Belinda Crawford will head off to New York for the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, where she will speak on A Framework for Transformation: Non-Resistance as a Path to Equal Justice, which addresses trauma healing in the gender-based violence (GBV) sector.
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Belinda Crawford has much to celebrate - the University of KwaZulu-Natal staff member and master’s student in theology has published her first book Liberation in Irrelevant Spaces and has been invited to present at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York.
CSW69 takes place from Monday March 10 to Friday March 21, at the United Nations headquarters.
Ms Crawford will speak on: A Framework for Transformation: Non-Resistance as a Path to Equal Justice, which addresses trauma healing in the gender-based violence (GBV) sector.
Her presentation will draw from her book, which explores the lived embodied experience of GBV, emphasising personal resilience, societal transformation, and holistic healing. Her autobiographical narrative integrates academic insights and real-world applications to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
“My book focuses on healing through reclaiming agency rather than resistance using energy to create spaces of bravery, somatic restoration, and advocacy. It is a testament to personal transformation and a blueprint for societal change, urging individuals and communities to confront systemic inequities while nurturing their wholeness,” said Ms Crawford.
CSW69 is the principal global body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women. Established in 1946, it is instrumental in documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world. During its annual two-week session, representatives gather to discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of policies that seek to achieve equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Ms Crawford, who will graduate in May with a Master’s degree in Theology, said her presentation will focus on the non-resistance approach as a transformative strategy for addressing trauma and fostering healing, both individually and societally, while advocating for equal justice by discussing the role of restorative justice in addressing GBV.
“I hope to inspire action by encouraging policymakers, activists, and institutions to integrate holistic, trauma-informed practices into their work to create a more equitable and inclusive society,” she said. “The invitation provides a platform to advocate for the integration of healing into justice systems. Moving beyond punitive measures to equally prioritise survivor recovery. Justice cannot exist where liberation is absent, and healing is the key to unlocking that liberation.”
While this is a personal achievement, Ms Crawford is keen to collaborate with the university community on related projects and can be reached at crawfordb@ukzn.ac.za