Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in CSW69 Blogs.
WYDE Leadership Initiative: Transforming Social Norms for Women’s Political Participation
Authored: Sarah Barnbrook
Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the conversation on gender equality remains as critical as ever. At the WYDE Leadership Initiative event during CSW69, global leaders, policymakers, and activists gathered to discuss the persistent barriers to women’s political participation and how to dismantle the entrenched social norms that hinder progress.
The session opened with remarks from Kiara Adamo, Head of Human Rights, Gender, and Democratic Governance at the European Commission. She emphasized the need for urgent action to advance women’s leadership, celebrating the WYDE Leadership Initiative as a key driver of change. Funded by the European Union, WYDE has committed to supporting women's political participation, within a broader initiative to strengthen democracy and gender equality worldwide.
Sarah Hendriks, UN Women’s Director of Policy, reinforced the urgency of tackling social norms that continue to limit women’s leadership. She reminded attendees that despite three decades of progress, women remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces, and achieving gender parity requires a deliberate and sustained effort. “We must move women’s leadership from the shadows into the light,” she urged.
A significant highlight was the screening of a WYDE Women’s Leadership Initiative video, showcasing its first-year achievements. These include mentoring and leadership programs for nearly 300 women, training for 30 journalists to challenge gender biases, and funding for women-led organizations to advance feminist movements globally.
The panel discussion that followed delved into the deep-rooted social norms that continue to shape perceptions of women’s roles in politics. Brenda Kombo, a social norms expert, explained how gendered expectations of women as caregivers, combined with the perception of politics as a male-dominated space, reinforce barriers to leadership. She outlined three key pathways for change: transforming narratives around women in leadership, strengthening feminist movements, and addressing material inequalities such as access to education and financial resources.
Senator Cynthia López Castro of Mexico shared her country’s journey toward gender parity in politics. She highlighted Mexico’s recent milestone—electing its first female president and achieving gender parity in both chambers of Congress. However, she cautioned that political violence and online abuse against women remain significant obstacles. “We must not only be at the table but at the head of it,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational mentorship and legal protections for women in politics.
Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, Principal Advisor on Democracy and Inclusion at International IDEA, reinforced the need to address discriminatory social norms at their roots. She warned that despite legal frameworks supporting gender equality, persistent patriarchal attitudes continue to shape political realities. “Women’s participation in politics does not automatically translate to representation or influence,” she noted.
From a local governance perspective, Emil Broberg, a Swedish elected official, shared Sweden’s progress in gender equality through policies such as shared parental leave and accessible childcare. He underscored the role of men as allies, advocating for a more balanced redistribution of power. “If we truly believe in democracy, then at least 50% of power should belong to women,” he asserted.
Media representation was also a key theme, with Abosede George-Ogan, founder of the Women in Leadership Advancement Network, discussing the role of mass media in shaping perceptions of women in power. She highlighted both the positive impact of showcasing female leaders and the dangers of biased media coverage, which often undermines women’s credibility. She urged women in politics to actively engage with the media to reshape these narratives.
The session concluded with a call to action: legal reforms, social norms change, and targeted investment must work together to advance women’s leadership.
WYDE Leadership Initiative continues to lead the charge, demonstrating that when women lead, societies thrive.
The time for change is now. Women’s leadership is not an aspiration—it is a necessity.
Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in CSW69 Blogs.
Digital Violence Against Women: Towards Transformative Policies and Partnerships in the Framework of Beijing+30
12 March 2025
Author Judy Toll SISEAP Representative to CSW69
This event organised by the Ministry of Equality (Spain), in collaboration with UNDP, SEGIB, and the Ibero-American initiative to Prevent and Eliminate Violence Against Women in Ibero America.
This session examined digital violence as a growing threat to gender equality, democratic participation, and gender rights.
The Minister for Equality (Spain), Ana Redondo highlighted the targeted online abuse faced by former New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden, illustrating how digital violence disproportionately impacts women in leadership. She further highlighted how such attacks often extend to families of public figures, further deterring women from political and public engagement. The absence of robust regulations and accountability mechanism on digital platforms remains a pressing concern.
Key Takeaways
Recognise and criminalise digital sexual violence, ensuring content providers are held accountable.
