As an active member of the community of UN NGO stakeholders, FAWCO joins with partner organizations in advocacy work through statements, position papers and letters to UN agencies and commissions, including the Commission on the Status of Women.
Latest Advocacy Statements Signed by FAWCO
In preparation for CSW67, FAWCO signed a written statement with 15 other women's NGO members of NGO CSW Vienna, on the priority theme: Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality.
FAWCO is a member of the US Women's Caucus at the UN; UN Rep Pam Perraud is Vice President of the Caucus. In May 2022, the US Women's Caucus adopted a resolution on the current threats to women's reproductive health rights in the US.
In March 2022, FAWCO joined women's organizations from around the world calling for an end to the Russian war in Ukraine. With the NGO Committee on Migration, FAWCO called on UN Member States to protect children and families forcibly displaced from Ukraine. We also joined a statement by Soroptimist International calling for an end to the war.
In November 2021, FAWCO signed on to a call to action from the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood and the Arab Network for Early Childhood to tackle the climate crisis to protect the well-being and development of young children and stand with young children to secure a healthy and livable planet for all. The call is for governments, and in particular high-income countries, to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as recommended in the IPCC report and to take bold and sustainable actions.
At COP26 in November 2021, a joint Government of Scotland-UN Women Statement "Gender Equality and Climate Change: Glasgow Women's Leadership Statement" was presented. FAWCO signed on to the statement, which will also be presented at CSW66.
For the 66th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66) in March 2022, FAWCO endorsed several written statements on the priority theme: gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction. The statements were submitted to UN Women in October 2021. FAWCO UN Liaison Laurie Richardson co-authored a statement by members of NGO CSW Vienna that FAWCO submitted with 19 other NGOs. FAWCO UN Rep Pam Perraud is Vice President of the US Women's Caucus at the UN, and we endorsed the CSW66 statement by the Caucus. We also signed on to statements by Graduate Women International, Soroptimist International, and Zonta International. FAWCO also signed on to a statement on the CSW working methods by the National Council of Women of Canada joined by other members of the CSW North America & Europe Caucus and sent to UN Women.
In September 2021, FAWCO endorsed a petition initiated by Graduate Women International expressing concern about the women and girls of Afghanistan: their safety, their right to continuing education and their human rights. The petition was presented to the UN Human Rights Council.
In June 2021, FAWCO signed on to an open letter from global civil society and indigenous peoples to the Human Rights Council calling for the establishment of a new Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change.
In June 2021, FAWCO signed a petition by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the Feminst Alliance for Rights, and CHANGE calling on the US Congress to permanently end the Mexico City Policy or Global Gag Rule (GGR), which restricts non-US women's organizations from receiving US foreign health assistance if they also provide legal abortion services, counseling, or referrals with their own funds. Under the GGR, global health oganizations are prohibited from providing abortion counseling, referrals, or services, as well as advocacy around abortion, if they accept US assistance.
In June 2021 during the lead-up to the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) in Paris, FAWCO signed on to an open letter from the Civil Society Advisory Group requesting governments, UN Women and civil society to truly accelerate action on gender equality through the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) process.
In June 2021, FAWCO endorsed a letter to the UN Women Executive Board calling for a clear and transparent process for the selection of a new UN Women Executive Director to be put in place to ensure that all civil society, all Member States and other stakeholders are meaningfully engaged in the selection process.
In March 2021, in solidarity for the people of Myanmar and the Women's Peace Network, FAWCO joined over 190 other women's rights organizations and activists in signing a letter calling on the UN Security Councilto hold the Myanmar military accountable for grievously violating the human rights of women.
COVID-19
In April 2020, members of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna, including FAWCO UN Liaison and NGO CSW Vienna Chair Laurie Richardson, decided to draft a statement on the COID-19 response. We collaborated with members of other NGO Committees in Vienna on the statement, which was circulated to the Vienna UN NGO community and forwarded to the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO). The statement COVID-19 Recovery: Building Back Better has been signed by over 130 CoNGO member organizations, and delivered to the UN in NY.
