Hill Voice, 2 March 2020, New York: Following the recommendation by the UN Secretary-General on the coronavirus (the COVID-19) sent on Friday, 28 February, the meeting of the 64th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW 64) in New York City, originally scheduled for March 9 to March 20, has been amended by member states.
On March 2, Monday, the Commission decided that the 64th session of the Commission will convene on March 9 at 10:00 am for a procedural meeting. The meeting will include opening statements, followed by the adoption of the draft Political Declaration and action on any other draft resolutions. The session will then suspend until further notification. No general debate will take place and all side events planned by Member States and the UN system in conjunction with CSW64 will be cancelled.
Representatives of member states and civil society not already in New York on March 2 who were planning to travel to New York have been urged by the UN to not attend. Members of the Presiding Bishop’s Episcopal Church delegation and the Anglican Communion delegation were informed of this change on March 2 and, out of concern for their health, urged to remain at home. Conversations continue regarding plans to bring the Presiding Bishop’s delegation and other Anglican and Episcopal participants together for the rescheduled UNCSW 64 meeting, and to continue the work of understanding the importance of the Beijing +25 planned celebration for women and girls, in the world and within our Church.