Governments, civil society, and businesses to have a coordinated effort to foster safer digital environments.
Implement content monitoring and labelling mechanism to address misinformation, harassment, and abuse.
Equip women and girls with tools to safely navigate online spaces and counter digital threats.
Strengthen international legal and policy frameworks to address digital violence.
Digital violence threatens democracy and gender equality.
Urgent action is needed to protect women’s rights and to ensure safe online participation.
Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in CSW69 Blogs.
Leave NoBrideBehind – ECOSOC Chamber UN New York
March 19, 2025
A collaborative report by Judy Toll (SI Perth), Sarah Barnbrook (SI Melbourne) and Cherrie Power (SI Shepparton and SI Melbourne).
As delegates and advocates, we gather at pivotal moments like the recent workshop to discuss and take action on one of the most pressing issues affecting girls globally: child marriage. This event, co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, Unchained at Last, and various other international organizations, provided a platform for leaders and activists to collaborate on solutions to eradicate child marriage by 2030. It also underscored the need for stronger laws globally, including in Australia, where the legal age for marriage remains below the age of 18
Key Messages and Objectives:
The workshop underscored the urgent need to address child marriage as a global human rights violation. Dr. Sasha Mangoy, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, delivered an empowering opening remark, emphasizing the country’s achievements in reducing child marriage from 48% in 2008 to 30% in 2019. The core theme of the event, "No Child Left Behind," called for collective responsibility and a shared commitment to education, legal reforms, and community-based action. As Dr. Mangoy pointed out, public education, monitoring, and strong legal frameworks such as Sierra Leone's Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024 are crucial in the fight against this harmful practice.
The Need for Legal Reform in Australia:
Australia currently allows marriage for girls as young as 16, with parental consent, and those under 18 must also seek court approval. This creates a legal loophole that exposes young girls to coercion and abuse. Advocating to raise the legal age of marriage to 18 in Australia is an important step toward protecting the rights and wellbeing of minors, especially young girls, by ensuring they are fully protected under the law before entering such a significant commitment.
Why Increase the Marriage Age to 18? The legal age for marriage in Australia should align with international standards that place the minimum age of marriage at 18. Marriage at a young age often leads to negative consequences, including:
Health risks associated with early pregnancies
Educational disruption and limited career opportunities
Increased vulnerability to domestic violence
Violation of the right to choose one’s future
By raising the marriage age, Australia can protect minors and ensure they have the time and resources to grow into adulthood before making such an important decision.
Speakers and Partnerships:
The event featured several key speakers, each sharing their unique perspectives and experiences in the fight to end child marriage. Here’s a list of the speakers along with a quote from each:
Opening Speaker - Dr. Sasha Mangoy, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Sierra Leone:
“The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2024 is a critical step in our fight. It’s a commitment that requires the collective effort of governments, communities, and international partners to ensure no child is left behind in this journey to eradicate child marriage.”
Fraidy Reiss, Founder of Unchained at Last and survivor of forced marriage:
"We must be relentless in our fight against child marriage. No girl should be forced into a marriage against her will. It’s a violation of her rights, and it’s up to us to ensure that every girl has the freedom to choose her future."
At 19 years old Fraidy was forced into a violent and loveless marriage.
As abridein New York, Fraidy was subjected to a virginity examination to ensure she was pure for her new husband.
Fraidy was forced to have unprotected sex on her wedding night and on a monthly basis thereafter. A lifetime of rape.
Fraidy loves her two daughters, but in saying that, did not consent to having them.
She was trapped for 15 years in this abusive forced marriage and when she finally managed to escape, her family retaliated, shunning her and declaring her dead.
Mona Sinha, Global Executive Director of Equality Now:
"Child marriage is a growing crisis fueled by deepening inequalities, climate change, and conflict. Every year, an estimated 12 million girls are married before the age of 18, and with that, they lose their education, safety, and future opportunities."
Sarah Hendricks, Director of Policy Programs at UN Women:
"Child marriage is not just a violation of human rights; it’s also a barrier to achieving gender equality. We must ensure that all girls have access to education, economic opportunities, and the right to make decisions about their own lives."
