Freelance journalist and young entrepreneur, Noelle Nicolls was invited to speak at an event on equality and nationality laws in New York during the high profile United Nations meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). At the event, Noelle will be representing a local, civil society organization working to advance constitutional equality, which she supports as a part of her community service.

The event on March 12, 2015 will be hosted by the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights, an initiative of the Women’s Refugee Commission; an international, non-governmental organization (NGO). This is the first time a civil society member of the national delegation has been invited to be a speaker at an NGO Side Event.

The Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights is a coalition of international and national organizations that promotes gender equality in nationality laws so that women and men can confer, acquire, change and retain their nationality on an equal basis. The campaign includes a Steering Committee of Equality Now, Equal Rights Trust, the Institute on Statelessness and inclusion, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), UN Women and Women’s Refugee Commission.

“It’s a great opportunity as a young person involved in community service to be invited to speak at this NGO Parallel Event. There is always a need for more voices particularly from civil society to engage in constructive conversations about the rights of citizens and to assist the government in public education on these issues. As a private individual I am passionate about human rights and women’s rights and participation in this event is a great privilege,” said Noelle, NGO Side Event Panelist.

Noelle was also invited by the Government of The Bahamas to be a part of a delegation that will be attending the official United Nations event for the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59). At this event the government of The Bahamas will present an official status report. The 70 members of the national delegation are financing their own way. However, they have been accredited by the government to attend the United Nations event. Outside of those events in their personal time, members of the delegation representing a cross-section from government and civil society will attend side events held independently by non-governmental organizations.

These events are designed for civil society/non-governmental participation. While the Minister is the only person who speaks on behalf of the government at these events, it is common practice for members of the delegation to participate in side events in their personal capacity. The conference is scheduled to take place March 9-20.