International Women’s Day was March 8, 2016. This is a day to celebrate not only the achievements of renowned women, but to celebrate everyday women for their economic, political, and social achievements. Every year, around the time of International Women’s Day, the United Nations holds the CSW.

The CSW is the Commission on the Status of Women. This is a two-week long event held in and around the United Nations in New York City. Two VHS students, junior Olivia Lucanie and senior Emily Petermann, attended part of the event. This is a multi-faceted event in which students can speak on panels, hear policy that will enact global change, and much, much more. High school students apply to go, and accepted students can spend up to two weeks at the CSW. VHS junior, Olivia Lucanie decided to apply.

“I’ve never done something like it so I figured, why not? As a girl I felt like I should know about my rights and treatment of other girls around the world,” said Olivia.

A big focus of the event was something called the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agenda set Sustainable Development goals, and they believe the way to achieve these goals is to first have gender equality and the empowerment of women and young girls worldwide as a foundation.   

Olivia’s favorite part of the week was speaking on the panel. “It was an eye-opening experience and something I wish I could do in the future!” she said.  She learned from peers and human rights advocates that as a high school student, to help make people aware of girls’ and women’s problems around the world, we must get involved in our school and advocate through social media. A big part was to also connect with policymakers because they are “surprisingly open to ideas from younger people.”

One of the major problems affecting women today is healthcare.  But issues pertaining to accessibility to doctors, hygiene products, vaccinations, and much more are fixable problems. Inspired to help, VHS’s Girls Learn International is holding a sanitation products drive, and has already collected over $100.

The CSW is not just open to women. It is for everyone. If anyone has any questions, don’t be afraid to ask any GLI member or stop by at lunch on B days for meetings.