A February Call to Learn

For many, March is the one time when we direct our attention more fully on the United Nations because of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) event. But there is so much more to the United Nations for us than that.

February is a great opportunity to slow down and focus on learning. NFBPWC members are encouraged to find time this month to explore the UN Women website.

UN Women focuses on many issues that we care about. Things like safety, education, and economic opportunities, and the approach is global. The UN Women website overflows with information that crosses regions and cultures, and it is supported by research, data, and long-term initiatives.

United Nations Call to Action for February:

• Visit the UN Women website.
• Explore one topic, program, or report. I suggest: What We Do and the 2025 Annual Report.
• Share one thing you’ve learned with another woman – NFPWC member or not.

United Nations
Unchair@nfbpwc.org

Stay Connected with the UN by bookmarking these sites

• United Nations Main Website https://www.un.org
• UN News https://news.un.org
• UN WebTV (live & on-demand) https://media.un.org/en/webtv
• UN Women https://www.unwomen.org
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) https://sdgs.un.org/goals
• United Nations on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitednations

To learn more or to get involved with NFBPWC’s United Nations efforts email: unchair@nfbpwc.org.

In my part of Canada, we are deep in the throws of winter – lots of snow and some extreme cold weather. I envy those of you in warmer climates!

Work on the BPW International Mem-ber Survey is coming along very well and by the time you are reading this you may have received the link to complete it.

I hope you will all take a few minutes of your precious time to complete it – the re-sults will provide the International Execu-tive with a road map to identifying ways to improve our member experience. Look for it in your in box: BPW Listens – Your Voice Matters

Plans for the North America and Caribbean Regional Conference are coming together very well. From August 23rd through 25th, Ni-agara Falls, Ontario, Canada will welcome you!

We have a wonderful line-up of speakers planned to Inspire, Innovate, Empower, and Transform us, and workshops that will give us tools to take back to our personal, professional, and BPW lives so we can To-gether Shape a Sustainable Future.

The website should be launched by the time you are reading this so you have easy access to everything needed to reg-ister for the conference, book a hotel, arrange an airport shuttle, pre-plan explora-tions of local tourist attrac-tions, and more.

Visit the Conference Page: https://bpwcanada.com/nac-conference/

I hope that many of you have added the conference to your calendars – and that you will bring your family – Niagara Falls is beautiful and has a lot to offer every-one!

We have had to change the date for our 2nd Regional Leadership Webinar: Succession Planning that Lasts – Building the Next Generation. It will be held on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 PM EDT, hosted by our training coordinator Sujata Tiwari.

Pre-register here.

I hope to see many of you there. We all need to think of succession planning with-in our clubs and this webinar will give us tools to do that.

Karin Gorgerat
Regional Coordinator BPW International
North America and the Caribbean
karin.gorgerat@bpwinternational.org

For information please email international@nfbpwc.org

Larisa B. Miller
Chair International Relations
international@nfbpwc.org

What is the Commission on the Status of Women?

Every month, we have an article about the Commission on the Status of women (CSW). This month, we have several. Why? Because the 70th annual UN CSW is coming up, and, as it is every year, NFBPWC is part of it.

Our UN CSW 70 parallel event takes place on Monday, March 16th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM EDT in the Salvation Army auditorium. You can attend in person or virtually.

According to the UN CSW webpage, the CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) on June 21, 1946.

The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls' rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

In 1996, resolution 1996/6 expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.

During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organizations such as NFBPWC, and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York. They discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly, which was held in 2000 (Beijing+5), as well as any emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s and girls' enjoyment of their rights in political, economic, and social fields. The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.

Justice for Women: Join us In-Person or Virtually

Justice for Women: Resistance, Survival, and Action – Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls will bring survivor-centered justice conversations to the heart of CSW 70, and NFBPWC members are warmly invited to attend.

Co-hosted by Pacific Women’s Watch New Zealand and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW) and chaired by BPW leader Dr. Sujata Tiwari, this event aligns directly with CSW 70’s priority theme: Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls.

Why Attend?

