MU at the UN: How we are working with the UNCSW to help women globally

SENDING HOPE AROUND THE WORLD

Since 2010 Mothers’ Union has worked with the UNCSW to overcome inequality, says Zonal Trustee and Provincial President of All Ireland June Butler

We as members of Mothers’ Union strive to demonstrate our faith in action and that, in many ways, is similar to the United Nations’ ethos. The UN was established in 1945 to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations and promote social progress, better living standards and human rights. Our global movement, with over 4 million members in 84 countries, has the power to bring about positive change, particularly in the latter three areas.

Mothers’ Union has been sending representatives to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) for 10 years. It is a commission of the UN’s Economic and Social Council, and member nation representatives meet each March. In 2017 and 2019 I was an observer and you may have read my UN blogs about UNCSW.

The concerns of UNCSW fit closely with the aims of Mothers’ Union’s strategic plan to transform lives - a peaceful and safe environment, gender justice and self-reliance. These are reflected in the submission we have made to UNCSW for 2021; its priority is women’s participation and decisionmaking in public life, the elimination of violence, achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Mothers’ Union’s international projects are changing attitudes and starting that transformation. Led by women acting as community volunteer facilitators, they lead by example and give others confidence to take on similar roles. In Ethiopia, the literacy programme is about so much more than learning to read – it covers relationships, nutrition, growing crops and hygiene, and this broad approach is typical.

Eliminating violence against women is an ongoing struggle and the COVID-19 restrictions, which too often meant women were effectively imprisoned with their abusers, set back

“Mothers’ Union’s international projects are changing attitudes

progress. Mothers’ Union made submissions to UNCSW last year, providing evidence and supporting measures to tackle this “second pandemic”.

Mothers’ Union projects in Africa and south east Asia raise awareness of genderbased violence (GBV) and encourage reporting, as well as tackling attitudes which drive acceptance and ignorance. During the pandemic, media - especially radio - publicised COVID-19 prevention and related problems; in Uganda, 25 young women were rescued from a perpetrator because someone reported concerns after hearing a radio broadcast.

In partnership with other charities, including UNICEF, Mothers’ Union has challenged practices which perpetrate GBV, appointing community and national gender champions, striving to end violence and support healing. We are working with faith charities and organisations aligned with the UN - including many in Britain and Ireland - to further their aims and give women control over their lives and provide legal, health, counselling and support services for those affected by GBV and sexual harassment.

Helping women set up businesses to escape poverty and to feed their children and families, also aligns UNCSW’s aims with what we do as a charity. 32,000 women have had their lives changed by our new community savings and loan groups. In Tanzania in 2019, there were 187 groups with nearly 4,000 members starting businesses and supporting community projects.

Mothers’ Union has also co-signed the UNCSW statement highlighting, and pledging to tackle, the issues facing widows who, in many countries, are at risk of poverty and abuse by their former husbands’ families. As an UNCSW observer, I was shocked by the evidence given and this is an area which I believe Mothers’ Union needs to address in the future.

Working on the ground, Mothers’ Union can make such a difference. Our financial support for worldwide projects is critical and everything we do at home, from making scrubs for health workers and bags for prisoners leaving jail, to nurturing communities and advocacy against domestic abuse and modern slavery, informs and strengthens our movement, and brings real change a step closer. UNCSW will not meet physically in 2021 but MU will be there - virtually - to make our voice heard!

Did you know?

MU is a non-governmental organisation in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC)

We can submit statements in advance of key meetings, and can register as observers at major events - in our case, the UN Commission for the Status of Women. Up to 20 members can be registered for UNCSW.