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    Videos: NGO CSW67 Forum

    March 6-17, 2023

    The annual CSW and NGO CSW67 Forum convene one of the largest gatherings of UN entities, global leaders, the private sector, and women’s rights advocates to focus on the rights and empowerment of women and girls. The ABA held five events, one in-person panel at the United Nations and four virtual panels. The International Development Law Organization organized the in-person panel in collaboration with the ABA. The four virtual panels were organized by the ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations, Center for Global Programs, ABA Rule of Law Initiative, and ABA Center for Human Rights, and with appreciation to ABA entities: ABA President’s Office; Commission on Women in the Profession; Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence; Civil Rights and Social Justice Section; International Law Section; Judicial Division; Science and Technology Law Section; and Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources.

    Panel One: Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE)

    Wednesday, March 8, 2023
    11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (US Eastern)

    In celebration of International Women’s Day, this panel featured insights from the global consortium of Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE).

    Learn how integrated programming through WAGE is creating enabling environments to improve the prevention and response to gender-based violence and advance women’s economic empowerment. Global and local partners discussed factors contributing to creating the enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, including integrated programming designed to shift harmful gender norms/practices and address socio-cultural barriers to women’s entrepreneurship, laws and regulations, mobile networks and technologies, partnerships, and community-based solutions, such as rural village savings groups.

    Opening Remarks: Deborah Enix-Ross, ABA President

    Moderator: Hon. Ramona G. See (ret.), ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations

    Panelists:

    • Muthoni Kamuyu-Ojuolo, WAGE Director, ABA Rule of Law Initiative
    • Alfred Kojo Yeboah, Regional Director, Africa, Grameen Foundation
    • Francis Arthur, Project Lead, Grameen Foundation, Ghana

    Panel Two: Women Lawyers and Judges in Rural Settings

    Friday, March 10, 2023
    11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (US Eastern)

    In celebration of the International Day of Women, this panel discussed the role of women legal professionals in rural areas.

    Lawyers, judges, and women’s rights defenders who work in rural settings discussed the importance of an independent legal profession and why it is indispensable to the protection of the rights and human dignity of women and girls. The panelists identified threats to women judges and lawyers and how that can impact the transparent judicial enforcement of women’s rights. Panelists shared real-world examples and case studies to combat these threats and explored how the global community can support efforts to expand and strengthen access to justice in rural communities.

    Opening Remarks: Deborah Enix-Ross, ABA President

    Moderator: Hon. Mimi Tsankov, ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations; President, National Association of Immigration Judges

    Panelists:

    • Hon. Delissa A. Ridgway, U.S. Court of International Trade
    • Hon. Nnenna Celia Madu, Customary Court of Appeal, Enugu State Judiciary, Nigeria
    • Hon. Linda Strite Murnane, Associate Justice, High Court, Republic of the Marshall Islands
    • Hon. Vanessa Fisher, Land Rights Trial Judge, Costa Rica
    • Hon. Tammi Lambert, Chief Presiding Judge at Pueblo of Santa Ana
    • Hon. Ramona G. See (Ret.); Mediator, ADR Services, Inc.; Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court (Ret.)

    Panel Three: Protecting Women Environmental Defenders through Collective Action

    Tuesday, March 14, 2023
    11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (US Eastern)

    Rural women environmental defenders play a crucial role in the management of the environment and the well-being and livelihood of rural households and communities. Lawyers and women environmental defenders discussed the need for addressing legal and policy gaps that adversely impact their right to participate effectively in all areas of life and the importance of collective action for empowering defenders and their communities. A keynote presentation was followed by a panel discussion.


    Opening Remarks: Deborah Enix-Ross, ABA President

    Keynote: Michel Forst, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention

    Moderator: Renee Dopplick, ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations

    Panelists:

    • Geraldina López, Human rights attorney, Director of the Bufete de Pueblos Indígenas, and defense attorney for prisoner of conscience Virginia Laparra; Guatemala
    • Zamira Djabarova, Senior Legal Advisor, Labor Rights and Corporate Accountability, American Bar Association Center for Human Rights; United States
    • Sunčica Kovačević, Environmental defender, Kasindolska River Initiative; Bosnia and Herzegovina
    • Carla Saba, Deputy General Manager, Berytech; environmental defender; Lebanon

    Panel Three in Spanish and Russian (Audio only):

    Panel Four: Women at the Forefront of Justice Delivery

    Tuesday, March 14, 2023
    6:30 - 7:45 pm (US Eastern)
    United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room B

    This CSW67 Side Event is organized by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) with the support of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations and in collaboration with the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and the American Bar Association (ABA). This event will highlight the contributions made by women justice professionals, the barriers they encounter, and emerging pathways towards achieving women's equal and effective participation at all levels of the justice sector. For the full description and list of speakers, visit the event page on the IDLO website.  

    No recorded video or audio is available for this CSW Side Event.

    Panel Five: Women’s Rights in the Digital Age

    Thursday, March 16, 2023
    11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (US Eastern)

    Concluding CSW67 and the NGO CSW Forum with this roundtable featuring legal and technology leaders discussing gender equality, women’s rights, and economic empowerment in the digital age.

    Learn how networks of lawyers are working with governments, NGOs, technology companies, and partners to improve legal and policy frameworks to address privacy rights, internet freedom, inclusion in the digital economy, and protections of women and girls from technology-facilitated violence.

    Opening Remarks: Deborah Enix-Ross, ABA President

    Moderator: Kathleen Hom, ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations; Accenture

    Panelists:

    • Sarah Yong Li Hsien, Malaysian Bar Council, Malaysia
    • Hellen Mukasa, Co-Founder, Legal Tech Lab, Innovation Village, Uganda
    • Migan Megardichian, TELUS, Canada
    • Deon Woods Bell, ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
    • Maricarmen Garza, ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence; Tahirih Justice Center

    Closing remarks: Renee Dopplick, ABA Representatives and Observers to the United Nations