Gender-Responsive Assemblies – An agenda for concrete action

As #Metoo snowballs into a global movement, there is a growing awareness of the importance of gender parity in all human activities. Assemblies are an important part of the work of any international organization. They set strategic direction and create forums for robust debate and reaching of agreement. But while they bring together world leaders and decision-makers who are mostly men, their decisions have an impact on the lives of women and men, boys and girls, at every level.

The event is designed for all those interested in creating a more inclusive and harassment-free environment at their assemblies, encouraging gender balance on delegations, promoting meaningful participation of women in deliberations, and advancing gender equality on agendas and outcomes.

Panelists will outline how they have been applying and will further apply the principles in the Gender Responsive Assemblies Toolkit in their own Assemblies. They will address the opportunities for advocacy and action by all interested parties from Member States to Civil Society, and how can they collaborate with Secretariats and Heads of Organizations to drive urgent action to sustainably include women in all decision-making processes from the international to national level, and to advance gender equality in their decisions and deliberations.

Following the interactive panel discussion, the audience will engage with the panelists on how to apply the toolkit, the challenges and opportunities that exist to make the Assembly experience more inclusive, productive, and successful; more relevant for all.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is hosting this panel discussion in collaboration with the International Gender Champions, IGC-New York, IGC-Geneva, and the IGC Representation Impact Group.

Panelists include:

• H.E. Ms Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President, 73rd session of the UN General Assembly INVITED
• Martin Chungong, Secretary General, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
• Other Gender Champions to be confirmed

For further information, please click here.