United Nations Women

The intersection of racism and sexism means that Women of Colour experience oppression in varying configurations and degrees of intensity. A form of violence can be structural where social forces harm certain groups of women, perpetuating inequality in sectors such as health and employment. For example, Black women are 4-5 times more likely to die during childbirth in the UK and Australia, than white women. As a committee we aim to change the field of healthcare so that Women of Colour have equal treatment, research and outcomes in all health systems all over the world. As well as this, delegates must address how they aim to bridge the pay gap between Women of Colour, white women and men. Furthermore it is crucial for delegates to try and create a way to address intersectional marginalisation to begin to break down the system that works against Women of Colour in all sectors (social, economic, mental health etc). Addressing this topic in regards to being a black woman further amplifies these inequities. We expect delegates of the UN Women committee to pass resolutions to further women’s equality and benefit equally from governance systems.

One key global agreement in advancing gender equality in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was mandated to ensure the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil gender equality and eliminate gender discrimination (United Nations). UN Women is continually evolving to stay up on enhancing accountability, informing decision-making and contributing to learning on the best ways to achieve women’s empowerment and gender equality through operational and normative work. (Peace Women)