BKUN Newsletter: 47th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

47th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN, New York
Keeping Women Wired into the Communications Revolution

More voice and visibility for women in the media, as well as accessibility and affordability of information and communications technologies, were major concerns as the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women spotlighted two themes: women and the media, and violence against women. Observance of International Women’s Day coincided with the event.

Some 85 international delegates and UN officials at the session, held in New York, March 2003, looked at ways the media can advance and empower women, while deploring the degrading images often portrayed. The discussion fell within the broader context of an affirmation of women’s basic human rights — to healthy development, basic security, and dignity — and a call for elimination of all forms of violence against girls and women. The Commission recommended integrating gender perspectives in every facet of the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva in December, as well as in policies and programs of the UN generally.

Speakers during the session included Nitin Desai, under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs; Angela King, special adviser to the secretary-general on gender issues and advancement of women; Carolyn Hannan, director of the Division for the Advancement of Women; Joanne Sandler, deputy executive director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); and Ayse Feride Acar, chairperson of the Committee against All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

At a panel of the Committee on Mental Health, Brahma Kumaris (BK) UN representative Gayatri Naraine broadened the level of discourse by highlighting some of the subtler aspects of women’s empowerment:

• Ways in which spiritual practice and self-knowledge can foster inner strength and insight

• The possibility of reframing and extending the feminine principle to include gentler qualities (care, respect, patience, trust, loyalty, honesty, empathy, mercy, love) that can be tapped within all human beings

• The importance of realizing that “words create worlds” — that prevailing vocabularies which label people and relationships have the capacity either to inflict self-doubt or promote self-worth.

The BK-supported Images and Voices of Hope stood out as a project exemplifying awareness of the power of the media to shape public attitudes, amplifying either the negative or the positive. Discussion stressed the possibilities of strengthening the role of the media as agents of world benefit.

For more information, e-mail bkun@bkwsu.com.


Summer 2003 \| Issue 1, Volume 1 \| Back to the main BKUN site
• Introduction News Stories: Message from Dadi Janki Sister, Catch This Dime President of India Inaugurates Newest BK Retreat Centre Croatian Business Leaders Think Global BK Participation in COMESA World Social Forum in Brazil Commission on the Status of Women UNESCO Workshop on Righting Racism United Nations/Civil Society Relations World Summit on the Information Society BK Portraits— Third Eye	47th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, UN, New York Keeping Women Wired into the Communications Revolution More voice and visibility for women in the media, as well as accessibility and affordability of information and communications technologies, were major concerns as the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women spotlighted two themes: women and the media, and violence against women. Observance of International Women’s Day coincided with the event. Some 85 international delegates and UN officials at the session, held in New York, March 2003, looked at ways the media can advance and empower women, while deploring the degrading images often portrayed. The discussion fell within the broader context of an affirmation of women’s basic human rights — to healthy development, basic security, and dignity — and a call for elimination of all forms of violence against girls and women. The Commission recommended integrating gender perspectives in every facet of the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva in December, as well as in policies and programs of the UN generally. Speakers during the session included Nitin Desai, under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs; Angela King, special adviser to the secretary-general on gender issues and advancement of women; Carolyn Hannan, director of the Division for the Advancement of Women; Joanne Sandler, deputy executive director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); and Ayse Feride Acar, chairperson of the Committee against All Forms of Discrimination against Women. At a panel of the Committee on Mental Health, Brahma Kumaris (BK) UN representative Gayatri Naraine broadened the level of discourse by highlighting some of the subtler aspects of women’s empowerment: • Ways in which spiritual practice and self-knowledge can foster inner strength and insight • The possibility of reframing and extending the feminine principle to include gentler qualities (care, respect, patience, trust, loyalty, honesty, empathy, mercy, love) that can be tapped within all human beings • The importance of realizing that “words create worlds” — that prevailing vocabularies which label people and relationships have the capacity either to inflict self-doubt or promote self-worth. The BK-supported Images and Voices of Hope stood out as a project exemplifying awareness of the power of the media to shape public attitudes, amplifying either the negative or the positive. Discussion stressed the possibilities of strengthening the role of the media as agents of world benefit. For more information, e-mail bkun@bkwsu.com.