Ninety three Anglican delegates representing 25 Provinces of the Anglican Communion joined more than 8300 women and a few men in New York City for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), March 1-12, 2010. They gathered to seek information, deeper theological perspective, and skills to advocate effectively on the objectives of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw). The International Anglican Women’s Network (IAWN) is historically the largest civil society group attending UNCSW hearings (http://iawn.anglicancommunion.org/index.cfm). The Rev. Margaret Cornish, Rector, St. Alban, Richmond, and Dr. Andrea Mann, General Synod Partnerships staff, represented IAWN-Vancouver on the Canadian delegation.

In addition to official High Plenary country reports and Panel meetings, which IAWN-Canada delegates observed, many side events provided a range of issues in which to participate actively. IAWN-Canada co-hosted one such event on Violence and Indigenous Women, reported recently in the Anglican Journal (http://www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/legacy-of-violence-against-aboriginal-women-continues/?cHash=bee885fbdb) . 

Each day began for Provincial and Christian delegates with worship at the Church Center for the UN, featuring the lives and stories of women of the Bible-Miriam, Deborah, Hagar, Mahlah, Hoglah, Abigail, Lydia, Junia, Martha- in prayer, text, reflection and song.

Sadly, effective civil society engagement with government representatives was often difficult, well beyond the logistics associated with ongoing renovations at UN Headquarters.   Women from around the world had come to the CSW in hopes of being heard, investing considerable time and resources to get there. Many experienced discouragement and a profound sense of disrespect. Despite challenges, a number of excellent resolutions from civil society groups were heard, including several from faith communities condemning the rise violence against women worldwide.

Margaret Cornish and Andrea Mann will speak about their experiences on Saturday May 8^th, at an IAWN-Vancouver Quiet Day for women of the diocese, at St. Alban Anglican Church, Richmond. As on previous IAWN Quiet Days, women are invited to gather at 9:30am for coffee, followed by quiet reflection, lunch, topical discussion. The day concludes with worship by 4:00pm. Lunch is provided.