FAWCO endorsed a statement that Graduate Women International submitted to the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council addressing the importance of access to digital technology and the challenges of e-learning.
CSW, Gender Equality and Women's Rights
CSW65 (2021)
The priority theme of CSW65 is women in leadership and decision-making, as well as ending violence against women, to achieve women's empowerment. FAWCO was the lead organization submitting a joint Written Statement for CSW65 developed by members of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna. FAWCO joined partner organizations in endorsing three additional joint Statements: by Soroptimist International, Graduate Women International, and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women.
Commission on Social Development
In 2020, FAWCO joined Sorpotimist International and other women's organizations endorsing the statement to the Commission "Using Digital Technologies for A Gender-Equal World".
Beijing+25 and CSW64 (2020)
In preparation for Beijing+25 regional reviews in October 2019 and CSW64 in March 2020, FAWCO UN Liaison Laurie Richardson led the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna in developing a Beijing+25/CSW64 Statement, which was endorsed by over 20 women's organizations. As we reviewed progress on gender equality since 1995, we were inspired by the prophetic words of Simone De Beauvoir: “Never forget that a political, economical or religious crisis will be enough to cast doubt on women's rights. These rights will never be vested. You'll have to stay vigilant your whole life.” NGO CSW Vienna member organizations also signed on to an Oral Statement which we submitted to UN Women and hope to deliver during the sessions at CSW64.
FAWCO also signed on to two statements with recommendations on education, gender-based violence, human rights, and policy administration for gender equality by partner organizations: Soroptimist International /Zonta International, and Graduate Women International.
CSW 63 (2019)
FAWCO and 19 other members of NGO CSW Vienna joined in an Oral Statement that Laurie Richardson delivered during CSW63, addressing increasing militarization in the world, and calling for re-allocation of military budgets to public services and infrastructure in order to achieve the SDGs and create a more peaceful planet.
FAWCO signed on to five Written Statements submitted to UN Women for CSW63. The priority theme: Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. We are proud to join with like-minded women's organizations, our partners in NGO CSW Vienna and Geneva, in this crucial advocacy for gender equality.
- A statement drafted by UN Liaison Laurie Richardson and members of NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna, also signed by several members of NGO CSW Geneva
- A statement by Graduate Women International
- A statement by Make Mothers Matter
- A statement by Soroptimist International and the Association of Country Women of the World
- A statement by Widows for Peace and Democracy
CSW 62 (2018)
In preparation for CSW62 in March 2018, FAWCO signed on to four Written Statements on the priority theme: Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls.
- A statement written by members of NGO CSW Vienna, including UN Liaison Laurie Richardson, signed by 23 NGO CSW Vienna member organizations
- A statement by Make Mothers Matter signed by members of NGO CSW Vienna and Geneva
- A statement by Graduate Women International, drafted by FAWCO UN Rep and GWI Executive Director Stacy Lara, with the support of several other women's NGOs, stating that "Education is a precondition to the empowerment of rural women and girls"
- A statement by Soroptimist International, including the fundamental point that "Rural women and girls are crucial contributors, implementors and beneficiaries of sustainable development. Their empowerment is fundamental to the achievement of the full 2030 Agenda."
- FAWCO also endorsed an Oral Statement developed by NGO CSW Vienna members on the CSW Review Theme of Women and the Media.
FAWCO is proud to contribute to these important civil society statements submitted to UN Women for consideration in the development of an outcome document from CSW62.
FAWCO also co-sponsored an event at CSW62 that UN Rep Erica Higbie helped to organize with the League of Women Voters and other members of NGOCSW NY: “Women Political & Business Leaders: Achieving Economic Solvency for Rural Women.”
CSW 61 (2017)
In October 2016, FAWCO joined other member organizations of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women Vienna in signing two statements that were submitted to UN Women for the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women: a Written Statement on women's economic empowerment and an Oral Statement on gender balance in climate policies.
