The Rev Canon Mere Wallace will give voice to indigenous women and the Province of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, during the 60th UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York next month.

This year's UNCSW explores women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development during its meeting at UN headquarters in New York from 14- 24 March 2016.

Some 22 Anglican women from 18 provinces will attend UNCSW public events, and contribute to ecumenical and Anglican side events that take place in parallel to the UNCSW and follow its themes.

Canon Mere will be at the meeting for the first time and will address its international forum with an analysis of indigenous women's leadership issues within the Anglican church.

Since its inception in 1947, the UNCSW has been at the forefront of developing international conventions on a range of issues, including the political rights of women, women’s rights in marriage – such as consent, minimum age and registration – and equal pay.

From 1960 onwards, evidence began to accumulate that women were disproportionately affected by poverty, so the Commission geared its work towards women’s needs in community and rural development, agricultural work, family planning, and scientific and technological advances.

These themes return as main discussion points for CSW60 as it explores women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development.

The Commission will also review progress since its 57th session in 2013, which addressed the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

“The session will provide Anglican delegates with a platform on which to spread awareness of the challenges faced by women and girls in their home countries and to advocate on their behalf”, said Rachel Chardon, general programme and administrative officer of the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations (ACOUN).

“delegates will also have the opportunity to network, share, and build their own capacity by attending side events planned by non-governmental and faith-based organizations advocating for gender justice within a wide range of developmental and human rights issues.

“We hope they will leave the session having formed a close and empowering network with a global reach.

“Furthermore, we hope the delegates will communicate with others about their experience and continue to engage with the issues addressed at CSW60 within their sending Church and in their local communities,” she said.

The Primates of the Anglican Communion and secretary general Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon nominated the 22 Anglican women who will attend the CSW60 meeting. They are from Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, Australia, Brazil, Burundi, Central Africa, England, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, United States, and West Africa.

The Anglican delegation will be supported by the staff and volunteers of the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations.