It was an exciting and energetic beginning to the first day of the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. For me, it began in a two hour line to receive my security pass to the United Nations Headquarters.  It was very encouraging to see so many people, women in particular, from across the globe gathering for such an important international forum for the global community.

Tony Medina, during the statement of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during CSW60

Although I slightly late to the opening remarks, I was able to attend the statement made by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban KI-moon, who emphasized the progress and the great amount of work still remaining in the promotion of the new agenda “Planet 50-50 by 2030,” which is an initiative dedicated to bringing real equality to women no later than the year 2030.  Several other high-level UN dignitaries also spoke; however, I was very impressed and excited to hear from the UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the head of UN women in particular.

UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, speaking at CSW60

During her speech, she was very adamant about the role of youth in promotion of gender equality and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  “We recognize the need to include and engage youth with greater seriousness and we have just launched our Youth and Gender Equality Strategy,” said Madam Mlambo-Ngcuka.  This is a very important message for the Utah International Mountain Forum to not only notice her words, but to engage in this important initiative for the global community.  Please find enclosed in the following link, her full statement: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2016/3/ed-speech-csw60-opening;

After the opening session, I participated in several other events in the CSW60 agenda. It was very thrilling to see some very familiar faces, including from the State of Utah. Some of whom were also participants in the 4th International Women of the Mountains Conference. In the next few days, I will be following this with accounts from the other events and sessions I attend here at the CSW60 in New York City, to continue the traditions of student engagement and contributions to the gender and SDGs of the United Nations. In continuing the traditions of  the Women of the Mountains Conference, my student engagement in gender advocacy has been made possible through the joint efforts of Dr. Rusty Butler, until recently-Associate Vice President of the Office of International Affairs and Diplomacy; Dr. Baktybek Abdrisaev, Lecturer, History and Political Science Department at Utah Valley University; and Mrs. Wendy Jyang, Chairperson of the NGO Utah China Friendship Improvement Sharing Hands Development & Commerce.

                     Tony Medina, President, Utah International Mountain Forum