CSW 60 (2016)
FAWCO joined members of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Vienna in a Written Statement and an Oral Statement submitted to the 60th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2016.
CSW 59 (2015)
FAWCO supported a Written Statement and an Oral Statement on Beijing + 20 that were presented to CSW 59 by members of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Vienna.
Other Women's Rights and Gender Equality Advocacy Statements
FAWCO is a member of the US Women's Caucus at the UN, and our UN Reps Pam Perraud and Erica Higbie are active in advocacy leadership.
In October 2019, the US Women's Caucus at the UN sent a letter to US Secretary of State Pompeo expressing concern and condemnation of the US State Department's policies on women's human rights, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In May 2019, FAWCO joined other NGOs concerned about the possible postponement of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) session scheduled for late 2019, due to funding shortfalls. An open letter to UN Member States, the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that "This comes as a heavy blow in the wake of ongoing pushback against human rights, including tremendous opposition to women’s human rights, on a global scale."
In May 2019, FAWCO co-sponsored an Oral Statement on Women's Rights and Climate Change for the Human Rights Council 41st session, which says in part: "The impact of climate change on women’s health, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights, despite the evidence, has been repetitively neglected."
In September 2018, FAWCO signed on to a statement condemning modern day slavery, delivered to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime on the occasion of the conference for the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime.
In August 2018, FAWCO joined other NGOs in a letter to Michelle Bachelet on her appointment as the new High Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Council.
In May 2018, FAWCO signed a petition by the UN Feminist Network on ending sexual harrassment and assault within the UN system.
In May 2017, FAWCO joined a diverse group of NGOs in a welcome letter to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the new Director-General of the World Health Organization, calling on him to "fully support, pursue, and defend a comprehensive approach to women’s health, accounting for the full spectrum of women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health issues, needs, and rights."
FAWCO signed a Statement on Women's Rights and Non-state Terrorist Groups that was presented to the UN by a group of NGOs led by Zonta International.
FAWCO signed a statement of support for continued funding of Planned Parenthood in the US. The letter was drafted by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, signed by 95 civil and human rights organizations, and sent to the US Senate.
Migration
In January 2021, FAWCO endorsed a letter on the issue of climate-induced displacement to the incoming US delegation to the UN, drafted by the NGO Committee on Migration.
In December 2018, FAWCO members Kenia Guimaeres (AAWE Paris) and Diala Nasser (AIWA Marrakesh) participated in the Global Compact on Migration Adoption Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco. Leading up to the intergovernmental conference, FAWCO joined in signing on to a joint Civil Society message to the UN Member States about the importance of implementation of the Compact.
In July 2018, FAWCO signed a letter to US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley drafted by the NGO Committee on Migration, calling for the protection of children and reunification of families separated at the US border in recent months. Also in July, FAWCO joined in signing on to a statement by civil society on the final round of negotiations on the Global Compact on Migration (GCM), presenting observations, concerns and recommendations for the success of the Compact, as well as a Statement on the conclusion of the GCM negotiations. .
In May 2018, FAWCO joined other members of the NGO Committee on Migration and civil society stakeholders in signing an open letter to UN Member States on the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The letter took note of several key areas that must be addressed in order to ensure the GCM will live up to the vision of the New York Declaration. FAWCO also co-sponsored an informational booklet developed by the NGO Committee on Migration: I am a Child offering four steps linked to the SDGs for protecting the rights of child migrants and refugees (birth registration, access to education, access to health services, and provision of public services to all children regardless of their parents' status).
FAWCO and OMEP submitted a Statement on Migrant and Refugee-Led Child Sensitive Social Protection Measures to the 57th Commission on Social Development in February 2018.
In November 2017, FAWCO endorsed Now and How: Ten Acts for the Global Compact, developed by the Migration and Development Civil Society Network (MADE), with support from the NGO Committee on Migration. Also in November 2017, FAWCO signed the NGO Committee on Migration/OMEP paper submitted to the 56th UN Commission on Social Development, which cites FAWCO's Target Project partner Collateral Repair Project as an example of a positive initiative.
