New York calls in equality fight

DARA Campbell’s passion for gender equality is taking her all the way to New York.

The 18-year-old will next month represent the YWCA and Tasmania in New York at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

She was excited to be one of three YWCA representatives attending the conference, and the only Tasmanian.

Growing up with feminist parents and two younger sisters, it felt natural for Dara to get involved in standing up for women’s rights.

“I’ve got two younger sisters and I want them to have a good life without being held back by their gender,” she said. “I’m really passionate about women’s rights but when you’re trying to juggle life and school and everything it’s difficult to know what steps to take to actually change anything.

“I thought this would be a good way to get involved in the conversation.”

Dara said the issues impacting on women were often underlying, rather than an obvious oppression.

Though she turned down a scholarship to study economics at the University of Tasmania in favour of this opportunity, Dara said she hoped to pursue economics in the future, saying it was an important aspect of gender equality.

“I’m passionate about economic security for women, particularly in domestic violence situations — they don’t have that support to fall back on if they need to get out of a situation.”

The CSW is an intergovernmental body promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. Dara will attend the March conference for two weeks in New York.