Meeting at a reception in the Turkish Center honoring the 53rd United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (Commission) held at the UN in New York on March 2 to 13, 2009 were Santa Clarita Zontian Dianne Curtis and Soroptimist Cheri Fleming along with other Zonta International (ZI) and Soroptimist International (SI) representatives.
The priority theme for the Commission was “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIVAIDS.” The Commission is instrumental in expanding the recognition of women’s rights and consistently promotes the advancement of women’s rights. The reality of women’s lives throughout the world is documented, global policies on gender equality is shaped, and women are empowered to insure that the work of the UN incorporates a genderspective. At the conclusion of the Status of Women Commission meeting, ZI presented a summary paper to the UN Assembly.
The Commission continues to play a critical role by bringing together Governments, UN entities, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other international and regional organizations to promote women’s rights and advance gender equality. Both ZI and SI have NGO status with the UN and strive to advance the status of women worldwide through their active involvement and support of global policies.
Pictured front left to right: Cheri Fleming, Camino Real Region Governor of SI of the Americas; Margaret Lobo, SI President; Beryl Sten, ZI President; Dianne Curtis ZI President Elect and standing-Jackie Shapiro, ZI UN Chairman.
For information about Zonta, contact Phyllis Walker at 213-922-1084 or 661-251-1172.