PhD researcher selected for Commission on the Status of Women
Sarah Shepherd, a PhD researcher in the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation, has been selected to take part in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) running from March 10-21.
The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights, and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established in 1946.
CSW69 is a two-week annual session of representatives from across UN member states, civil society organisations and other UN entities that come together to discuss emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women. Part of the discussion will be surrounding the progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the key global policy document on gender equality and its contribution towards the full realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Sarah said, “I have been following the work of UN Women UK for a while, and I am always interested in events or volunteer opportunities that I can get involved with. I have previously volunteered in organisations to support women and girls and continue to look for ways I can do this. When I saw CWS69 applications were open, I jumped at the chance.”
Sarah, who began her PhD research last year after graduating with an MSc in Occupational Psychology, said, “My research is interested in women’s leadership development in academia. Sadly, we know that there is still underrepresentation of women in leadership positions across all industries which includes academia. My research hopes to use occupational psychology as a lens to study this gender inequality in leadership and provide practical insights that can be implemented to close the gap.
“I hope to gain a deeper understanding of gender (in)equality globally and hear directly from world leaders, governments and NGOs on the topic. Keeping up to date with current events and discussions on this topic will make me a better researcher and I look forward to making new connections with business and community leaders. I also hope to gain a renewed sense of hope when often it feels that the gender equality agenda is going backwards. I look forward to being able to share this knowledge and experience with my colleagues at Strathclyde.”
Published: 13 February 2025
