Media as Instrument to Fight Violence Against Women in Conflict Settings at #CSW2013

This year I only attended one panel during the Commission on the Status of Women in NYC, but it was definitely an inspiring one. For those of you who may not know as the UN Women website explains the CSW is:

"A global policy-making body, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the advancement of women. Every year, representatives of Member States gather at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. Read more: About CSW, Documentation, NGO Participation" 

I attended the panel "Media as Instrument to Fight Violence Against Women in Conflict Settings" with three speakers:

• Abigail E. Disney Founder of Peace is Loud and Executive Producer of Women, War & Peace
• Mavic Cabrera Balleza Intl Coordinator of Global Network of Women Peacebuilders-International Civil Society Action Network
• Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda (moderator) General Secretary of World YWCA

I was pleased to see Mavic, whom I've worked with at GNWP, on a panel with Abigail E. Disney whose work I've admired since I saw her amazing film Pray the Devil Back to Hell. about women and the peace movement in Liberia in 2003. The most striking part of panel for me was when Disney shared a quote from someone she interviewed during her work for the PBS Women, War and Peace series (watch full episodes online):

"When you are raped in war time you become a refugee in your own body." 

It was encouraging to hear people on the panel recognize the powerful role of film and radio to share women's stories globally and create change. 

#Trauma, #politics, #writing, #journalism

 For the past few months I've been fortunate enough to write for the Dart Society blog on international relations and journalists covering trauma. So far I've written about the violence of solitary confinement in NY, violence towards human rights activists in Mexico and the violence in Syria.

I reflected recently on my political career to date and the prevalence of covering violence.  At Brooklyn College I worked on the Violence and Politics  issue of the political science journal and wrote about genocide, particularly in Darfur. With women and peace and security work I seek ways to bring gender-based violence towards LGBTQ individuals into the conversation about gender-based violence. As an animal rights activist I'm constantly aware of the incredible violence towards animals in our society and the secondary, but nonetheless quantifiable, psychological and physical impact of this violence on women. (I'm writing a book review on this topic to be published in December in the Journal of Critical Animal Studies.)

One could also flip this perspective and say I cover peace. That is fine. That is diplomatic. That is how we discuss these things in politics and at panels.

Yet stating I write about peace is a challenge when I learn of the stark reality of  Syria first hand from a nurse working for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to treat wounded Syrians, combatants and civilians alike. Even less so considering the nurse is a friend I shared a beer with not two months ago shooting the breeze about sports and tacos.

Sometimes I struggle with how I can properly address a story of international politics and violence in 700 words. Sometimes I wonder if writing is just a cheap way to think I'm involved in making change.

All the same I'll do my best to report the news, and when possible hold feet to flames. I'll also keep listening over beers for the stories those peacemakers and paramedics have to tell among the violence.

Remember how I applied to PhD programs?

I did! And I was accepted to the Global Governance and Human Security PhD program in Boston which is super exciting and awesome. Check out the program description from the department's website: 

"The goal of this interdisciplinary program is to educate a community of global problem solvers -- scholars and analysts able to train and inform global leaders, as well as practitioners who can craft solutions that are grounded in solid research and theory.

The new program will focus on outcomes that matter most to individuals—a secure form of economic welfare and human development, ecological sustainability, public health, education, human rights, and political freedom— and on the  interrelationships among them."

Earlier this year I visited the campus and met with some of the program's professors including Associate Professor Rizarta Bilali and Associate Professor Darren Kew as as well as the Associate Director of the program  Roni Lipton. I also Skyped with Professor Jane Parpart who I'd likely be working with closely in the program.

While there I was pleased to meet with Sandra M. McEvoy of the Boston Consortium on Gender, Security ahd Human rights, an amazing consortium,  "founded in 2002 with the goal of integrating the study of gender and of women into work on human rights, security, and armed conflict."

When I visited UMass Boston I took an express Amtrak down and then commuter rail directly to the campus, but I was highly amused by the fact that this is definitely the only campus I've visited accessible by boat! I turned directly around to head back to Brooklyn in the same day so needless to say the whole experience was a bit of a whirlwind.

Due to finances I was unable to attend this year, but I've deferred untl Fall 2013. I look forward to hearing from the first cohort as they begin the program in September.

Working with the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)

Beginning in January of this year I started working as a intern of media and communications for the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. The International Coordinating Team based in NYC is a small team of women making a huge impact working with women in grassroots organizations around the globe. 

The past two weeks has marked the busiest time since I began working with the group as it was the 56th meeting of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women which: 

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women, NY supports the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). By playing an active role in the UN Community the NGO CSW, NY advocates for gender architecture reform at the UN, women’s rights and the advancement of women and girls worldwide. In its work with the NGO Committees on the Status of Women in Geneva and Vienna, the NGO CSW, NY supports the Beijing Platform for Action, UN Security Resolution 1325, the Millennium Development Goals, and CEDAW. 

From participating in a training where the Nobel Peace Price Winner Leymah Gbowee spoke, to sitting in on the European/North American regional NGO caucus and conversation circles I have experienced many new and exciting aspects of the work I've been motivated by for years. Attending our member meeting last week with so many amazing women from around the globe including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, Canada and Nepal was humbling. 

This summer I will be working as a consultant for GNWP on their 1325 Monitoring Report which has been released for the past two years.