Recognizing Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan At the United Nations 69th Commission on the Status of Women

Floor Speech

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Mr. THANEDAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sonja Dunlap, Lauren Hatto, Jasmine Hunley and Soren O'Dell from Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, who have been selected to represent Girl Scouts of the USA at the United Nations' 69th Commission on the Status of Women.

Each year, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) joins over 5,000 women and girls from around the world at the United Nations headquarters in New York to participate in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Delegates representing GSUSA undergo a rigorous application process and training to prepare them for their participation in the CSW. As delegates, girls will have an opportunity to engage with GSUSA's work around global advocacy, learn about global issues, see firsthand how global entities function, and let their voices be heard on key global issues impacting girls and young women.

The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations, dedicated exclusively to shaping global standards on gender equality as well as the advancement and empowerment of women and girls. Every year, national representatives of Member States gather for a two-week session to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards, and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide. As NGO Consultative members, Girl Scouts of the USA and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts participate to bring the voice of girls and young women to the global stage.

The focus of the sixty-ninth session will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The review will include an assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and its contribution towards the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Michigan's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate these four outstanding young women on their selection, and I thank them for their leadership. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.

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