Caden Choi – WIN Youth Delegate on CEDAW and UN CSW68
I’m Caden, just a few months shy of getting my driver’s license and a few years short of being able to vote. While I have many milestones ahead in my life, I know that I have already reached one: attending the Cities for CEDAW events and the 68th CSW at the UN this spring. Little did I know this experience would reshape my understanding of activism and the role of every individual in the collective goal of achieving gender equality. I was immersed in a world where the fight for women’s and girls’ rights was front and center in every participant’s mind.
The US is a model for freedom and opportunity on the world stage. As an American student, I enjoy access to free quality education and the freedom of speech and expression. Yet America is one of only seven countries that have not yet ratified CEDAW. The absence of a formal declaration of rights for girls in my own country underscores the need for progress at home as much as it is needed globally.
RBG’s assertion that “women belong in all places where decisions are being made” echoed throughout my time in New York. Sitting in round-table discussions at the NYC Bar Association alongside veteran female activists, I witnessed firsthand the long-term dedication required to drive change. While listening to those with years of experience in city government, education, law, and the non-profit sector, I realized that activism is not only a momentary venture, but a lifelong responsibility.
Here are some highlights from my journey:
· Meeting women and girls from all over the world while waiting to receive my UN grounds pass (in the freezing cold… by California standards)
· Attending official side meetings at the UN and parallel meetings at CSW/NGO. This exposed me to experts advocating gender equality on all fronts… from improving economic opportunities to mitigating global poverty affecting women and girls.
· Joining a fun and diverse group of women at WIN’s evening reception at Stout NYC. There was a sense of solidarity. Everyone was together. So many women encouraged me with their stories and words of wisdom. And…I can now say I’ve officially experienced Happy Hour (the PG version).
Thinking back, my experience at the Cities for CEDAW meeting was transformative. It deepened my understanding of the issues surrounding gender equality and equipped me to be a better advocate through my own grassroots initiatives back home.