NFP Delegates Chosen for International Women’s Forum

Four women selected from the Not for Profit sector will join the Minister for the Status of Women, Julie Collins in representing Australia at the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York next month.

“Each of these four delegates will make a valuable contribution to this important gathering,” Collins said.

“They have been selected from a strong list of candidates and each one is a leading advocate in her field.

“The theme of the Commission on the Status of Women this year is the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.

“These delegates bring extensive experience and knowledge of the impacts of violence against women.”

The four delegates are:

• Rebecca Vassarotti, as a community sector delegate
• Michelle Deshong, as an Indigenous delegate
• Karin Swift, representing women with disabilities
• Adut Zita Deng Ngor, representing women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

“It’s important Australia has strong and diverse representation at the Commission so we can continue to advance the status of women and I am sure this year’s delegates will contribute to that goal,” Collins said.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is the world’s main policy-making body dedicated to gender equality and the advancement of women.

Each year, delegates representing UN Member States meet at the UN in New York to examine issues related to progressing gender equality and to formulate policies to promote gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide.

Delegate background

Rebecca Vassarotti is the Executive Director of the YWCA of Canberra, a board member of the Australian Council of Social Service and the ACT non-government organisations’ representative to the National Implementation Panel for the National Action Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.

Michelle Deshong has worked in senior leadership roles in both the government and NGO sectors, including Queensland State Manager for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategies for the Australian Red Cross and National Manager for the Indigenous Services at Centrelink. Personal experience of domestic violence has shaped Deshong’s commitment to helping create a world that is free of violence for future generations.

Karin Swift is President of Women With Disabilities Australia. Among Ms Swift’s many accomplishments is delivering training in Indonesia on the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities with particular reference to eliminating violence against women with disabilities.

Adut Zita Deng Ngor is a solicitor and the Director of the Women’s Legal Service in South Australia. Ms Ngor frequently assists women and children escaping family and domestic violence. She is a young Australian woman of South Sudanese background and has a particular interest in advocating on behalf of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.