ACRATH Member Working at the UN

Engaging with NGOs in the UN

Lucy van Kessel, a Presentation Sister and a member of ACRATH in Western Australia, is working at the United Nations as an International Presentation Association (IPA) non-government organisation representative for six months from January to July 2013. During her time there Lucy will focus on programs and events organised by the UN Regional Commissions, such as the Commission on the Status of Women in March which assesses government responses to the elimination of violence against women.  She will be meeting with international working groups and providing information about issues, including human trafficking, in particular regions.

Lucy has sent the following message giving news of her early days in New York:
“I attended a NGO committee meeting on Stop the Trafficking in Persons.  There were at least 15 different organisations represented and the key item was discussion on presentations from six task force groups of side events they are preparing for the CSW 57 event early in March 2013.  They are a very passionate, committed and varied group with a lot of energy.

I also attended a WGG (Working Group on Girls) committee meeting. There are 85 organisations represented in this group. The meeting focussed on the trafficking of girls and this time we went into work groups to prepare information for side events to the CSW 57 event. The group I joined was interested in finding more information about trafficked girls and good news stories in relation to girls.  We invite government representatives to attend the side events  and hope from this that they will put the event into the main UN agenda. ”

ACRATH sends good wishes to Lucy and waits in anticipation for further updates from her.