Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England (GSSNE) was thrilled that four local Girl Scouts represented our organization at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York City from March 10 – 17, 2017.
GSSNE was one of only three Girl Scout councils (out of 112 total councils across the U.S.) selected to send girl representatives to this high profile event hosted by UN Women. The four girl representatives include Holly Viphakone, age 15 from Woonsocket, Olivia Barboza, age 15 from Cumberland, Lillian Hogan, age 16 from South Kingstown, and Grace Major, also age 16 from South Kingstown. GSSNE representatives joined the Girl Scouts USA delegation, which also included representatives from Girl Scouts of Hawai’i and Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.
Prior to traveling to New York, GSSNE’s four girl delegates met at the Statehouse with local female leaders serving on the Rhode Island Commission on Women and met with female executives comprising the Bank of America’s local Power of 10 group.
The girl delegates also presented at the GSSNE Annual Meeting, a Board of Directors meeting, and a Newport Chamber of Commerce event.
CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment
of women. This year’s primary theme for the two-week session was women’s economic empowerment. At CSW, GSSNE delegates also had the opportunity to connect with delegates representing the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
GSSNE girl delegates found CSW sessions on girls’ rights, human trafficking, women with disabilities, and menstrual hygiene management to be particularly impactful. Several delegates are already looking forward to pursuing Gold Award Projects inspired by their learnings at CSW. Our local Girl Scouts are youth experts and true agents of change who are equipped to collaborate with stakeholders and partners on important issues. We look forward to seeing the great action plans they will develop and spearhead locally!