Preparations are underway for the largest-ever gathering of women from across the Anglican Communion being held to mark the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York next month.

|PIC1|Ninety-six women representing 37 provinces will gather in the Big Apple from 24th February to 8th March 2006 to explore gender equality, the advancement of women in the fields of education, health, and employment, as well as the increased participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels.

"Working together, Anglican women delegates to the UNCSW are raising their voices in support of women's education and development, to combat hunger, poverty, and the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to work for equal opportunity," said Margaret Rose, director of the Episcopal Church's Office of Women's Ministries.

"This event provides an opportunity for Episcopal women
and men to listen to and learn from the experiences of our Anglican sisters and to strategise together for women's empowerment throughout the Communion."

A special celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the UNCSW, sponsored by Anglican Women’s Empowerment (AWE), will also be held March 4 in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City featuring a discussion panel of women from across the Anglican Communion who will share their hopes and concerns for a world in which Christian faith calls them to action.

|TOP|The panellists will be led by panel moderator, Abagail Nelson, in a discussion of what is happening in their countries, what they feel is important, what actions are making a difference, and what work still needs to be done.

The audience will be encouraged to consider the role people of faith can play in helping to transform vision into action.

Guests at the event include Angela King, former UN assistant secretary general and special advisor on gender issues, Jenny Te Paa, UNCSW delegate from the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and musician Ana Hernandez.

This is the fourth year that Anglican and Episcopal delegates have attended the annual UNCSW event under the auspices of the Office of Women’s Ministries and the Anglican Observer to the UN.