She Is

• A young rural woman activist at CSW62

  By Nadia Sanchez, She Is Foundation. Colombia, Member of CIVICUS Youth Working Group

  My experience at CSW62 as a panelist in the event "Shrinking space for the feminist movement"

  The 62nd Commission on the Status of Women - CSW62 was an experience that facilitated knowledge generation and transfer amongst women from more than 120 countries who met and shared their experiences, but also decided on the steps to take forward together. In the session on "Shrinking space for the feminist movement" organized by CIVICUS in collaboration with other civil society organizations, I first thought it would only be about discussing the theme of rural Women and economic empowerment, but the biggest outcome was connecting as activists and leaders to raise our voices, finding out that everything we shared had a strong connection, sharing around the work of women, rural women, peace and our own feeling as activists.

  Main outcomes of attending CSW62

  Sharing our experiences with the UN allowed us to empower ourselves and generate valuable connections. But above all, it enables us to act together.

  CSW62 was also an opportunity to revive hope that we are doing the job well and that the time is now to continue dignifying our rights.

  I particularly connected and developed synergies with the delegation of my country, Colombia, who invited me to be in their sessions and to actively participate in a topic as important as peace.

  SHE IS, the organisation I founded, works with victims of the armed conflict, communities in situations of vulnerability and extreme poverty. It has not been an easy process, we have moved from indifference to our work to building a sustainable network that transforms lives.

  Now imagine what it has been like to share our work in this iconic venue, to raise our voice and being given the opportunity to exchange knowledge for a common good, which perhaps could be called a 'solidarity economy of knowledge'.