New York and Northeast chapters are invited to attend a panel presentation about gender-based violence during CSW62, the 62^nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), to be held March 14 in New York.  Dr. Veena Khandke, DFW’s Director of Grants and Partnerships, will represent DFW as the primary sponsor of this session, which is co-sponsored by UNICEF USA.

The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW takes place in New York City every year for two weeks, with approximately 6,000 non-profits attending from all over the world.

DFW’s session, “Risks Rural Women and Girls Face: Achieving Gender Parity through Combatting Gender-Based Violence,” will include Jaha Dukareh, founder of Safe Hands for Girls (DFW November 2017 grantee), Katharine Flatley, founder and Executive Director of Women’s Justice Initiative (DFW March 2018 grantee), and a representative of UNICEF. This is a unique opportunity for DFW to showcase its grantees to an international audience and promote the work they do on behalf of women and girls.

About 120 million girls have experienced forced sexual acts; 200 million girls/ women have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting; and some 700 million women were married before the age of 18. Without effective social protection and evidence-based policies to protect women and girls, harmful practices proliferate. Today, women and girls – especially those in rural areas – are at higher risk of exposure to gender-based violence (GBV). This collaborative discussion will address challenges, opportunities, and innovative interventions to change cultural norms and mitigate risks. This session will raise awareness about GBV and the pathways for those in need to access health services, recourse to justice, and educational and training opportunities to ensure their future economic well-being. It will also increase exposure for DFW grantee initiatives that are empowering women and girls to tackle GBV in communities and countries around the world.

The event will also highlight DFW’s support of UNICEF’s work on behalf of South Sudan’s most vulnerable women and children, responding to the survivors of GBV and mitigating risks to protect women and children today and in the future. DFW’s funding for this project will support critical protection efforts, including GBV prevention and response services such as crucial psychosocial support to help women and girls overcome difficult experiences, which may include rape, sexual abuse or other forms of GBV. DFW has also committed seed money to UNICEF to implement a livelihood empowerment program for Syrian refugee women and their families in Jordan.

Admission to the event is free. It will be held at 8:30 a.m. March 14 in the Gallery at 4 W 43rd St. For more information, visit http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw.