IFUW Representatives to International Organizations

New York: Representatives to ECOSOC

The United Nation’s crowded agenda at its headquarters in New York necessitates year-long coverage by IFUW’s representatives, who follow the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW). Representatives share common experiences at weekly briefings, conferences, consultations and through membership in the NGO Committee on the Status of Women. Individually we follow our own particular interests consistent with IFUW’s special concerns. Working relationships with UN staff and with other NGOs develop mainly through participation in NGO Committee where collaborative work is generally accomplished.

Geneva: Representatives to ECOSOC and ILO

As in New York, the United Nations in Geneva is busy throughout the year. Geneva shares with New York meetings of ECOSOC and CONGO. In addition, the Geneva team follows the Commission on Human Rights, the International Labour Office (ILO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). IFUW works closely with NGO coalitions, in particular with the Special Committee of International NGOs on Human Rights and the Committee on the Status of Women. The team is active in many of the special working groups.

Paris: UNESCO

In Paris, work is confined to one organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). IFUW is pleased to be one of the few women’s NGOs with consultative status. Each representative has a specific area of responsibility: Adult Education, Literacy and Education for All; Higher Education in the 21st Century and Women, Science and Technology, Poverty and follow-up to the Habitat II Conference on Human Settlements. Françoise Sauvage currently serves as the President of the NGO Conference to UNESCO, which is the body representing non-governmental organizations with formal relations with UNESCO.

Vienna: ECOSOC

In Vienna, IFUW representatives focus on Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in particular looking at issues related to women and the adolescent girl.