Sisters March, New York, January 2017. USA TODAY SIPA USA/PA images
On January 27, the world watched in horror as Donald Trump signed an executive order barring people from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran from entering the United States for 90 days. Although the courts may rule against them, administration officials have warned they will be “very aggressive” as they expand the countries added to the ban list, making clear that this is only round one in a much broader xenophobic plan.
Every March, when the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meetings are held, women’s rights activists seize the chance to come to New York City, lobby global policymakers and collaborate with each other. Now, many are asking themselves how we keep the doors open for those activists from banned countries. Some are questioning if CSW should be postponed or even moved to Geneva, in solidarity with those who cannot attend.
