CAPTION: Rev'd Lizzi Green with the Duchess of Edinburgh at the UN in New York
Devon vicar advocates for survivors of gender-based violence at UN
Rev’d Lizzi Green, Team Vicar of Plympton St Mary, has just spent 10 days volunteering as a chaplain at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls’ rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Lizzi has previously spoken publicly about her own experience of being a survivor of gender-based violence, and last year she organised a joint church service with a priest from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth for victims of domestic abuse. Here Lizzi shares some of her reflections about this year’s commission and what it achieved:
What does our time actually look like out there? Well, we begin with worship each morning. There are very few occasions where I joyfully crawl out of bed to worship that early, but CSW does do it for me. It’s something about grounding our advocacy in faith I think, standing together with siblings across different countries and denominations to support each other and to declare that despite the evils of gender inequality, God’s heart is for justice. There is a rumour that I might have even used the ‘Alleluia’ word in Lent – it’s that kind of joyous space as we worship together.
Lizzi with the Vatican delegation at the UN
The rest of it? Well…a snapshot. During our time there, I spent time in events on litigation abuse, gender based violence, health inequality, young women of faith, climate change, women in Afghanistan- I think I’m missing a few! I was also speaking in conjunction with the foreign and commonwealth office at an event to feed into a new tri-lateral agreement on gender based violence with Brazil and South Africa – they wanted someone who could represent faith based actors working to combat gender based violence and someone who could help ensure survivors were placed at the centre of things.
I think for me that might have been my highlight, growing the confidence to believe my voice actually does matter and was needed in that space. That was a long day – seven hours – but the work we did will last for some time and I am so proud to have been part of it. We also spent some time in sessions of the main commission – I never get over the fact that I get to spend time in those spaces.
We also spend time with various missions and delegations to the UN. I was part of a visit to the Kenyan and Vatican See missions, and other members of the delegation spent time with other missions. We also got the chance to meet with the Duchess of Edinburgh and thank her for all her incredible work. Probably my highlight from those visits was speaking with a leading Kenyan judge about the experiences of survivors and all she is doing in that country to ensure access to justice for the most vulnerable. She later told me she was grateful that I advocated for survivors. It was a little overwhelming!
Lizzi in the UN main chamber
One of the key realisations of being at CSW is that you never do this stuff alone. A huge part of being there is the opportunity to cheer my sisters in faith on as they speak powerfully about their own experiences. It was a joy to hear other women of faith talking about their faith and their work at various events, leading worship, and making a difference. It was also a privilege to spend some time with some of our Episcopal siblings, especially in their current political climate.
Connections made at CSW are holy and powerful. I’ve given a snapshot of our activity but it’s hard to describe the power that comes being with people that Just Get It. Prayers, hugs, tears, utterly ridiculous hilarity, far too much chocolate, anger, exasperation…all of these are part of the week, and sharing them together is sacred.
We rarely get off Manhattan, the days are insane, but I always try and do one new thing each time. This time my friend, Laura Marie, took me to see the original Pooh! Absolute holy pilgrimage.
How was my week? Exhilarating, exhausting, exasperating (how are we still having to have these conversations?), exciting – I’ve run out of e words, so I’ll just end with blessed. So grateful for the opportunity and for the prayers with us on the way. Thank you!
