UNA-Canada Youth Delegation at the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women in New York

Left to right: Canada Service Corps delegate Jennie Charbonneau, UNA-Canada’s Programme Manager, Bonita Mathew, Canadian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Marc-André Blanchard and Canada Service Corps delegates Aditi Sivakumar and Bryler Giroux

UNA-Canada successfully brought their Canada Service Corps International Youth Delegation to UN Women's 63rd Commission on the Status of Women in New York City.

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functioning commission of the UN Economic and Social Council. The Commission plays a crucial role in facilitating the preparation for, and in ensuring the successful outcome of the annual sessions of the Commission associated with the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The outcome of the Commission’s consideration of the priority theme during its 63rd session (CSW63) takes the form of agreed conclusions, negotiated by all Member States. The 63rd Commission on the Status of Women adopted agreed conclusions on social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Our talented Canada Service Corps delegates participated in plenaries, high level meetings, various side events and the Town Hall meeting with the UN Secretary-General. They were able to join the official Canadian delegation briefings and learn about gender equality challenges and solutions from a Canadian gender lens, as well as meet with staff from the Status of Women, under the guidance of UNA-Canada’s Programme Manager, Bonita Mathew.

The delegation conversed with the Canadian Minister of International Development and Status of Women, Maryam Monsef, and the Canadian Permanent Representative to the UN, Marc-André Blanchard. They also met and spoke with the Chair of CSW63, H.E. Geraldine Byrne Nason during the High Level Intergenerational Dialogue.

The young delegation left the conference having experienced an important set of meetings on gender equality; global civil society engagement; learned about the inner workings of the UN and the role and representation of the Canadian government at the UN. Canada Service Corps is a federal programme that aims to encourage young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 to get involved in meaningful service opportunities while practicing leadership, developing skills and gaining essential life and work experience.

To learn more about the delegates journey at CSW63, take a look at our blog: http://unaciddip.blogspot.com/.

For updates on the 2019 delegations follow our social media pages @UNACanada.