LATEST NEWS
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- By Pooja Banerjee, India/USA, ICUUW Executive Director
I am excited to share our Summer 2026 newsletter with you, along with highlights and updates from an eventful first quarter! ICUUW has always been a space where we come together to advance women’s leadership and self-determination. If we are to truly achieve this goal, we must also bring more men into the conversation. Advancing gender equality requires all genders to work together, walking hand in hand to challenge and end discrimination in all its forms.
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- By Rev. Jessa Pakner, Philippines
This year’s annual conference of the UU Women Association (UUWA) in the Philippines was held in March with the theme “Arise and Shine: Women Leading with Love and Purpose”. The event gathered women leaders and participants from various congregations for a time of learning, empowerment, and collaboration.
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- By Genia Peterson, USA, member of the UN Advocacy Committee
In December 2024 the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution that mandates meetings in 2028 and 2029 with the intended outcome of an international convention to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. In collaboration with other organizations, ICUUW is working on strengthening gender justice in this new convention.
Why Does the World Need This Treaty?
Some of the most egregious international crimes are considered crimes against humanity.
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- By Siro Kwamboka, Kenya, Project leader, member of the Programs & Partnerships Committee
The Maasai Unitarian Universalist Community Women Water Project marks a transformative milestone in improving the livelihoods of Maasai women and their families. Access to clean and reliable water has long been a challenge in many rural Maasai communities, limiting opportunities for health, economic growth, and food security.
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- By Gail Sandlin, USA, member of the UN Advocacy Committee
A Merger That Could Muddle Women’s Rights
In 2025 the UN launched UN80, a system-wide reform process to make the organization more agile, efficient, and better able to deliver results with tighter resources. It is the umbrella under which the UN is reviewing internal efficiency, how mandates are carried out, and how possible structural or programmatic changes across the system will help. As such, UN80 is the how of UN reform, that is, a broad attempt to modernize the system, streamline operations, and test possible big changes. The proposed merger of UN Women and UNFPA, the agency focused on sexual and reproductive health, is one example of a structural change being examined within that process.
Supporters of this proposed merger say the move could improve efficiency, reduce overlap, and create a stronger, more coordinated approach to women’s rights and health. A single structure could simplify administration, align programs more closely, and help the UN respond faster with fewer resources.
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- By Karen Kortsch, USA, Chair, Communications Committee
When the leadership of ICUUW realized the need for a communications committee, I stepped up and created it. I’m happy to report that this committee has been active for some months now. We have a strong group that meets monthly to discuss and decide how to best keep all members and friends of the organization informed. We are chartered to enable connections by developing strategies for internal and external communication.
We developed a communications plan that includes sending out three newsletters a year to members and friends. The newsletters provide reflection and report on completed projects and events from around the world.
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- By Rev Erika Orbán, Hungary, ICUUW Board Member
Will your congregation support our work?
Sharing plates during meals is customary in many cultures. When strangers eat the same thing, their similar food choice can be a bond that increases trust and cooperation, suggests research by Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach.
This concrete act has a strong symbolic meaning, too: we become what we eat. When we share what we eat, we become a little bit more similar, more alike. When we share our goods and our money in order to nourish a community’s goals, we become more alike and a little bit more akin to those in need. That’s how giving enriches us.
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- By Tina Huesing, Germany/ USA, ICUUW Board President
News from the Board
Those of us participating again in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) last month experienced something new. At its seventieth meeting, for the first time ever, the commission adopted its outcome document known as the Agreed Conclusions by vote, departing from the Commission’s traditional practice of adopting such outcomes by consensus.
Why is this important?
When a group of participants need to make a decision, they can choose between different decision-making processes. One option is to take a vote, another is to adopt an outcome, decision or plan by consensus. The United Nations works mainly with consensus and only rarely makes a decision by vote. In ICUUW, the Board adopted decision-making by consensus with the beginning of the current Board year last August.
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- By Lee Boeke Burke
We are saddened by the news of Rebecca’s passing and have sent our condolences to her family and the Church of the Philippines. Rebecca was an important member of ICUUW since its very beginning in 2009. For her visionary leadership and tireless fight for equality, justice, and human rights for women we presented her with the Annie Margaret Barr Award, our highest honor. Beautiful reflections on Rebecca’s life and tributes are shared online. UUs-in-Philippines posted a memory on their YouTube channel, her son Persie posted a video on Facebook.
Below we share a beautiful tribute by our member Lee who knew her well:
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- By ICUUW Staff
We at ICUUW are saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore. Natalie was a friend of ours and our organization. She served on our Nominating Committee, joined us at our third convocation and always showed an interest in what we were doing at ICUUW. Many of us hold fond memories and will miss her presence among us. The UU Ministers Association will share more memorial details as they become available.
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- By Gail Sandlin
We’ve had a full second week of CSW and again want to share some impressions with you. A more in-depth analysis will follow in our newsletter in April.
It was a privilege to attend CSW70 in person. In these times of uncertainty, I appreciate such amazing access, with the added bonus of meeting ICUUW members who I had only chatted with online before. Here we are gathering after a session at the UN.
The two NGOCSW|NY co-chairs provided informative summary briefings, and they hosted a reception where we enjoyed fun and camaraderie, a wonderful banquet, a DJ for intergenerational dancing, good conversations and laughs.
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- By UN Advocacy Committee
We’ve had an inspiring first week of CSW and want to share some impressions with you. A more in-depth analysis will follow later, after the conclusion of CSW.
Entering the UN building to attend the CSW brought back vivid memories of my time as an intern at UN Women. Walking through those halls again reminded me of the sense of purpose and possibility that comes from being part of thoughtful, strategic conversations on human rights, women’s leadership, and gender equality. The atmosphere felt both inspiring and serene. What made the experience even more meaningful was engaging in these discussions alongside brave women and men who are committed to making this world a more equitable and better place for future generations. - Pooja
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- By Tina Huesing, ICUUW Board President
We are thrilled to announce that the Board of Directors has selected Pooja Banerjee as the next Executive Director of ICUU Women.
Pooja is committed to providing leadership and support that will increase the global impact of our work. She brings excellent communication and relationship-building skills, experience in women’s issues, and an inspiring passion for gender equity. She also brings experience in fundraising and will work with us to develop new strategies to increase institutional and individual giving.