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A hallmark of the Temple's work is joining heart, body, and mind to learn deeply from the wide array of international speakers available at events like the Commission on the Status of Women.
TOU Executive Director Alison Van Dyk reports:
There were two main concerns from women around the world at the CSW parallel events this year: the persistent practice of FGM [female genital mutilation] and the trafficking of young women. What I heard in workshop after workshop was like a déjà vu of the UN Woman's Conference in Beijing in 1995 but with the uncomfortable realization that things have gotten worse, not better.
The assassination of City Council member Marielle Franco of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the CSW brought home again the need to defend our women human rights defenders around the globe.
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the Interfaith Service of Remembrance
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Despite the heavy issues raised at CSW, our speaker
Dr. Veena Adige sounded a note of hope:
Though women who live in rural areas are at a higher risk of being left behind, the 50-50 in 2030 [gender equality] can soon become a reality. I saw that there was no discrimination among the delegates, there were instant friendships made, business contacts fixed and future plans made.
There was laughter in the cafes in the UN but pin drop silence during the sessions. Temple of Understanding certainly paved the way to better understanding of people and situations.
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