1. The sixty-second session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 12 to 23 March 2018.
Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world attended the session

2. Themes
Priority theme: Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls;
Review theme: Participation in and access of women to the media, and information and communications technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women (agreed conclusions of the forty- seventh session);

3. Advocacy Workshop
This session made use of the NGO CSW Advocacy Guide available on the NGOCSW website ngocsw.org NGO CSW/NY App
An excellent resource not only in preparation for CSW but also for general information about advocacy and links to the UN

4. Key Chapters Chapter 4- SDG’s and Gender Equality
Chapter 5 – Women’s Human Rights at the UN
Key treaty bodies
Key treaties
Chapter 6- Quiz-Women’s Human Rights and SDG’s
7- Key international Agreements
Links key articles of the Beijing Platform for action and the articles of CEDAW to the SDGS
Key treaties-These are what can one of panellists said that if we don’t accelerate our efforts it will take 100 years to meet SDG, gender equality won’t be reached for 200ybe used by advocacy groups- Civil Society in holding their governments accountable

5. Language
P 24- ‘Language is not just semantics. It has political power. And, ultimately, language agreed within the UN by governments can influence and often lead to programs and policies on the ground.
Key language apps - W’sHR app- agreed text, WPS-Women, Peace, NGO CSW/NY and Security app
‘Women and girls living in rural areas’ not rural women and girls
‘Diversity’, ‘all women’, ‘all areas’, ‘family’
Discussed leaving girls out as in some countries they can’t make decisions until of legal age
‘Living with’, ‘in all their diversity’, ‘such as’
‘life course’ instead of life cycle

6. Advocacy Advocacy skill mapping Advocacy on the ground
Advocacy skills- deliver the message
Your turn
Advocacy tips and tricks
Chapters look at NGO influence

7. Advocacy Skill Mapping
Map the current situation
Political climate and content
Non-state actors in space
Leaders in the process
Map the delegates (Local-MP, Mayor etc)
In your region
Delegations you may be able to approach
Delegations to watch
Shared issues/priorities
Observe what different delegations are saying
Group/individually
These are what can be used by advocacy groups in holding their governments accountable

8. Advocacy on the ground Use your fact sheets (statements etc. coffee)
Set up your meetings
Attend events to gain knowledge on issues- background
Use your allies
Follow what others have said, what has been submitted
Talk to - colleagues, government contacts, nationally/regionally

9. Advocacy skills- message delivery
Create KEY message
Concrete and persuasive around your goal
Overall declaration or statement
Supported by facts/rationale
Include call for action/recommendation
TOOLS to support advocating key messages
Issues brief
Fact sheet
ELEVATOR SPEECH
Specific language recommendations

10. Your Turn Where are you working? Area/issue National
Regional/State/Local
Other spaces
Who do you need to influence?
Why do you prioritise this space?
Link to Programme
Women’s rights at risk
Local issue
What are you going to bring to this space?

11. Advocacy Tips and Tricks
Look at your strengths/skills
Language
Look at verbs- how strong are they
Ae there qualifiers in the language?
Listen to what people are saying or NOT saying, who are they conferring with, partnering with
If you are working with a specific group/organisation
What are your focal pints on specific topics
Plan for time to meet, debrief, strategize
Use Social Media – SDGs in Action
Be persistent but allow time for self care
These are what can be used by advocacy groups in holding their governments accountable

12. QUIZ
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Investing in education programmes for girls can return $5 for every dollar spent.
True/false
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Disasters such as droughts, floods and storms kill more men than women due to gender differences
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
The FAO estimates that fewer 20% of landowners globally are women. Closing this gender gap would reduce the number of hungry people by:
5-10%
10-15%
Over 15%