Speaking at the United Nations

They say you should ‘feel the fear and do it anyway.’

I was asked to do a speech at The UUUUUUU NNNNNNNNN. (United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York).

The Year was 2019. The month - March.

Can you believe it?

They were interested in my work reporting on the migrant crisis in Greece.

I guess I talked about all the things my report doesn’t have time to talk about. All the things that plague you in your sleep. I wanted the audience to know what I never knew until I saw it for myself . Thinking about it now, I wonder where that speech is.

But the one mantra that is repeated again and again at United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is:

“More women need to be at the table speaking for themselves and not being talked about.'“

I was conscious of that, so asked Marzia Babakarkhail, a former judge from Afghanistan to write a letter to the audience that I would deliver. Rather than talk about her, I wanted her to speak for herself, since she couldn’t be there.

The United Nations is an intimidating space that lets the people of this world air their views and say their piece.

The corridors were warm with friendship. If you stopped to rest, there was always someone who would say hello; ask where you are from; why you are here; where you are going next and if they could come.

I took pictures of women holding Marzia’s speech and asked them to tweet her - just to let her know her voice had been heard.