CSW55 Luncheon 2011
The Role of NGO in the Access and Participation of Women and Girls To Education, Training, Science & Technology
CYNTHIA SHIBUYA AND MERLY BARLAAN
FEBRUARY 23, 2011 - UN DELEGATES DINING ROOM, NEW YORK
CSW55: WFWPI Luncheon
WFWPI held its annual luncheon meeting to commemorate the 55th Session of CSW just following a very successful parallel event. Around sixty guests consisting of WFWP leaders, constituents, and CSW delegates from Japan, Taiwan, and USA attended the event. The event was graced by the guest speaker, Mr. Andrei Abramov, Chief, NGO Branch, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Office for the ECOSOC Support and Coordination, and His Excellency Mr. Daniel Antonio, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations.
Ms. Motoko Sugiyama, WFWPI VP and Director of WFWPI UN Office as well as host and organizer of the Luncheon Meeting was the program moderator.
Prof. Lan Young Moon Park, President of WFWP International delivered a heart-warming message that the 21st century is the age of information and technology as well as the era of women. She emphasized the importance of seeking harmony through female leadership in all sectors and advancement of the feminine qualities that bring the necessary balance with male-centered leadership to enhance global development. She stressed the role of NGOs in influencing governments, lawmakers and society, to improve opportunities for women to enter into the fields of science and technology. She concluded her remarks by thanking WFWPI representatives worldwide who have been sincerely carrying out volunteer service work and education programs based on true maternal love in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Ambassador Daniel Antonio began his remarks, thanking WFWPI for its long standing friendship and partnership with the Mozambican people and its government through WFWPI's school projects. The school project and the role it plays in helping shape the lives of youth through access to vocational school and education in the field of science and technology have made a lasting positive impact in Mozambique. Ambassador Antonio concluded his remarks by leading a celebratory toast.
After lunch, keynote speaker, Mr. Andrei Abramov spoke on the role of NGOs in access to and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology. He stated that NGOs are key partners in the quest to achieve peace, prosperity and gender equality for all women and men. Mr. Abramov explained that NGOs' specialized knowledge and understanding of local populations, regional economic and social issues and policy implications often enable governments and UN programmes to deliver aid to those who need it. He also emphasized that NGOs' partnership with ECOSOC ensure that the international community is synchronized and informed about realities on the ground. On the perspective of women and technology, Mr. Abramov pointed out that better educated women are more productive and the accumulation of knowledge increases the rate of technological change thus accelerating economic growth.
Mr. Abramov informed luncheon participants about upcoming and increasing opportunities for NGOs to provide input to both the UN General Assembly's and ECOSOC's dialogs. He concluded his remarks by thanking all NGOs working on education related issues and encouraging them that 2011 will provide many opportunities to make contributions. (For complete text of Mr. Abramov's speech, please refer to WFWPI website: www.wfwp.org).