Commission on Status of Women highlights importance of cultural safety
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BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
The Salvation Army’s Intercultural Officer, Major Manikya Mera, recently attended the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held at the UN Headquarters in New York from the 9-19 March.
For the past four years, Manikya has been a member of the International Women’s Social Justice Group, which is part of The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission (ISJC), located in New York.
The group mirrors the United Nations’ CSW group, and deals with the main themes of the Commission for that year, also addressing women’s issues discussed in other UN commissions and forums.
As part of the ISJC group, Manikya regularly meets online with other uniformed Salvationists from across the world to discuss impact on a global and grassroots scale. She described the group as a “learning platform” for reflection and growth, enabling Salvationists to critically engage with the ongoing work required, while also recognising the progress that has been made. The group provides space to acknowledge and reflect on the ways in which The Salvation Army globally is actively working towards advancing gender equity.
“Being based in Melbourne, my work is principally focused on Victoria,” Manikya said. “The group meets every third week of the month. These meetings provide valuable insight into developments and emerging trends within the global Salvation Army.”
This year’s UN CSW was the first Manikya had attended in person, and she said a key feature which struck her from the event’s plenary sessions, stakeholder briefings and other faith-based activities was the opportunity to engage with the lived experience of individuals who have faced gender disparity and inequity, as well as to hear the stories of survivors of abuse.
“This was deeply impactful for me, as opportunities to hear directly from those with lived experience are rare,” she said. “These perspectives came from individuals who are actively addressing these issues, informed by their own experiences.”
Manikya reflected that a key challenge arising from the conference was the tendency to approach systemic issues such as misogyny through a Western lens.
“As Australia continues to become increasingly multicultural, it is essential that we adopt an intersectional approach, with a strong understanding of cultural context and the ways in which communities operate,” she said.
Manikya added that key takeaways from the event included the importance of prioritising culturally safe, trauma‑informed justice pathways for migrant women; sustaining partnerships and networks with other agencies; and ensuring that local voices play a central role in policy submissions and public campaigns.
She also emphasised the importance of strengthening the development of women leaders across all levels of governance and decision‑making, while intentionally addressing intersectional factors such as cultural diversity, disability, and multiple forms of disadvantage.
“When developing policies or procedures of any kind, it is essential to apply a gender‑informed lens,” she said. “This is a priority that I consider critically important.”