This panel goes beyond policy language to spotlight the real experiences of women who have sought justice for gender-based violence and encountered community silence, institutional bias, and judicial failure.

Panelists from multiple regions will share:

Who Will Be Speaking?

The panel brings together women leaders and advocates from the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and South America, including:

Moderated by Nermin K. Ahmad, Secretary of NFBPWC (2024–2026), the discussion will be survivor-centered, solutions-focused, and action-oriented.

Attend in-person or join from anywhere! In New York for CSW?

We encourage you to join us in person at the Salvation Army Auditorium.

Not traveling to NYC?

You are equally welcome to participate virtually, hear the discussion, and engage from wherever you are.

No prior UN experience is required.

This event is designed to be accessible, informative, and welcoming, especially for BPW members who are new to CSW or UN advocacy.

Be Part of the Conversation

The event will conclude with a clear call to action, and recommendations from the panel will be shared with UN Women and CSW delegates. Your participation—whether in the room or online—helps amplify survivor voices and strengthens the call for justice that works for women and girls. We hope you will join us—

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) remains the foremost global convening on gender equality, bringing together governments, civil society, and advocates from around the world to shape policy, share best practices, and drive collective action. Participation—both in-person and online—is not only possible but strongly encouraged.

As we approach CSW, members are invited to engage in the following key moments and capacity-building opportunities hosted by NGO CSW:

• February 17: CSW Participant Training A preparatory session designed to help participants navigate CSW processes, understand advocacy entry points, and engage effectively.
• February 27: CSW Orientation. An overview of CSW structure, priorities, and opportunities for civil society engagement, ideal for both first-time and returning participants.
• March 8: Virtual Consultation Day. A fully-virtual opportunity to engage with

global advocates, exchange strategies, and contribute to policy discussions from anywhere in the world.

To register for these events go to:

https://ngocsw.org/events/

The official CSW outcome document will outline global commitments and policy priorities on gender equality and women’s empowerment. It can be found on the UN Women website.

CSW is a critical space for advancing gender equality at the global level, and meaningful participation does not require travel. Online engagement allows advocates to learn, connect, and influence outcomes while amplifying diverse voices across regions and communities.

Members are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to stay informed, build advocacy capacity, and contribute to global gender-equality efforts.

Submitted by Emily VanVleck

Global Leadership Mirroring Local Leadership

Leadership that lasts is rarely flashy. It is built through steady engagement, shared responsibility, and the courage to think beyond the immediate moment.

With a theme focused on Leadership and Vision, the United Nations offers a model worthy of study. Worth studying because it is intentional.

At the UN, leadership is built through cooperation. Nations with different priorities work toward shared goals. Organizations contribute expertise, and progress depends on those willing to listen first, negotiate thoughtfully and understand that successful outcomes may take a very long time – even years, to fully take shape. Decisions are not shaped only by what is possible now but what will matter later as well.

Vision is a discipline too. It is deliberate.

Leaders are expected to consider long-term effects and impacts, to include the voices of those not present in the room when they make decisions. To approach matters in this way allows institutions to think from a global perspective and address complex challenges with a measure of consistency.

What can we learn from this?

For NFBPWC members, this is a powerful reminder. Leadership is grounded in vision and vision requires slowing down, asking the right questions, and resisting the temptation or pressure to act without thinking first.

Leadership often reveals itself in choices

— how we listen, how we collaborate, and how we decide what matters enough to act on.

At the United Nations, leadership is rarely about visibility alone. It is about perspective, patience, and the ability to think beyond immediate outcomes toward long-term impact.

This way of leading may feel distant from everyday life, but in truth, it mirrors the leadership practiced every day by NFBPWC members. We see it in clubs, committees, workplaces, and communities, places where thoughtful engagement quietly shapes meaningful change.

United Nations Call to Action for January:

• Engage with one UN Resource or event
• Connect what you learn to your role in NFBPWC
• Act by sharing an idea or proposing a collaboration

Global leadership is built the same way local leadership is. One informed decision at a time.