In June 2017, FAWCO joined the NGO Committee on Migration and OMEP in sponsoring a position paper "An Overlooked Emergency: The Poverty of Forced Migrant Children." The paper was submitted to the UNHCR NGO Briefings in Geneva.
FAWCO joined other signatories of a letter from members of the NGO Committee on Migration regarding the US White House Executive Order banning entry into the US to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries (aka the "Muslim Ban").
In December 2016, FAWCO together with the NGO Committee on Migration and the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) co-sponsored a paper on Migrant and Refugee Children as Protagonists of Development and Peace; the paper was presented at the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
In June 2016, FAWCO signed "Positive Effects of Innovative Early Childhood Development Programs on Refugee Youth Resilience" with OMEP.
In April 2016, FAWCO signed on to a Response to the Report of the UN Secretary-General for the World Humanitarian Summit by the NGO Committee on Migration.
In 2015, FAWCO signed two Statements by the NGO Committee on Migration: Providing Education and Care for Syria’s Littlest Refugees and preventing deaths in the Mediterranean Sea.
Civil Society Space at the UN
In June 2018, FAWCO endorsed a statement signed by NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status calling for reforms of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs. The statement will be delivered during the Committee on NGOs consultations with NGOs on June 22.
In May 2016, FAWCO joined more than 230 NGOs in signing a letter to ECOSOC Member States, copied to the presidents of the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council and the UN Secretary-General, raising concerns about restrictions on NGO participation in the UN. The letter, originally drafted by the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), was timed to coincide with the second 2016 session of the ECOSOC Committee on NGOs at the UN Headquarters in New York, May-June 2016.
Supporting US Funding for and Engagement at the UN
In June 2018, FAWCO sent a letter to US Secretary of State Pompeo to protest the US withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council.
In May 2018, FAWCO signed on to an open letter by the Better World Campaign calling for strong US leadership at the UN, honoring financial commitments to the organization in Fiscal Year 2019, and opposing efforts to rescind UN funding agreed to in the FY 2018 appropriations.
At FAWCO's 2017 International Conference in Mumbai, delegates unanimously approved a resolution in support of continued US funding for the United Nations and participation in the UN Human Rights Council. The Resolution stated: We members of FAWCO, an international women's non-governmental organization with special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, oppose reductions in US funding for the United Nations, and call upon Congress to ensure active US engagement on the United Nations Human Rights Council. FAWCO representatives were prepared with a postion paper and talking points on these issues at Overseas Americans Week in Washington DC in April 2017.
Useful information and resources for UN advocacy are available on the website of the United Nations Association of the United States.
Civil Society Campaigns
UN Women New Executive Director
In March 2021, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka announced that CSW65 would be her last CSW. In response, members of the women's NGO community who work closely with UN Women launched a campaign for transparency and inclusion of civil society in the search process for a new ED for UN Women. FAWCO endorsed a letter to the UN Secretary General and UN Women that was signed by over 1,000 NGOs.
Suppport for Women in Myanmar
Marking the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, FAWCO joined the Women’s Peace Network and other organizations working for women’s rights and against gender-based violence in a letter calling on the UN Security Council to hold the Myanmar military accountable for grievously violating the human rights of women.
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begins each year on November 25 - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on December 10 - Human Rights Day.
FAWCO's Human Rights Team promotes Member Club participation in the 16 Days campaign and offers ideas for how you can get involved in its Bulletins; see an example from 2015. You can also learn more about the 16 Days campaign on the UN Women Website.
Campaign for a Woman UN Secretary-General
FAWCO supported the Campaign for a Woman UN Secretary General. At the FAWCO Interim Meeting in March 2016 in Frankfurt, Germany, over 60 FAWCO women signed a petition calling for the next UN SG to be a woman. We passed the petitions on to the Campaign's Chair to demonstrate our commitment to this important cause. Read more about it in Erica Higbie's article The Ultimate in Political Empowerment for Women.
