Laurie McCammon 

March 2, 2012  - UN Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury addresses a crowd of women at the 57th UN CSW to tell the truth about why a year ago a proposal for a 5th United Nations Conference on Women (WCW) did not make it to the floor of the UN despite the UN leadership stating formally that it is "high time" and despite grassroots women's strong support worldwide. Seven or eight powerful countries, including the US and countries of Europe blocked it and continue to send the signal to slow it down. It has been 17 years since the last WCW. Why the delay? He explains what we should and can do about it. Ambassador Chowdhury should know. He is former Chief of the Security Council and Under-Secretary-General of the Assembly and was the man behind drafting Resolution 1325 which ensures women are part of the peace-making and re-building process. Please see our other video by Ambassador Chowdhury in which he explains why a 5th WCW would strengthen, not threaten the Beijing Platform for Action document.

March 2, 2012 - UN Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury dispels false rumors that holding a 5th world conference on women (WCW) would threaten the Beijing Platform for Action produced at 4 WCW in 1995. On the contrary, holding the conference becomes a focal point for reaffirming and re-energizing the platform and evaluating its implementation thus far. He further states that there is no precedent whatsoever that a "plus conference" (for example, Rio plus 20) weakens the documents produced by the previous conference. To absolutely ensure this, the draft resolution simply needs to state this intention explicitly. Ambassador Chowdhury should know. He is former Chief of the Security Council and Under-Secretary General of the Assembly and was the man behind drafting Resolution 1325 which ensures women are part of the peace-making process. It has been 17 years since the United Nations has held a world conference on women. The first four were overwhelming successes. We must ask ourselves why has it been so long? Please see our other video of Ambassador Chowdhury to see what he suggests we can do about it as concerned citizens.

Footage from the 4th United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995 (1 of 3)

Footage of the 4th United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995 (part 2 of 3)

Footage from the 4th United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995 (part 3 of 3)

Kathe Schaaf, founder of Women of Spirit and Faith speaks at TEDx San Diego January, 2013 about women's leadership reaching a global tipping point.

Trailer of the movie, The Heart to Lead - Allies for the Greater Good, produced by We are Enough Founding Mama, Cheryl Gould.

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