Sadhvi Bhagawati, Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, was at the United Nations for the 63rd Convention on the Status of Women and to speak at three events on issues related to women in India.
The first was an event organized by WSSCC with the Governments of Spain and Germany on Access to Menstrual Health as Public Service: The Lived Experiences of Women and Girls led by Sue Coates, Deputy Executive Director, WSSCC and Ms. Maria Bassols, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Spain to the United Nations with contributions by Amariante Mohedano, Director of Social Services, West Side Campaign Against Hunger, Olivia Boum MHM Trainer, Director of Kmerpad Cameroon, and Danielle Engel, Technical Specialist: Adolescent and Youth, UNFPA.
The second was an event organized by Islamic Relief World Wide and Side by Side on Stories Of Faith : Social Protection, Stigma & Safe Havens with contributions by Dr. Azza Karam (UNFPA), Rev. Canon Terrie Robinson (Anglican Communion / Side by Side), Rev. Joseph John Hayab (Side by Side Nigeria), Mousumi Saikia (Islamic Relief Worldwide), and Irene Anena (Church of Uganda / Side by Side Uganda).
The third was organized by UNFPA on Women’s Leadership in the world of faith and religion with contributions by Rev. Dionne Boissière a Chaplain of the Church Center for the UN, Joyce Dubensky the Chief Executive Officer of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, Grove Harris the UN Representative for the Temple of Understanding, Azza Karam the Senior Advisor on Culture and Social Development at UNFPA, Audrey E. Kitagawa the Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Katherine Marshall the Executive Director of Worlds Faith Development, and Canon Sarah Snyder the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Advisor for Reconciliation and the Founding Director of the Rose Castle Foundation. The event focused on sharing experiences as women in leadership — heartfelt stories, challenges, responses and solutions.
It was a great joy and honor for Sadhviji to represent our Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and Divine Shakti Foundation and to share the work we are doing for women and girls in India.
