68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)

The sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York from March 11 to 16, 2024. The priority theme of this year’s assembly is, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is an accredited organization for this Commission, and they typically bring a large delegation of women leaders to participate in both the formal meetings and the parallel conference organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

OSSTF/FEESO is inviting up to three women to participate in this in-person event as part of the CLC delegation to the 68^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). Preference will be given to those who identify as members of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and equity-seeking groups.

All costs relating to participation will be the responsibility of the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Office. This will include costs associated with travel, accommodations, and meals.

All OSSTF/FEESO delegates are expected to:

• Attend daily briefing sessions with the labour delegation and Canadian delegation.
• Attend official sessions and/or NGO-organized side events.
• Write short summaries for publication on the trade union delegation’s blog.
• Attend Canadian UN Mission or ministerial events.
• Lobby delegations on labour priorities for the session.

Some participants may take on additional roles, which might include:
• Working with trade union delegates from the Global South.
• Providing informal interpretation services to unilingual delegates (usually in briefing sessions).

• Liaising with NGO delegates.
• Assisting with drafting language for the trade union delegation or coordinating the delegation’s activities.

• Assist with the coordinating of a CLC side event.

OSSTF/FEESO will apply the following criteria to determine nominees to submit to the CLC for delegate status:

• Voluntary self-identification as a member of a First Nation, Métis, Inuit and/or equity-seeking group.
• Engagement in advocacy work on behalf of OSSTF/FEESO, local labour organizations (i.e., labour councils), and advocacy experience on women’s issues.
• Ability to secure release time from the Bargaining Unit/District to attend the event.

Members will be asked to submit a letter outlining their suitability to participate in the conference to Tracey.Marshall@osstf.ca. by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Successful applicants who will be nominated as a CLC delegate will be notified by November 6, 2023.

Note: A successful OSSTF/FEESO nomination does not guarantee a CLC delegation spot. The CLC will notify all successful delegates directly.

Self-identification Form