Stay Connected with the UN by bookmarking these sites

• United Nations Main Website - https://www.un.org
• UN News - https://news.un.org
• UN WebTV (live & on-demand) - https://media.un.org/en/webtv
• UN Women - https://www.unwomen.org
• Sustainable Development Goals - (SDGs) https://sdgs.un.org/goals
• United Nations on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/ company/unitednations

To learn more or to get involved with NFBPWC’s United Nations efforts email: unchair@nfbpwc.org.

Barbara J. Bozeman
National President
2024-2026

Hard to believe but it’s 2026 already. I hope you all had a lovely holiday season.

The International Executive met in early November for our annual Face-to-Face meeting. It was a very valuable and productive meeting with a lot of work accomplished. There was discussion about the 2027 IFBPW Congress and a location should be shared soon.

Work on our Member’s Survey is coming along very well and by the time you are reading this you may have received the link to complete it.

There was a pilot survey done to make sure it was right before it went out to all members, and we are very appreciative of the time and work that has been put into this survey.

It will be exciting to see the results so the International Executive can do the work to address any concerns to ensure the value of your membership is enhanced. Watch for it in your inbox around mid-January. We hope you will all take the time to complete it.

BPW Listens – Your Voice Matters

Planning continues on the North America and Caribbean Regional Conference on August 23 – 25, 2026. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is waiting for us!!!!

Registration and hotel information will be posted on the BPW Canada website in January, so check into the site regularly. And keep reading your magazine – more information will be here as we get closer to the big event.

We have some amazing speakers booked and you will find value in what they have to share.

I hope you have added the conference to your calendars – and that you plan to bring your family – Niagara Falls is beautiful and has a lot to offer everyone!

Here is the link with the preliminary agenda. North American & Caribbean (NAC) Regional Conference - BPW Canada.

Our Region will be hosting our 2nd Leadership Webinar on Thursday, February 5th. It is hosted by our Training Coordinator, Sujata Tiwari. Stay tuned right here for registration details.

Warm wishes as we progress through this new year.

Kain Gorgerat
BPW International 
Regional Coordinator
North America and Caribbean

For information please email international@nfbpwc.org.

LARISA MILLER
International Relations Chair 2024-2026
International Liaison

Join Us in Person or Virtually

We are pleased to announce that our UN CSW 70 parallel event has been officially approved, with a confirmed date, time, and venue.

Justice for Women: Resistance, Survival, and Action – Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls will bring survivor-centered justice conversations to the heart of CSW 70, and NFBPWC members are warmly invited to attend.

Co-hosted by Pacific Women’s Watch New Zealand and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW), and chaired by BPW leader Dr. Sujata Tiwari, this event aligns directly with CSW 70’s priority theme: Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls.

Why Attend?

This panel goes beyond policy language to spotlight the real experiences of women who have sought justice for gender-based violence and encountered community silence, institutional bias, and judicial failure.

Panelists from multiple regions will share:

• how justice systems can re-traumatize survivors
• the cost of seeking accountability, including exile and financial hardship
• strategies of resistance and survivor-led reform
• examples of “good practices” that restore dignity and access to justice

Who Will Be Speaking

The panel brings together women leaders and advocates from the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and South America, including:

• Dr. Sujata Tiwari, mental health advocate and author of Against All Odds
• H.E. Ms. Charlotte Lobe, High Commissioner of South Africa to Singapore
• Caroline Herewini, Chief Executive of Te Whare Tiaki Wāhine Refuge
• A South American human rights leader (TBC)

Moderated by Nermin K. Ahmad, Secretary of NFBPWC (2024–2026), the discussion will be survivor-centered, solutions-focused, and action-oriented.

Attend in Person or Join from Anywhere

In New York for CSW?

We encourage you to join us in person at the Salvation Army Auditorium.

Not traveling to NYC?

You are equally welcome to participate virtually, hear the discussion, and engage from wherever you are.

No prior UN experience is required. This event is designed to be accessible, informative, and welcoming, especially for BPW members who are new to CSW or UN advocacy.

