Centrs MARTA

Over the two weeks of the NGO CSW/NY - civil society gathering that runs parallel to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) - organizes almost 800 events during the Forum that inform, engage and inspire grassroots efforts and advocacy needed to empower women and girls. This provides civil society organizations (CSOs) and activists the opportunity to engage in the processes and CSW sessions without ECOSOC-accreditation or a UN grounds pass.

MARTA Center event “Empowerment and Protection of Women Human Rights Defenders” will provide a safe space to hear empowering stories of activists and women right defenders from Latvia, Ukraine, Afghanistan and other countries, sharing personal challenges, professionals’ achievements, and vocalizing the needs for activism to continue.

 Women human rights defenders are at a high risk of experiencing gender-based violence and other violations, especially during conflict and disaster situations. They face prejudices, discrimination, defamation, gendered verbal abuse online and offline, marginalization, stigmatization and even threats to life. We have an obligation to protect women human rights defenders as they protect the rights and lives of other women, extending help and crucial support services outside the scope of major cities. It is important to work towards the Implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Date: Tue Mar 14, 2023
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM (EST)
Place: CCUN 8th Floor NY

Panelists
* Anastasiia Nenka (Ukraine) is a trainer and one of the first participants of the project "Empowering Education” – gender education based on the philosophy of non-violence. The programme has been successfully developed in 10 countries of the world. She previously worked in the Cabinet of Ministers in Ukraine. Nenka has experience in conducting trainings on successful communications and conflict transformation for about 20 years.

* Taina Bien-Aimé (USA) has three decades of experience defending the rights of women and girls at the national and global levels.  She is currently the Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), one of the oldest international organizations dedicated to ending trafficking in women and girls and commercial sexual exploitation as practices of gender-based violence and discrimination.
* Iluta Lace (Latvia) has been a social worker, a trainer and a feminist - activist involved in women’s organisations.  She started the Resource Centre for Women “Marta” (since 2017 – MARTA Centre) that has different programmes to promote women human rights and gender equality. By Iluta’s support it was started a special program for rehabilitation of women suffered from trafficking in human beings as well as victims of domestic violence in Latvia.
* Basira Taheri (Afghanistan) is a civil society activist and defender of women's rights who has been active since 2013 for equality and defense of women's rights in Afghanistan. Mrs. Basira believes that women's rights have been neglected in Afghanistan for many years and that one should fight to achieve equality. Violence against women and violation of human rights in Afghanistan has led Basira to establish the "Women Managers Network" in cooperation with the number of women in Herat - Afghanistan.

Moderator
Madara Mazjane (Latvia) has been working on gender equality questions, gender-based violence prevention and human rights education since 2010, when she became a Youth Educator. Now, in her position as Director of Youth Programs of MARTA Centre, her responsibilities include creation, coordination, and organization of local and international trainings, workshops, seminars, and other events.

To find more about our and other events, we encourage you to register in the NGO CSW online platform. This platform allows you to explore and attend hundreds of events and connect with thousands of participants who share your interests and passion for women's rights and gender equality!