Ten years after meeting in Beijing to promote economic, political and social advancement for women worldwide, thousands of women from all around the globe met in New York City Feb. 28 to March 11 to continue the cause. Among the many women from governments and non-governmental organizations was Heather Dawn Small, acting director of the Women’s Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist world church.

The 49th Session for the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) reviewed progress made since Beijing and encouraged governments to do more to enhance gender equity in their homelands. The United Nations, a humanitarian organization, “established the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to promote implementation of the principle that men and women shall have equal rights,” according to its Web site.

“It was a good opportunity to know what goes on in the outside world,” said Small. “The church can be so isolated. If we are to minister to those women outside the church we need to know and understand their challenges. Surprisingly many of the issues we are dealing with are the same.”

While the Adventist Church frequently participates in various United Nations programs, Small said this is the first time that the Women’s Ministries department has been a registered CSW participant. As a registered participant, the church could vote on recommendations and resolutions. 

“We voted to leave the Beijing recommendations as they were even though some NGOs had amendments. So many countries have yet fully to implement these recommendations,” Small explained.

“The main thrust of the meeting was about gender equality,” she added. “In many parts of the world women don’t have the same access to education or health care as men.” 

The conference offered numerous workshops on a variety of issues pertinent to women, but Small said she focused on workshops addressing domestic violence, poverty, HIV/AIDS and human trafficking. Women’s Ministries is working to bring attention to these particular issues.

Through Women’s Ministries, the Adventist Church has brought information on abuse to its nearly 14 million members through its “Abuse Prevention Emphasis” day program. This day is recognized by Adventist churches worldwide on the last Sabbath in August.  Last year several of the world church’s departments began supporting a national coalition against human trafficking.