Commission on the Status of Women

Topic 1

Women’s Media Access and Participation

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) works tirelessly to ensure the status of women is not only protected, but also advanced in all aspects of today’s increasingly interconnected global community. One of the most powerful tools is information, and the internet in particular has increased the speed with which vast amounts of knowledge becomes available worldwide. In order to continue promoting the status of women and work towards greater gender equality according to its mandate, it is imperative that the CSW examine the media and other information and communication technologies and harness its power.

The media can serve as a means for the advancement of the status of women by providing them with a means of contributing to public policy. When women are granted equal access to and participation in these technologies they can take part in local, regional, and global politics contributing ideas and providing valuable feedback. Additionally, improving women’s access to the media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) is vital to empowering women as media and technology are playing larger roles than ever before in modern society. By encouraging women to assume roles in media as well as media advisory bodies, the status of women can be enhanced and furthered.

“Participation and access of women to the media and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women” was a theme discussed by the Commission at its 47th session in 2003. At this time the CSW’s agreed upon conclusions, its primary product of its meetings, stated that women should have the ability to access and participate in media and ICTs at all levels. Since 2003 the progress made by technology and the further spread of ICTs throughout the developing world makes it necessary to reconsider this issue. This specific scope was chosen in order to examine how media and ICTs currently inhibit the empowerment of women and how these obstacles can be overcome through international cooperation. High school students are immersed in a culture created by the internet; they no longer turn to books and newspapers for their information and their spare time is more often than not consumed by social media outlets. As such, this topic presents them with the opportunity to take something relevant to their lives and apply it to working within the mandate of the CSW.

Topic 2

Inclusion of Women’s Health Issues in Medical Education

It is a simple biological fact that women’s health issues are different from men’s. Despite this, these issues do not receive equal treatment today in the service, research, and education sectors of the health industry. “Women and Health” was identified by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing as a critical area in the Platform for Action adopted at the conference. “Women’s Health” is a broad term that can be seen as ambiguous when defined generally, but in reality this issue is complex and requires a dynamic approach. Follow-up conferences have made slow progress in ensuring women’s equality in a variety of different sectors of the health industry. At a very basic level, creating gender equality in the field of health begins with gender equality in medical education. Currently, women’s issues are often inadequately included, or not included at all, in medical education. If medical professionals gain an understanding of women’s health issues from the very beginning of their careers through their education, then they will be able to provide women with medical attention that caters to their needs on par with the medical care that men receive. The issue stems not only from an education standpoint, but a cultural position as well. Women-specific issues are often under-prioritized and considered a “taboo” topic in certain cultures. If a larger presence of female medical professionals is achieved, women’s issues will be a greater priority in the field of medicine. It is equally important to promote understanding and acceptance of women’s issues worldwide, as the current lack of these qualities often prevents women from seeking medical help. This effectively stunts the advancement of women in all fields because it prevents females of all ages and all races from seeking and achieving a healthy life.

While women face a variety of health issues, at the most basic level they should receive the same quality of medical treatment as men, despite their biological difference. In order to address this issue, delegates must consider the many difficulties women face in procuring equal medical treatment. Any solution proposed must cover topics ranging from cultural barriers to women’s representation in the medical field. The progression of the cause for the advancement of women stalls on the topic of women’s health issues. It is vital that the committee identify ways to promote women’s health as a priority in all cultures. Delegates are therefore charged with the task of addressing this issue to its greatest capacity. With the state of gender equality hanging in the balance, this issue is both urgent and essential to the advancement of women’s rights.

Resources

Downloads:

CSW.pdf

Email:

csw.nhsmun@imuna.org

Director: Laura Bladow (University of Colorado at Boulder)

My name is Laura Bladow, and I am the Director for the Commission on the Status of Women at NHSMUN 2012. I am a senior at the University of Colorado, where I am double majoring in International Affairs and Political Science. I am looking forward to meeting all of you in March!