Special report

It was the trip of a lifetime: to New York and a seat at the United Nations as part of the 61st Commission on the Status of Women. Otago Daily Times editorial executive Helen Speirs reports

For more than two incredible weeks in New York I didn't stop pinching myself from the moment I woke up and opened the blind of my Manhattan hotel room window on to a commanding view of the Chrysler building, three blocks away.

The sense of unreality continued every morning as I made my way — steaming coffee in gloved hand alongside the mass of other morning pedestrians — from the hotel several blocks away to the United Nations on First Ave, at the edge of the East River.

I quickly worked out a favourite route, along Lexington Ave and down East 43rd St, which led directly towards the striking glass monolith that is the 39-storey Secretariat Building, the centrepiece of the UN headquarters, co-designed by French architect Le Corbusier, and the then (working) home of our own Helen Clark, head of the UN Development Programme.

I never got over the fact that the United Nations was my “workplace” for two weeks. (Although the Secretariat Building itself was out of bounds, the General Assembly and Conference buildings held most of the events and a chance to look around the General Assembly and Security Council meeting rooms was a highlight.

Not only was I at the UN, but I was in New York for the first time — the city of so many famous songs, movies and novels, of monumental architecture and history. The combination made it the trip of a lifetime. I was conscious of how fortunate I was, and was therefore determined to make the most of every minute. It became apparent it wouldn't only be the city that would never sleep ... form of an “Agreed Conclusions” document, negotiated by all member states. NGOs can also contribute by submitting initial written statements to the draft conclusions document, making oral interventions and continuing to make written suggestions for change as the draft document is negotiated during the two-week session.

I found this a fascinating process. Every word of every clause is negotiated by NGOs and member states; the original draft of only a few pages increases and decreases as amendments are made and whole sections added or single words deleted.

The Agreed Conclusions are not legally binding, but become part of the foundation for gender advancement for member states. They are one thread of a giant tapestry, an overarching framework of interrelated global laws and conventions to protect women and achieve full human rights. These include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) and the Sustainable Development Goals (developed from the Millennium Development Goals) of the Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015. The 17 goals are to be implemented by the 193 UN member states by 2030 and are billed as a “roadmap” for sustainable social, economic and environmental progress worldwide (see graphic ). The over-riding commitment is “Leave no one behind”.

Goal 5 (to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, summarised by the catchphrase “Planet 50/50 by 2030”) and Goal 8 (to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all) were the most relevant this year, though the interrelation of all goals was regularly emphasised.

Interactions with these highflyers were fascinating. Mlambo Ngcuka was omnipresent and inspirational, and delegates were clearly impressed with the well-spoken and gentle Patriota and Guterres, who, with his senior leadership team, also addressed a special NGO meeting (reportedly the first time a Secretary-General had exclusively addressed civil society at a women's commission).

Guterres spoke of the “battle” to achieve parity, which he said was “essential in government, parliament, police, on boards, in all areas of politics, economic and social life”. To achieve that, he said, “men need to stand up for women” and he commented that “my experience is when we have gender parity society is better''. (An open challenge about his gender was humorously made — and humorously received with the comment, “The best thing I can do [for gender equality] is to resign tomorrow!”) It was made clear by many speakers that men were equally important in the advancement of women.

The official New Zealand Government delegation was led this year by Jo Goodhew, who was standing in for Women's Minister Paula Bennett. Her national statement to the commission included mention of the Government's establishment of a working group to recommend pay equity principles, encouraging private sector employers to reduce the gender pay gap, and encouraging wider uptake of flexible working hours.

More than 30 other New Zea-