-Pradeep Pariyar Thapa
Exclusive: New York- The 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) has been suspended due to concern regarding the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The Commission’s 64th session was scheduled between March 9-20, 2020. According to the Commission, on March 9th, there will be formal opening statements, followed by the adoption of the draft Political Declaration and action on any other draft resolutions but the full session will be then suspended until further notification. No general debate will take place and all side events planned by Member States and the UN system in conjunction with CSW64 will be cancelled.
This year, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Therefore, the CSW and stakeholders are strategizing towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development while making gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls a focal point.
Likewise, NGO CSW NY has also cancelled its all 500+ forums this year. NGO CSW NY said, “We are saddened to cancel our NGO CSW64 Forum due to risks of spreading Coronavirus from gathering 12,000 global activists and still determined to find other ways of magnifying feminists and women's voices until CSW65 comes around. Stay safe out there...”
Coronavirus affecting & spreading globally
The coronavirus has infected more than 90,000 people across 73 countries and territories as of Monday since it was first identified in December last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, China. The global death toll is now 3,115 including 9 deaths in the United States.
What is Coronavirus?
According to World Health Organization (WHO), “Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.”
How does coronavirus spread or infect?
WHO further states that “People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.”
Virus has no cure yet
WHO said that Coronavirus has no cure yet, “To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care.”
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