The 53rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which takes place from March 2 to 13, 2009, brings together representatives of Member States, United Nations entities, as well as the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) accredited nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Scheduled for discussion is “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS”.

The Legion of Good Will (LGW) takes active part in these UN meetings offering its experiences for the themes debated. The actions undertaken to value women and young girls offer psychological, legal and social support aside from nourishment, while contributing towards family harmony by passing on universal values and making people aware of the importance of living them.

Therefore, the Organization is also active with its Campaigns for the Valorization of Life, promoting in the media and through lectures at schools and in underprivileged communities, information on several issues such as drugs, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The following quote belongs to the President of the LGW, José de Paiva Netto: “AIDS — the virus of prejudice is more aggressive than the disease itself”, for, even after 30 years since the beginning of the epidemic, the lack of information, and therefore prejudice, are still the toughest challenges we have in facing this problem.

It is worth remembering at this point, the important contribution of the meeting in 2008. On the opening ceremony of the 52nd Commission, United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, brought a view which would guide the discussions during the CSW: “There is one universal truth applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable”. With that concept, he captured the spirit of the global campaign launched on that occasion that was aimed at putting an end to violence against women, an act which the Secretary-General qualified as a scourge. The reason for this is the fact that one in every three women in the world suffers mistreatments, forced sexual intercourse or abuse at some time in their lives, according to data divulged by Ban Ki-moon.

The mobilization will continue until 2015 — the same year established for the fulfillment of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — acting on three fronts: a) promoting worldwide initiatives; b) prioritizing programs within the UN that favor women; and c) encouraging collaborative partnerships with governments and national entities.

The campaign’s goal is to globally stir up public opinion and decision-making agencies to ensure the prevention and eradication of this kind of violence. The theme is often highlighted as a priority debate in meetings which take place in the international organization’s headquarters, in New York.

A Heart of Gold

North American Sharon Hamilton-Getz develops volunteer and social responsibility work by expanding musical and artistic concepts for redeeming women and children. The president and founder of the World Harmony Council and Forum & Harmony Glow Centered Business pointed out to GOOD WILL magazine that her experience in travelling around the world made her see that they are in need of a voice to speak on their behalf: “Where there’s a woman there’s usually a child. The majority of them are suffering because they are not getting the care and attention they need. Where life conditions are below the required level, the entire family suffers”.

She praised the LGW’s involvement and participation in UN conferences stating that love is present in the actions of the organization. “I know that there’s a big heart in the Legion of Good Will, it’s a heart of gold. And because the LGW is centered on God, and not exclusive to just one belief system, it embraces all beliefs, and everything, and everyone. (…) God is what heals, God is what transforms, God is what makes the difference. And in the end, love is what remains. So, if a woman can stand tall and know that she has that kind of love, then she can find herself and come back to who she truly is and maybe she can even return to her family or she can come back into any situation, feeling whole and complete, and one, and even connecting with her Creator.”

The LGW, as Mrs. Getz pointed out, carries with its participation the fraternal thesis of the protection of Human and Spiritual Rights. In 2008, the second edition of the magazine Globalization of Fraternal Love once again drew a great deal of attention both from national and international expressions for its content that offered guidelines of good practices as can be found in the article Eight Millennium Goals — Responsibility of all those endowed with common sense, written by the journalist, radio broadcaster and writer Paiva Netto, the Organization’s President, with an ecumenical citizenship approach.

Dr. Monica Sharma, Director of Leadership and Capacity Development at the United Nations, invited the LGW to expose its experience in a meeting with members from the UN delegations that are actively involved in the struggle for Peace in conflict areas in the Middle East. This work was also highlighted by the Executive Director of the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), June Zeitlin, who on that occasion was mediator of the discussions between the different NGOs. At her request, the LGW wrote up a list of recommendations as a contribution from civil society.

It was while noticing the commitment with which the Legion of Good Will cares for human beings, fully respecting them, that Mrs. Aparna Mehrotra, a distinguished personality on women related issues in the United Nations, commented: “There is a reason why we are called Human Beings, not manager beings, mother beings or father beings. It is humanity that distinguishes us, with the higher values of Love and compassion. In this light, activities such as these that are dedicated towards increasing the amount of love and compassion in all aspects of our lives and for everyone, is something that can improve the circumstances in which we and our children live our lives”.