parade of major crises facing the world including COVID-19,
International Day of Older Persons 2021
Blog by Frances Zainoeddin, SI UN Representative, New York International Day of Older Persons, observed around the world on 1 October, is usually a time to celebrate older persons, their contributions to their families, their communities and to the national economy. While many older persons lead healthy active lives, have
What does the future hold for the United Nations?
SI Advisor to Advocacy, Pat Black, explains the key points of the United Nations Secretary-General's recent report, which is set to be a key topic of discussion at this year's United Nations General Assembly (14-30 September). "The United Nations (UN) celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2020 by opening up a
Our Voice at the UN
New York - Part 1 This edition of 'Our Voice at the UN' is divided into two parts. In part one Bette Levy, SI's Lead United Nations (UN) Representative in New York, introduces the principal organs of the UN and looks at how the pandemic has impacted SI's activities. "The
Our Voice at the UN
New York - Part 2 This edition takes a closer look at the current assignments of SI's Representatives operating at the UN Headquarters in New York. First up, Frances Zainoeddin talks us through her key focus area at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the High-Level Political Forum
UN names the Digital Divide as the New Face of Inequality
On Tuesday, 27 April, in response to calls from United Nations (UN) Member States to address digital development in the context of the COVID-19 era, Volkan Bozkir, the President of the UN General Assembly, convened the High-level Thematic Debate on “Digital Cooperation and Connectivity: Whole-of-Society Approaches to End the Digital
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