Swords into plowshares
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Swords into Plowshares is the blog of the Peacemaking Program and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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Posts with tag: commission on the status of women
September 19, 2012September 25 - Observe an Orange Day - Call for an end to violence against women and girls
On September 25 observe an Orange Day – a day to say no and to work for an end to violence against women and girls. Here are some ways to mark this day:
Pray
- Pray for guidance for all those who work to end violence against women. Pray that all people turn from violence.
Advocate
- Ask your members of congress to pass an inclusive Violence Against Women Act that protects all women.
- Read “Late at Night … Dear House”, a poem in response to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) re-authorization debate in Congress.
Act
- Take part in the Stop Rape ...
August 21, 2012
Orange Days: Say No – End Violence Against Women and Girls
On the 25th of each month – join people around the world in observing an Orange Day to work and witness for an end to violence against women and girls. Read the most recent Orange Day stories.
One of the most widespread violations of human rights, violence against women and girls includes physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. It cuts across boundaries of age, race, culture, wealth and geography. It takes place in the home, on the streets, in schools and workplaces, in farm fields and refugee camps, and during conflicts and crises.
Violence against women and girls takes many ...
July 25, 2012
Orange Day says end violence against women
The UNiTE campaign proclaims every 25th of the month as Orange Day, aiming to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women and girls, not only once a year on 25 November (the International Day to End Violence against Women), but every month!
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in all parts of the world.
UNiTE brings together a host of UN agencies and offices to galvanize action across the UN system to prevent and punish violence against women.
Through UNiTE, the ...
July 24, 2012
Outcomes from the 56th Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women has recommended that the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations approve draft language on the following topics:
- Ending female genital mutilation
- Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women
- Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts
- Gender equality and the empowerment of women in natural disasters
- Eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity through empowerment of women
- Indigenous women: key actors in poverty and hunger eradication
- Women, the girl child and HIV and AIDS
Detailed language on each of these areas are available in the full report ...
March 20, 2012
Women share stories of hope at the United Nations
Women make up the majority of the world’s poor. The reality of the world today is that women are disproportionately affected by poverty, due to unequal access to resources and opportunities, discriminatory land and inheritance laws, and unequal distribution of household resources. Violence against women persists, particularly in regions ravaged by war and natural disasters.
So begins Allie Naskret's reflection on the process and experience of the 56th Session of the Commission of the Status of Women. A student at Princeton Theological Seminary, Allie serves as a field education student with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations ...
March 18, 2012
All children of God
On Sunday, March 4, Marsha Landrith, Presbyterian participant in the Commission on the Status of Women, preached at St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem.
The sermon focused on Mark 8:28-38. Jesus and his disciples are on a journey on foot that will eventually land them in Jerusalem for what we know as Palm Sunday.
Marsha notes that, "From the beginning of his earthly ministry, almost everything Jesus said or did came to his disciples and the world around him as a complete surprise." This encounter proves no different.
In our reading from Mark this morning, just as the disciples ...
March 18, 2012
Re-Authorize the Violence Against Women Act!
Here’s a way to follow-up on the Commission on the Status of Women:
Call both of your Senators’ offices in Washington today and ask them vote YES on the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Our partners in Presbyterian Women tell us that now is the time influence our Senators on the Violence Against Women Act. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has agreed to bring VAWA, S. 1925, to the Senate Floor very, very soon—possibly next week! And Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) became a co-sponsor of VAWA yesterday bringing our total co-sponsors to 59! We now ...
March 14, 2012
Christ the Living Water
During the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, participants made connections women from around the world. Participants also made connections with the Presbytery of New York City. On Sunday, several participants preached in congregations of the presbytery.
Emily Denon, student at Vanderbilt Divinity School, preached at Glen Morris Presbyterian Church. Her text was John 4:5-42. This passage contains the story of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob's Well.
The sermon begins with a consideration of water - water that plays a key role in literature and in the Bible - water that plays a ...
March 9, 2012
1,000 Days: Improving Nutrition for Rural Women
By Nancy Neal
On Friday, March 1, at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York, Bread for the World and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) co-sponsored a parallel event called 1,000 Days: Improving Nutrition for Rural Women. Other co-sponsors included the Women's Missionary Society of the AME Church, Franciscans International, the 1,000 Days Partnership, Save the Children, and Family Care International. The effort was coordinated by staff at The Hunger Project. A standing room only crowd of over 100 came out to hear about the importance of maternal and child nutrition ...
March 8, 2012
Voices, promises, covenant
During the Commission on the Status of Women, Presbyterian participants made connections with area Presbyterians in several ways. A number of the participants came from the New York City area. The parallel event partnered with the Poverty Initiative from Union Theological Seminary. Participants attended the World Day of Prayer service at Glen Morris Presbyerian Church. A luncheon was held.
And on Sunday, March 4, three participants preached in congregations in the Presbytery of New York City. Marsha Landrith preached at St. James Presbyterian Church. Emily Denton preached at Glen Morris Presbyterian Church. Leigh Bonner preached at the Church of the ...
