Sara Bailac, Esquerra’s spokesperson for Equality at the Spanish Senate, is travelling to New York on 6 March as a member of the delegation of the Senate Equality Commission to attend the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67). The use of technology to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women will be the central theme of this annual convention of the UN, the Member States and NGOs to advance women’s rights throughout the world. “At a time when the patriarchy is reacting to hold up the progress of women’s rights, it is essential that we take advantage of all forums to secure all that feminists have achieved so far and everything we still lack,” highlighted Ms Bailac.

The UN Commission on the Status of Women is being held on the same week the reform of the Spanish law of Comprehensive Assurance of Sexual Freedom, known as the “Only Yes Means Yes” law, is to be debated in the Spanish Congress, and coinciding with the International Women’s Day demonstrations throughout the country. “That consent is at the centre of the norm is a victory for the feminists who took to the streets chanting ‘Sister, I do believe you’. That is why it is important that our voice is heard at the Nations United this week too,” explained Ms Bailac.

During her visit, Ms Bailac will coincide with a delegation from the Government of the Catalan Generalitat government to meet with the National Council of Women of Catalonia that will take place on Tuesday (7 March). Esquerra’s spokesperson will also meet with the delegate of the government of Catalonia to the United States, who is also taking part in the round tables to be held during the course of the United Nations Commission, and with the Catalan Minister for Equality and Feminism Tània Verge, who also plans to go to New York.

The foremost round tables to be attended by Esquerra’s spokesperson are “The role of parliaments in advancing gender equality through technology” organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women, and “Summit for Democracy Gender Cohort: Gender equality as a prerequisite for democracy.” Likewise, Ms Bailac is awaiting confirmation of her intervention at the “Local and regional Governments’ Day” event to be held on Tuesday, 7 March at 3:00 pm (EST).

On International Women’s Day, 8 March, they plan to attend the “Global Women in Music” concert performed by the UN Symphony Orchestra in partnership with United Voices 4 Peace.