Jersey Citizens Advice CEO appointed as UN Women delegate

Sunday 25 February 2024

A Jersey campaigner and charity CEO has been selected as a UN Women delegate.

Claire Mulcahy, the CEO of Jersey Citizens Advice, announced today that she had been selected to represent UN Women UK at the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women – or CSW68.

She will be one of two women from the Channel Islands representing the UK, joining Poppy Murray from Guernsey.

Claire said she didn't know of any previous representatives from Jersey. 

They will be part of the UK's delegation at the annual two-week session of the UN's body dedicated to gender equality. It sees representatives of member states as well as related organisations gather to discuss current issues, progress on relevant treaties, and set the way forward by agreeing on actions to be taken.  

Claire said she had applied to be a delegate on a whim and been surprised to find herself selected.

The conference, she said, would be "a platform and a really good opportunity to understand how they can connect".

Pictured: Claire Mulcahy was selected as a UN Women delegate to represent the UK.

To prepare, Claire said she was reaching out to stakeholders including Kate Wright, the chair of the Taskforce on Violence Against Women and Girls, along with charities to find out what their concerns are working on the ground – particularly in relation to the topic of CSW68, "accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective".

She said she was looking forward to "hearing the experts, hearing world leaders and considering what they're bringing to the table".

Claire added that she would like to clarify Jersey's position relative to the UN – as the island is not a member state but a territory which the UK is responsible for.

"That's what I'm interested in," she said. "How does Jersey put a voice to the UN?"

Jersey Citizens Advice was also named 'Charity of 2023' at the recent Difera Awards, which recognise people and organisations for their commitment to equality and diversity. She added that she was keen to highlight the charity's work through her appointment, reducing some of the "stigma" she said they had faced.

Claire added in a statement: "I am joining the biggest gathering of gender equality advocates in the world, documenting the reality of women’s lives around the world.

"Sharing space with world leaders, governments, experts, advocates, and activists from the gender equality space who are all working towards a more equitable world and will be in a position to discuss progress, identify challenges, setting policies and shaping global standards.

"Taking the learnings and awareness from the two weeks of 11 - 22 March 2024 to deepen contributions, momentum and vision within our Community through the positive opportunity our charity position holds on the Island to support the delivery of outcomes."