Saba Nishan, Coordinator of the African Partnership to End Violence Against Children, African Child Policy Forum:
"In Africa, we've seen success in setting the minimum age of marriage at 18 in most countries, but we must continue working on the intersection of rights, such as birth registration, to ensure these laws are fully effective."
Dr. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation:
"Child marriage is not just a problem in faraway countries, it's happening here in the United States too. We must continue to push our leaders to fulfill their promises to girls everywhere and ensure that every child is free to pursue their future on her own terms."
Addressing the Global Crisis of Child Marriage:
At the event, speakers also highlighted the significant progress in some countries, such as Sierra Leone, which recently passed a Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. However, there is still much to be done globally to protect the rights of girls. As Sarah Hendricks, Director of UN Women’s Policy Programme, pointed out:
"Child marriage must end. Our latest data says that it will take 68 years for that to happen. So not in 68 years, but it must end now. We are long past due from the promise made in Beijing 30 years ago." She emphasized the need for a whole of society approach, including commitment from governments, civil society, and international organizations.
Dr. Chelsea Clinton also spoke on the challenges in the United States, where child marriage is still legal in some states, saying:
"We’ve banned child marriage in 13 states and a number of territories. I won’t ask you to raise your cards because I think, you know, we have 50 states, and we know that 13 still leaves an extraordinary amount to go. We are not immune to the backlash that Sarah spoke about."
In California, there is no minimum age to get married, and you must be 18 to get a divorce. Girls under the age of 18 can’t seek help and support from Women’s shelters and are also often turned away by family, leaving these young girls alone with nowhere to go — an example of how critical legal reforms are in addressing the child marriage crisis. The need to align all countries with the minimum marriage age of 18 is paramount in ensuring that girls can make decisions about their future when they are ready.
Most people aren’t aware that child marriage is legal in the US. Between the years 2000 and 2021, some 307365 girls aged between 10 and 18 were married off to older men by their families without consent. A lifetime of enduring violent rape and bearing children. Losing access to their fundamental human rights.
Sex with a child under 18 is illegal in all parts of the US, but in 37 of the 50 states if they marry the child, sex is then legal.
Opportunities for Advocacy:
The workshop highlighted several key opportunities for continued advocacy:
Strengthening legal frameworks: Encouraging governments to set the minimum age for marriage at 18 without exception and ensuring the enforcement of these laws. Community engagement: Partnering with traditional and religious leaders to shift harmful social norms and promote education and gender equality. Empowering girls and survivors: Providing platforms for girls and women to lead, speak out, and drive change within their communities. Investing in education and economic opportunities: Ensuring that girls have access to quality education, as it is proven to delay marriage and provide greater autonomy.
How Can We Advocate More?
As members of Soroptimist International and advocates for women's rights, we have a crucial role to play in advocating for the end of child marriage. Here’s how we can make a difference:
Support survivors: Share their stories and ensure they have access to resources and legal protection. Engage local communities: Collaborate with community leaders to address cultural practices that perpetuate child marriage and promote girls' education. Raise awareness: Use platforms like social media and public events to educate others on the impact of child marriage and the importance of legal reform. Influence policy: Advocate for stronger laws and the enforcement of those laws, while ensuring that all girls, no matter where they live, have the right to choose their future.
Conclusion:
Together, we can make significant strides in eliminating child marriage and protecting the rights of girls. By amplifying successful examples like those from Sierra Leone and the Dominican Republic, and continuing to collaborate across borders, we are one step closer to a world where no girl is forced into marriage before she is ready.
Let us stand firm in our commitment to make a difference and ensure that the promises made at international forums like the Beijing Platform and the UN Sustainable Development Goals are kept. The time to act is now.
Written by SISEAP WebDev on . Posted in CSW69 Blogs.
CSW69, SISEAP representative attending CSW actioned the voices of all our members across the Asia Pacific Region. This year CSW spotlighted laws, policies, innovative strategies, replicable programme interventions and practices that address gender-based discrimination in the workplace. This was a review year of the progress made since Beijing 30 years ago.
Our SISEAP representatives blog on many of the session they attended over the 2 week period.
Soroptimist International is a global movement of women, with members belonging to more than 3,000 clubs in 126 countries/territories, spread over 5 Federations
