This is exhilirating, interesting, challenging, and tiring - but very worthwhile

It is Tuesday evening, and the women NGOs that are here at the 56th meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women are working extremely hard. There are over 4,000 of us! And over 300 parallel sessions, and all the main presentations by the countries, and the panels of experts. The physical space continues to be a challenge, with most of the formal sessions held in the out of bounds for NGOs, in a temporary building known as the North Lawn Building - a huge temporary tent. Across the street is where most of the NGOs hang out, in what is called the Church Building. Here is where the NGOs put on workshops, roundtables, presentations on a wide range of topics. Although the theme is Rural Women, the workshops cover the gamut of topics of interest to women and the lives they lead. Here too is where there are Conversation Circles (i've attended one on Communications), and also Regional Caucuses (I attended the one on Europe/North America tonight) The difference in culture between the UN building and facilities, and the NGO space is quite apparent. And the real work is how to engage the UN system in a process to affect the changes that women want, and in fact are demanding.

The Canadian NGOs are fortunate, in that the official delegation, which the Minister, Rhona Ambrose leads. There are 4 NGO delegates on that delegation, one being a representative from the Women's Institutes.The following photos are from the Briefing today -

Tonight was the reception at the Canadian Mission - i got there, but late - i wanted to attend the Regional Caucus, and was glad i did - lots of issues that need to be discussed together, in terms of the Agreed Conclusions, and the relationship with UN Women. Tomorrow is another day - and a busy one - breakfast tomorrow morning with the DG of Status of Women Canada.