{"id":6321,"date":"2022-04-20T15:11:04","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T20:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=6321"},"modified":"2022-04-20T15:11:04","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T20:11:04","slug":"april-update-un-and-state-edition-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/april-update-un-and-state-edition-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"April Update: UN and State Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following are updates shared from submissions of the Lutheran Office for World Community and state public policy offices (sppos) in the ELCA Advocacy Network this month. Full list and map of sppos available<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

U.N.<\/a> | Colorado<\/a> | New Mexico<\/a> | Ohio<\/a> | Pennsylvania<\/a> | Washington<\/a> | Wisconsin<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

U.N.<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC), United Nations, New York, N.Y. –\u00a0ELCA.org\/lowc<\/a><\/h4>\n

Dennis Frado, Director<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sixty-sixth<\/a> session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women<\/a> (CSW66) took place from 14 to 25 March 2022. The Priority Theme was achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs; and the Review Theme was women\u2019s economic empowerment in the changing world of work.<\/p>\n

Despite taking place in a hybrid format, CSW66 had high-level participation from Member States, including two Heads of State and Government, three vice-presidents, and 111 ministers. In addition, 213 virtual side events were organized by Member States and UN entities, many in collaboration with civil society. Also, more than 800 virtual non-governmental organizations (NGO) parallel events organized by civil society took place.<\/p>\n

The Lutheran World Federation and the ELCA participated virtually in the two-week event with a delegation of over 80 members from different parts of the world, facilitated by the Lutheran Office for World Community. Delegates highlighted the urgency of taking action against the climate crisis, especially as it relates to women\u2019s human rights and their ability to participate as equals in climate action. In addition, they showcased the vital role that faith actors play in promoting women\u2019s empowerment, and in combating violence and discrimination to achieve greater gender equality at local, national, and international levels. This CSW66 brought together the gender and climate justice work that Lutherans have led over many years including youth-led climate justice action around the world by amplifying the leadership and voices of young people. <\/a><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Colorado<\/h4>\n

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado (LAM-CO) – lam-co.org<\/a><\/h4>\n

Peter Severson, Director<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On April 9, volunteers from Urban Servant Corps, a one-yea<\/span><\/span><\/span>r full time Lutheran volunteer program in Denver, joined LAM-CO Director Peter Severson for a visit to the Colorado State Capitol Building.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN CRUNCH TIME: As the Colorado General Assembly moves into the final quarter of its 2022 session, LAM-CO is actively working on a host of bills related to our 2022 Advocacy Agenda<\/a>. Among our top priorities this session:<\/p>\n