Be Part of the Conversation. The event will conclude with a clear call to action, and recommendations from the panel will be shared with UN Women and CSW delegates. Your participation—whether in the room or online—helps amplify survivor voices and strengthens the call for justice that works for women and girls.

We hope you will join us—wherever you are.

From Showing Up to Shaping the Future

A single act or voice does not define leadership.

Leadership is shaped over time by those who learn the systems, build relationships, and imagine what could be, not just continue with “what is.” The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) reflects that kind of leadership. Something that is grounded in persistence, born of vision and collaboration.

From its earliest days, CSW was envisioned to be more than a forum for discussion. It was to be a permanent space where priorities and solutions could inform and form global policy, and it would do so from lived experience.

That vision was advanced by leaders working together across nations and perspectives: with individuals who understood that equality requires a structure and intention.

Among those early voices were leaders who shaped the human rights framework of the United Nations.

Eleanor Roosevelt can be counted among those whose work reinforced the importance of recognizing our rights and responsibilities and helping to develop the framework that would eventually become CSW.

Equally important were the many international leaders who ensured that the status of women globally would have its own platform. A platform that was not to be sidelined or absorbed into broader agendas.

Leadership grows through engagement.

The connection between early leaders and CSW today is not about a title or position. It is about vision.

Leadership at CSW has always grown by engaging, by listening before speaking, by learning before leading, and through collaboration across differences to move ideas forward.

Attending sessions, observing discussions, and engaging with global perspectives are the early stages of leadership. Every person who shows up, virtually or in person, gains insight into how advocacy works on an international scale.

From that understanding comes confidence and, while some might say confidence begats influence, I believe it leads to impact.

What does this mean for NFBPWC?

As members of NFBPWC, our connections to CSW place us within an ongoing legacy of leadership and vision. Some members attend CSW as spectators. Others support parallel events or collaborative efforts. All will bring ideas back to clubs, committees, and communities.

Every role matters.

Leadership does not require doing everything. It requires intentional participation.

Showing up is how leadership begins. Staying engaged is how leadership shapes the future.

Your January CSW Call to Action:

• Take one intentional step toward leadership:
• Show up for a CSW70 session (virtually or in person)
• Speak up by sharing one insight with your club or committee
• Connect with another member to explore shared advocacy interests
• Step forward by supporting a CSW-related initiative

One Choice. One Voice. One Moment at a time. Leadership grows through action.

Barbara J. Bozeman
National President
2024-2026

Hard to believe but it’s 2026 already. I hope you all had a lovely holiday season.

The International Executive met in early November for our annual Face-to-Face meeting. It was a very valuable and productive meeting with a lot of work accomplished. There was discussion about the 2027 IFBPW Congress and a location should be shared soon.

Work on our Member’s Survey is coming along very well and by the time you are reading this you may have received the link to complete it.

There was a pilot survey done to make sure it was right before it went out to all members, and we are very appreciative of the time and work that has been put into this survey.

It will be exciting to see the results so the International Executive can do the work to address any concerns to ensure the value of your membership is enhanced. Watch for it in your inbox around mid-January. We hope you will all take the time to complete it.

BPW Listens – Your Voice Matters

Planning continues on the North America and Caribbean Regional Conference on August 23 – 25, 2026. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is waiting for us!!!!

Registration and hotel information will be posted on the BPW Canada website in January, so check into the site regularly. And keep reading your magazine – more information will be here as we get closer to the big event.

We have some amazing speakers booked and you will find value in what they have to share.

I hope you have added the conference to your calendars – and that you plan to bring your family – Niagara Falls is beautiful and has a lot to offer everyone!

Here is the link with the preliminary agenda. North American & Caribbean (NAC) Regional Conference - BPW Canada.

Our Region will be hosting our 2nd Leadership Webinar on Thursday, February 5th. It is hosted by our Training Coordinator, Sujata Tiwari. Stay tuned right here for registration details.

Warm wishes as we progress through this new year.

Karin Gorgerat
BPW International
Regional Coordinator
North America and Caribbean