#CSW63 Taking Action

Friday 15th March 2019

And so we are coming to the end of our time here at #CSW63 and what better way to bookend a week of empowerment and engagement than standing in solidarity with NY students taking action in the youth strike for climate change.  Students and young people across the world have called for a day of action to demand that our negative impact on our environment is prioritised by those with the power to make change.

For young people who are disenfranchised through the democratic process (not able to vote) and the legal process (age of legal responsibility), the only way they can amplify their voices is often through action. 

Unfortunately this is also the why those with political power undermine the voices of young people.  "Why should we listen to young people who are just shouting?", "These young people need to focus on going to school and learning", "This is not something for children to be involved in"... These are some of the comments that get trotted out anytime young people ask to be taken seriously. So is it any wonder why children start making demands?

As a citizenship teacher, I am proud of the next generation when children and young people find methods of co-ordinating and uniting their voices. Using technology, young people are finding new ways of organising, agitating and taking action. Increasingly, they are no longer waiting to be given permission to get involved.

On Thursday I attended a session called Teaching Consent and I was blown away.  This was a session led by a panel of articulate little sisters who are building their voices in their communities.  No longer being the lone feminist voice in the school (like Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You). These sisters are now united in the knowledge that they are part of a wider community, working together. Sharing ideas, organising and communicating across the US.

The emphasis on peer-peer education shows how when young people are given the tools, they can take the lead in their communities, and organisations like Girls International, The UK Council of Women, GLA and GLI are producing the tools.

We heard about sexually inappropriate behaviour in schools and in communities, our young women are vulnerable in so many spaces and they are expected to build an immunity to it.  Our sisters told us about how campuses are supposed to be safe spaces for everyone but when they aren't? it is the sisters who are using the rules and regulations to force administrations to see the problems for what they are.  They educated us on the importance of policy (especially Title 9s), education and culture when it comes to gender equality.  

Sisters are building a guide to universities based on the level of protection and safety for women and girls on campus, so women can choose a place of education based not just on location or academic reputation, but also on how serious the school takes reports of sexual assault and harassment.

Most importantly, our little sisters are understanding the importance of using language to define and empower.  By using the word 'survivor' instead 'victim' to describe sisters who have experience sexual assault or harassment, we are recognising the strength needed rather than the cowardice of the perpetrator.

The film 'The Hunting Ground' is another clear example of how when the media tells the right stories, it is able to inspire and unite. 

These young women are building their support networks and already understanding that fighting for gender equality and respect is a global campaign, a campaign that needs a multitude of voices and actions.