Media Release

13 May 2013

NZ Guiding leaders challenge international decision-makers

Palmerston North’s Fiona Bradley and Lower Hutt’s Claire Angliiss have attended the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women in New York representing GirlGuiding New Zealand (NZ) to advocate for stop to violence against girls.

At the Commission, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts from around the world lobbied decision-makers on violence against girls and advocated that United Nations Member States do more to address this issue.

Fiona (28) is a Ranger leader in Palmerston North and also a leader representative on GirlGuiding New Zealand’s National Board. Fiona started Pippins in Ashburton, where she lived until she was 18, and then continued on as a Brownie and now Ranger leader.

Fiona attended the Status of Women’s 57th session as a delegation co-ordinator after attending the Status of Women session in 2011 as a youth delegate. Her role was mentoring the youth delegates and a highlight, she says, was leading the Young Women’s Caucus.

Her skills and experience as a Ranger leader were instrumental in her gaining that role.

“Guiding leaders are well-known for being experienced in working with groups, getting people to talk and discuss issues, and feeling comfortable doing that.”

Claire Angliss (24) is a Pippin leader in Pencarrow and has been a member of GirlGuiding NZ since she became a Brownie. She attended the session as a youth delegate.

“It was an amazing experience,” she says. Along with Fiona, Claire spoke at events, lobbied decision-makers, presented information, facilitated sessions and performed a flash mob dance.

Claire credits GirlGuiding NZ with giving her an awareness about advocacy and how even one person can change the world.

“Guiding has been a catalyst for my life and has given me so many things, including needing to give something back to girls around the world,” says Claire.

Internationally the theme for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is “together we can change the world” and Claire is keen to continue to advocate stopping violence to girls.

“”We can all make changes at a global level by working together to empower women and that is the beauty of GirlGuiding NZ being part of such a large international organisation,” says Fiona.

GirlGuiding NZ is the largest female-only organisation in New Zealand and one of its goals is to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

Fiona and Claire were part of a 14 member team from 13 other countries representing the international group, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

GirlGuiding NZ is the largest female-only organisation in New Zealand and one of its goals is to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.

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