WFWPI's 63rd Session of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

From March 10 to 17, Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) welcomed 80 participants, including 31 young professionals, from 17 countries to New York City for the 63rd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63).

Over the course of the week, participants experienced Consultation Day, orientation, the Opening Session of CSW63, an annual reception, an evening for young professionals, the Horizon Summit, a couple tours, and numerous side events and parallel events that addressed the priority theme, “Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls,” as well as the review theme, “Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development.”

During orientation, Ms. Alexa Ward, International Vice President of WFWPI and Director of the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in New York, invited everyone to use this time to deepen old friendships and make new ones as well. She encouraged the participants to connect to other men and women for the purpose of building a network of long-term relationships based on trust. Christina Lange, Administrator

for WFWPI Office for the UN Relations in New York, prepared the participants for CSW and the week’s upcoming events and activities, and provided guests with helpful materials to equip them with information they would need throughout the week.

The main event for the week was the Horizon Summit which took place on Saturday, March 16, and centered around the theme of “Advancing the Culture of Peace.” The Horizon Summit is an intergenerational gathering dedicated to fostering peace leadership that was initiated four years ago as an annual component of WFWPI’s broader CSW week. The keynote address was given by Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN and Founder of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace, followed by an awards ceremony in recognition of a select group of individuals for their contribution in advancing the Culture of Peace, as well as honorable mentions to Ms. Sara Mwamlima for her work with the nonprofit she founded called Backpacks for Africa, and Ms. Fumika Hasegawa for her work with a menstrual hygiene project. The afternoon included three rounds of speakers and discussions where participants engaged in interactive rooms to share their personal stories, declare action steps and express what the Culture of Peace means to them through words and illustrations.

The program concluded with a dinner banquet with musical performances by Ms. Sarah Eide and Mr. Abe Deshotel. Ms. Angelika Selle, President of WFWP-USA and Vice President for North America, closed the day with a call to action. She emphasized that peace begins with personal transformation and encouraged the participants to collaborate with each other as peacemakers, find common ground even when it is difficult, and to never give up.

The WFWPI Office for UN Relations in NY is grateful for the vision, encouragement and love of the founders of WFWPI, and looks forward to bringing WFWPI to the next level with Ms. Julia H. Moon, the new President of WFWPI.