BY TORI MOSES
for the Scout
One Bradley student stepped out and spoke up for the advancement of women.
Sophomore industrial engineering major Sarah Handler provided a voice for youth at the two-week long 58th annual Commission of the Status of Women (CSW).
The event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City began March 10, where Handler led a team of 20 young individuals as the SustainUS delegation leader.
SustainUS is a non-profit, advocacy group. Handler said groups shared and evaluated experiences to identify goals for furthering the advancement of women.
Handler said she wanted to speak for young individuals who have their opinions and ideas neglected by middle-aged diplomats.
“I spoke out during panels and events with UN member states and other non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) about the specific needs and perspectives of young people,” she said.
The theme for this year’s CSW was about the access and participation of women and girls in education and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
According to Handler, the theme was relevant to her as a female engineering student.
“I was able to help the panels and events transcend the abstract, altruistic nature of their recommendations for girls in STEM and provide real, concrete perspectives and suggestions that were rooted in my experiences in a STEM field,” she said.
By the end of the two weeks, member states produced an Outcome Document, which is a non-binding manuscript promoting gender equality.
“I see its purpose as largely symbolic,” Handler said. “The negotiations and events that revolve around the document are meant to generate conversation about gender equality and the ways to reach it. In many ways, I see CSW more as a platform for member states and NGO’s to share best practices in the pursuit of gender equality.”
Handler was also selected to participate in last year’s CSW as a delegate for SustainUS as a part of its Agents of Change Program.
“I attended events hosted by and at Permanent Missions to the UN, spoke at panels and met with other youth and government representatives,” she said.
Handler met the President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-Moon, NGO Liaison for the US Mission to the United Nations Peggy Kerry and Secretary of State John Kerry’s sister.
