31 JAN 2009

Minutes of Beijing +15 Brainstorming Meeting
January 26, 2009

Additional Organizations represented at the Meeting:

International Federation of University Women
Mary Knoll Office for Global Concern
Armenian International Women’s Association
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity

Blog information
- Everyone can find the blog on the NGO CSW website at http://ngocswny.wordpress.com/
- We would like everyone to check out the blog and leave a comment, please let us know what you think!

- This is a great forum to exchange ideas, get more ideas and brainstorm for the event.

Mission of the NGO Forum
- The mission of the NGO Forum is to further the agenda of the Beijing Consensus, we will remain autonomous but partnered with the UN.

- The Bureau of the UN’s 53rd Commission on the Status of Women has informally suggested that CSW 54 be a celebration of Beijing +15; the UN has been clear that this will not be related to any other conferences in 2010.

- We have to be clear that we don’t want to re-open discussion but celebrate Beijing and discuss what has been done to implement the Beijing platform.
- It was noted that one impediment at Beijing originally was the stance that the US took; perhaps this will not be an issue this year.
- Overall it is time to look at implementation, it is time to hold states accountable for what they have and haven’t done to implement the Beijing platform. We must look at commitments that have been made before we can begin thinking about a 5th world conference.
- We need to assess the current program of implementation so we can have a relevant, stronger Beijing conference in the future.
- We will look at models for constructive dialogue.

Regional Task Force Representatives
- It is important to begin outreach to our individual networks to identify representatives from all the different regions of the world (Western Europe, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe and CIS).
- Once we’ve identified people in these regions we can create a task force that covers these areas.
- We will ask the NGO CSW in Geneva and Vienna since these people have a direct relationship with people in Europe.
- We will work collaboratively with Geneva and Vienna in addition to the regional representatives.
- As soon as possible we would like everyone to contact possible representatives so we can keep the momentum going, these people are working at the grassroots and really know what is going on with implementing Beijing.

CSW 53: 2-13 March 2009
During CSW 53- we will have 4 more Brainstorming Beijing + 15 meetings on both Mondays and Wednesdays, the 2nd, 4th, 9th and 11th of March, 4:00pm-5:00pm in Conference Room B at the UN
- Is there something on the blog that outlines all of these different ideas for Beijing +15 to try and give some kind of structure to all the different options and ideas? This way there is something for people to react to
- The blog is open to all comments and ideas; we would like to keep the blog open and encompassing.
- The parallel event schedule is up on the website
- We want to get input from people going to CSW about Beijing +15.
- The Division has the 5 and 10 year reports on Beijing, CONGO has them in the archives.

Fundraising
- Atlantic Philanthropies was mentioned at the last meeting but we need to have our plan more organized before we go to them. It doesn’t seem that they have funded anything specifically for women so this may be an opportunity for us.
- If anyone has any fundraising ideas please let us know.
- We need to determine the venue and need a program. We need this before we can go forward with a proposal for funds.
- The UN building will be under renovation so it will present potential problems; Ellis Island may be a venue (access would be a problem, we would need boats but we need to think creatively about the venue).
- The event will probably be in New York, so we are asking for more venue ideas in New York.
- The Museum of Modern Art was suggested as a venue (UN employees with a badge already get in free).
- We have $20,000 in seed money; it is something to start out with. A suggestion was made that a substantial portion of the $20,000 should be allocated to getting representatives from the south involved. It is important for NGO CSW to define more specifically what the money will be used for.
- Beijing +15 will have a special budget and bank account and funds will not be intermixed with NGO CSW NY money.

Honorary Board of Directors
- We ask that each person think about their contacts.  We’re interested in finding people with stature to be on our honorary board.
- US Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has agreed to be on the board.
- Perhaps we can engage the US Mission for partnership.
- Some possible contacts include Susan Rice and Colin Powell. We still need people from other regions (possible examples: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Angela Merkel, the Mandelas).
- NY State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand may be a possible board member.
- The Presidents of Barnard and Hunter College may also be possibilities. Also they have facilities that we may have access to (Hunter College has the old Roosevelt Mansion).
- Basically the people on the Honorary Board of Directors are lending their name and their implicit support. There is no current limitation on the number of people on the Honorary Board.

Women and supportive ambassadors
- Ambassador Belle, Chair of CSW 53, from Belgium is very supportive of Beijing +15
- We are planning a tea in April, we will ask Finnish Ambassador Lintonen to host the tea.
- We will ask women ambassadors and supportive ambassadors to assist us with finding regional representatives.

Interns
- Emily and Jennifer are both working with NGO CSW.

Next meetings
- We would like everyone to pick something they want to work on (venue, tea etc), everyone please reach out to regional representatives, visit the blog and think of contacts for the honorary board.

-    The next meeting will be held March 2nd at 4:00pm in Conference Room B.
-    There will also be meetings March 4th, March 9th and March 11th all from 4:00-5:00 pm in UN Conference Room B.