b'GENEVA romeUN Representative Berthe DeVos, together withDr. Liliana Mosca is our representative to Food Stacy Ciulik, and Donatella Benjamin, representand Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. SI at the UN in Geneva. SIs work here focuses onThe UN General Assembly declared 2021 the human rights, gender equality, and peace andInternational Year of Fruits and Vegetables. The security.focus of her work was food security in the face The UNs Human Rights Council and humanof climate change, water scarcity. In particular rights review mechanisms take place in Geneva,Liliana focuses on gender equality, and womens including the Convention on the Eliminationand girls empowerment in the context of access of all Forms of Discrimination Against Womento sufficient nutrition food. Liliana represents (CEDAW), the Universal Periodic ReviewSoroptimist International on the AD HOC Group (UPRC), and the Convention on the Rights ofof NGO representatives to FAO in Rome, and the the Child. Our UN Representatives participateWomens Group of the Civil Society Mechanism. in NGO CSW Geneva meetings and events,Even with the restrictions of COVID-19, Liliana where Berthe DeVos serves as Treasurer andrepresented SI at 12 meetings during 2021.Advocacy Coordinator. SI participated in theNAIROBI109th International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention, with the main theme of Inequalities, skills, and lifelong learning. COVID-19 remained aNairobi is home to the United Nations major issue with the call for advancing a human- Environment Program (UNEP), where we centered approach to recovery. currently have three UN Representatives: ILO C-190 is the first international treatyMary Muia, Main Representative, Asha to recognise that everyone has a right to aAbdulrahman, and Beatrice Oluoch. The focus workplace free of violence and harassment. Theof their work during 2021 was on the United Convention was adopted in 2019 and came intoNations Environmental Assembly or UNEA force in 2021. The UN Representatives in Geneva5. The overarching theme for UNEA 5 was and New York, advocate for governments toStrengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve ratify C-190, and to put in place laws to addressSustainable Development. violence and harassment in the workplace. A major focus of discussion was the environmental dimension of sustainable development to build a resilient and inclusive post-pandemic world. Soroptimists participated in the Civil Society Forum prior to UNEA 5, and our team followed the work of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and participated in UNEA 5. The message was clear - 2021 was a critical year to reset our relationship with nature and Member States will also gather this year to address biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, ocean health, desertification, and climate disruption. soroptimistinternational.org 12'