World Forum for Democracy side-event: Gender Equality and Political Empowerment of Women: A Populist Reaction?
Panel discussion on Gender Equality and Political Empowerment of Women: A Populist Reaction? was held on the margins
of the World Forum for Democracy 2017
in Strasbourg.
“Women’s voices are still missing from the executive branches of the governments and parliaments worldwide. This fact, this really slow upward tick in advancing women’s participation and leadership in political processes, is slowing achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” – Anne MENASKEN, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women Issues and Gender Equality, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
The side-event was organized by the Community of Democracies, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International IDEA. Participants discussed the main challenges and opportunities faced on the race to advance gender equality and political empowerment of women, in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Luis José CONSUEGRA, Programme Officer for Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization at International IDEA, presented a Guidebook on “The Global and Regional Organizations, Gender Equality and the Political Empowerment of Women”, produced with the support and cooperation of regional organizations, UNDP, the Community of Democracies and International IDEA. The publication is based on the results of five regional consultations held over the past year that brought together politicians, representatives of international organizations and civil society to discuss the challenges of ensuring gender equality in democratically elected bodies, as well as the work of the main regional organizations worldwide to advance this agenda.
Panelists: Victoria IGNAT – Project Manager – Women in Politics UNDP, Republic of Moldova; Carolina LASÉN DIAZ -Head of the Gender Equality Unit, Council of Europe; Anne MESKANEN -Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women Issues and Gender Equality, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Jason WORLLEDGE -Planning Manager to the Secretary General of the Community of Democracies and coordinator for the CoD Working Group on Women and Democracy.
The discussion was moderated by Andrew BRADLEY, Director, International IDEA’s Office in Brussels.
