14-15 United Nations:issue 1 28/8/08 14:24 Page 13
can be improved and how education can world can lobby their own governments in
make a difference. simple ways such as by writing to their
political representatives. They can also pray
Each year, government representatives from for their governments.
across the world meet at the Commission
on the Status of Women to spend two If you would like to know more about the
weeks assessing the situation for women UN, CSW or any of Mothers’ Union’s social
and reaching agreements on how to policy work, please contact the Faith &
improve it. A different theme is addressed Policy Unit on 020 7222 5533 or email
each year and issues from past policy@themothersunion.org.
Commissions are revisited to monitor
progress.
Campaigning for family carers
Government spending
Mothers’ Union is already preparing for
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
the next meeting of the UN Commission
such as Mothers’ Union are invited to
on the Status of Women. The 2009 CSW
participate in this process and to make
will discuss ‘the equal sharing of
recommendations to governments. In 2008,
responsibilities between women and
three Mothers’ Union members from the UK,
men, including care giving in the context
Uganda and Madagascar attended the CSW
of HIV/AIDS’ – an issue of importance for
at the UN headquarters in New York, along
Mothers’ Union worldwide.
with two members of staff from Mary
Sumner House, to lobby the governments in
Many members across the world have
attendance. The theme was how
been affected by HIV/AIDS; many are
governments should spend their money to
carers. Sharing responsibilities fairly
achieve gender equality and the
within families is important to good
empowerment of women.
relationships within families and wider
communities. By taking part in policy
Mothers’ Union recommended that
processes such as this, Mothers’ Union
governments should fund the achievement
can share our experience and
of Millennium Development Goal 3; that
knowledge of what works at the
they should support organisations working
grassroots to improve gender equality
to achieve gender equality and that they
and good relationships.
should ensure their own spending priorities
In this way we will
do not discriminate against women.
be fulfilling our
aim of
However, the most important work
supporting
happens after the two weeks of the
marriage
CSW. Governments must be held to
and family
account for the agreements that they
life.
make in New York and Mothers’ Union
continues to lobby them to keep to
the agreements. Members across the
familiesworldwide – Issue 1.09 13
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