March 7, 2012
Tap Project at the CSW
Presbyterian participants at the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women helped provide clean water for children around the world. They conributed to the UNICEF Tap Project for the coffee and tea provided by the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. You could do the same during a coffee hour, fellowship meal, or other time people gather.
March 7, 2012
What I learned at CSW56
The Rev. Leah Ntuala, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls, served as part of the Presbyterian delegation to the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. It marked the first time she had attended the Commission. She returned to preach in Seneca Falls on Sunday 4 March.
She shared her first reflections on the CSW experience:
Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
Mary Ann Radmacher
I heard about CSW56 through the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. I ...
March 6, 2012
From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas
A Parallel Event at the 56th Commission on the Status of Women
During this parallel event women from rural contexts shared their stories connecting experience to issues, Global North to Global South, and the Bible to advocacy, with small group opportunities to learn more and determine actions we can take during the Commission on the Status of Women and at home to address poverty and hunger and work for just development. The event was organized by Presbyterian Women, Young Women’s Leadership Development, Women’s Leadership Development, and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations in the PC(USA), and ...
March 6, 2012
Action plans from the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas
During the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas, held at the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, participants were invited to share action plans that they plan to implement:
- look at laws that limit movement of women
- raise voices beyond the CSW; go beyond our comfort zone
- increase political representation of women
- continue to tell our stories
- develop mentoring programs
- provide leadership training
- tell our stories
- set up a mentoring program for women and girls – professional women and women who work yet remain in poverty
- create awareness campaigns on women ...
March 6, 2012
Key insights from the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas
During the parallel event From Story to Skills: Advocating with Women in Rural Areas, held at the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, participants were invited to gather and discuss and share key insights they gleaned:
- share, connect, net and work about resources
- go beyond the group gathered for the CSW
- share stories – beyond the CSW
- agenda for justice needs to be for people who have been victimized
- women still devalued and being denied their true worth
- perseverance
- be OK with being uncomfortable
- communication is the key
- we need to get connected and engage in conversation ...
March 5, 2012
Intersections: CTAUN and CSW: education and sustainability
Written by Grace Bickers
After advocacy training at both the Presbyterian and Ecumenical Women’s orientations for the Commission on the Status of Women and a week’s worth of insight from the remarkable women making up these delegations, I was excited to learn how the information I learned during a previous opportunity to attend the annual CTAUN (Committee for Teaching About the United Nations) conference on the theme of “Education IS a Human Right” could be put to work. Much of the information shared at the conference is directly relevant to the Ecumenical Women’s advocacy talking points: access ...
March 5, 2012
Who do you say that I am?
The Commission on the Status of Women enters its second week today. The Commission continues to meet and work on its task of making recommendations related to "the empowerment of women living in rural areas and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges" (Presbyterian revised version of the Commission's theme). Presbyterians continue to attend side events and advocate with the Commission in partnership with our Ecumenical Women colleagues.
Some of the Presbyterian participants have already returned home and have begun to tell the story of their time at the Commission.
The Rev. Emily Miller returned ...
May 14, 2011
Blessed are the peacemakers
From across the Presbytery of New York City they came to First Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn for the Presbyterian Women's Spring Gathering. The 2011-2012 Horizons Bible Study, Confessing the Beatitudes by the Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer, provided the theme and...
April 30, 2011
Thursday night in Queens
"You have the coolest job." That was one of the closing comments to my time at the First Presbyterian Church in Whitestone. Pastor Andy James had invited me to visit during Lent and share about the Presbyterian Ministry at the...
April 23, 2011
On Empowering Women through Art in South Sudan
Honna Eichler reflects on the ministry of Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE International in Sudan. They met during the 55th session of Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Honna writes: “With art there is no barrier.” These...
March 19, 2011
What do we do?
We ansered that question on Friday for a group from First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington, Indiana. At the end of a long day, at the end of a long week, the group arrived at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United...
March 12, 2011
Advocacy resources on Libya and Côte d'Ivoire
Reports from Libya and Côte d'Ivoire tell of violence and displacement. Ecumenical Women at the United Nations — an international coalition of church denominations and ecumenical organizations, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — has developed tools to encourage women and...
March 10, 2011
How does RECONCILE Work
Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE, a mission partner of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), attended the Commission on the Status of Women. Presbyterian Women arranged for her to attend. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations coordinated the Presbyterian presence at the...
March 8, 2011
United Nations observes International Women’s Day
Video Message Transcript Written Message: International Women’s Day 2011: Time to Make the Promise of Equality a Reality Message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Reports from the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women AllWomen in the...
March 3, 2011
Reflections on New Zealand
Pam Tankersley of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa/New Zealand spoke at the Ecumenical Women's worship service on March 1. She reflected on the earthquake that struck her country - of the loss of human life - the injuries - the...
March 2, 2011
From the Midwest to the UN: One Woman's Story
By Cindy Eschliman It is not often that I am put in a position of being in the minority. I am a young, white woman, who grew up in Hutchinson, KS – the center of the Midwest and I now...
