New York hosted an annual United National conference on gender equality and women’s empowerment as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) convened for its 68th session. Franciscan women took this opportunity to further their advocacy efforts regarding extreme poverty. This year, a group of nine Franciscan women, FSPA Julia Walsh being one of them, were welcomed for their active involvement in various human rights issues.
The 68th session revolved around the need to expedite the empowerment of women and girls by addressing poverty and enhancing institutional capacity and financial support.
In a statement released on March 22, UN Women, dedicated to gender equality, emphasized that the document recognizes the challenges faced by women and girls already struggling with poverty. They noted that in times of crisis, these women and girls often bear the brunt of hardships, acting as “shock absorbers." UN Women stressed the importance of further efforts to increase their resources.
Read more at Global Sisters Report and Franciscan International.