March 2, 2011
Learning Methodologies - Post Trauma 4
Ecumenical Women presented a parallel event, Learning Methodologies- Post Trauma on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This panel discussion will include speakers whose bodies of work focus on post-trauma...
March 2, 2011
Learning Methodologies - Post Trauma 3
Ecumenical Women presented a parallel event, Learning Methodologies- Post Trauma on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This panel discussion will include speakers whose bodies of work focus on post-trauma...
March 2, 2011
Learning Methodologies - Post Trauma 2
Ecumenical Women presented a parallel event, Learning Methodologies- Post Trauma on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This panel discussion will include speakers whose bodies of work focus on post-trauma...
March 2, 2011
Learning Methodologies - Post Trauma 1
Ecumenical Women presented a parallel event, Learning Methodologies- Post Trauma on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This panel discussion will include speakers whose bodies of work focus on post-trauma...
March 1, 2011
Nothing Is Lost on the Breath of God
Pam Tankersley of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa/New Zealand spoke at the Ecumenical Women's worship service this morning. She reflected on the earthquake that struck her country - of the loss of human life - the injuries - the pain...
March 1, 2011
A world where all live, all thrive
Carolyn Groseclose Sprinkle, a member of Presbyterian Women from Sparta, North Carolina, reflects on her experience at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She considers God's vision of a world where all live and all...
March 1, 2011
Going home to make a difference
Pam Snyder, a member of Presbyterian Women from Staunton, Virginia, reflects on her experience at the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She considers what she has learned and what she will do when she returns...
February 25, 2011
Ratify CEDAW
On behalf of Presbyterian participants in the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Louise Davidson of Presbyterian Women invites the ecumenical community to join in an advocacy effort to secure Senate ratification of the Convention to...
February 25, 2011
Reflections on statement by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women
Reflections on statement by Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women « Ecumenical Women at the United Nations.
February 25, 2011
Worship at Ecumenical Women CSW - 2/24/11
Each day at the Commission on the Status of Women begins with worship for Ecumenical Women. Different denominations take turns leading the service. Today was the turn of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Here's the Prayer of Confession and Assurance of...
February 23, 2011
CSW Webcast
Follow the meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women on the United Nations Webcast. Presbyterians (and others) are gathering in the conference room of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations to view the Webcast.
February 23, 2011
Intergenerational Empowerment and the Work of the Church at the 55th Commission of the Status of Women
by Honna Eichler I am currently sitting in the PC(USA) office in the UN Church Center, peering out the window at the busy UN complex below. The streets below are vibrantly full and include many from an international community dedicated...
February 22, 2011
Presbyterians at CSW55 - 21 February 2011
About 30 Presbyterians will attend the Commission on the Status of Women. This participation is a partnership between Presbyterian Women, Racial Ethnic Young Women Together, the National Network of Presbyterian College Women, and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations....
February 22, 2011
Toward agreed conclusions at CSW55
An outcome of the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women will be the agreed conclusions. Through the agreed conclusions, the Commission will urge "Governments, the relevant entities of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations,...
February 21, 2011
We gathered
From churches and countries around the world, we gathered at the Church Center for the United Nations. Followers of Jesus Christ, seekers of justice, supporters of human rights for women, men, and all people, we gathered. To dance, to worship,...
February 20, 2011
Commission on the Status of Women
The Ecumenical Women's orientation for Commission on the Status of Women has started. Follow along on Twitter at #CSW.
February 19, 2011
Prayers for a Saturday morning . . .
and other times . . . Pray for the people of . . . Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Libya and other countries who call for change . . . Uganda who are vote . . . Palestine and Israel who stand...
February 14, 2011
Upcoming: side event at the CSW
Presbyterian Women are bringing Milcah Lalam of RECONCILE in Sudan to the CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) in February. The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations will host the Presbyterian presence at the CSW. RECONCILE's mission is to...
February 9, 2011
Coming in February ... the Commission on the Status of Women
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations is preparing to welcome Presbyterian participants for the Commission on the Status of Women from February 22 through March 4. Presbyterian Women is a key partner in this event. The Commission on the...
January 29, 2011
We can give that a try
They arrived from Boston at around 2:00 a.m. on Friday morning and by 9:30 a.m, they made it to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations. Five students, two faculty members, and an assistant from the Program for International and...
January 26, 2011
Living as global disciples - adult education class
The people kept coming and more and more chairs were brought into the room. On Sunday, January 23, I had the privilege to lead an adult class at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.We gathered at 12:30, after worship in the Corning...
October 29, 2010
Ecumenical Young Adults at 2010 Commission on the Status of Women
Check out this video from the Ecumenical Young Adults group to get a flavor of what happens at the annual meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Learn more about attending the 55th Session of the CSW...
October 29, 2010
Attend the 55th Commission on the Status of Women
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations invites Presbyterians to consider attending the 55th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on February 22 through March 4, 2011. There will be orientations on February 20 and 21....