Conference Room 6, North Lawn Building, UN Headquarters, New York
[By Invitation Only.]
UN Women, International IDEA, UNDP and DPA are hosting a Democracy and Gender Equality Roundtable on Wednesday 4 May 2011 at UN Headquarters to serve as a forum to gather key stakeholders and discuss the relationship between gender equality and democracy. Part of this discussion will look at the UN’s performance (successes, lessons learned, obstacles and challenges) in implementing gender responsive democracy building and to formulate joint inputs on the topic for advocacy use within UN policy making structures. Read full concept note »
Full Agenda
8:45
Breakfast
9:00
Registration
9:30
Welcome
- Moderator: UN Assistant Secretary-General Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco
- UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
9:45
Opening remarks
- UN Under Secretary General Madame Helen Clark
- UN Under Secretary General Madame Michelle Bachelet
- International IDEA Secretary General Mr. Vidar Helgesen
10:15
Background
- Dr. Mala Htun on Gender and Democracy, Critical issues
10:40
Coffee Break
11:00–12:30
Panel 1: Political Participation, Representation and Gender Equality
This session will examine the gender responsiveness of political parties; the impact of quotas and other temporary special measures for increasing the representation of women in democracy; issues of access to campaign finances; and the gender responsiveness of electoral management bodies and processes.
Facilitator:
- Ms. Winnie Byanyima, Director, UNDP Gender Team
Panelists:
- Dr. Drude Dahlerup, Professor Political Science, Sweden
- Ms. Shari Bryan, Vice President, National Democratic Institute, United States of America
- Dr. Joy Ezeilo, Director, Women Aid Collective, Nigeria
12:30–13:30
Lunch Break (lunch provided)
Viewing of Gender Links movie on media stereotypes of women in politics in Conference Room A
13:30 – 15:00
Panel 2: Impact of Traditional and New Social Media on Women’s Engagement with Democratic Processes
This session will examine how the treatment of women in media impacts women’s entry, acceptance and performance in participatory democratic governance. How can the media influence gender-sensitive political agenda setting and framing of issues?
Facilitator:
- Dr. Massimo Tommasoli, Permanent Representative of International IDEA to UN
Panelists:
- Ms. Pat Mitchell, The Paley Centre for Media, Unites States of America
- Ms. Emily Jacobi, Digital Democracy, United States of America
- Ms. Colleen Lowe-Morna, Gender Links, South Africa
- Ms. Shiulie Ghosh, Senior News Anchor, Al Jazeera, Qatar
15:00
Coffee Break
15:15–16:45
Panel 3: Gender-Responsive Accountability Systems and Democracy
This session will examine the ways in which accountability systems can better reflect women’s concerns, both through reforms in formal accountability systems (judicial and other national oversight mechanisms, constitutional right to information) and mechanisms generated from civil society (citizen report cards, public audits). The connection between democratic deepening and efforts to ensure that these systems advance women’s rights will be explored.
Facilitator:
- Anne Marie Goetz, Chief Advisor Peace and Security Cluster UN Women
Panelists:
- Dr. Soukeina Bouraoui, Director, Center for Arab Women’s Training and Research, Tunisia
- Ms. Yasmin Sooka, Director, Foundation for Human Rights, South Africa
- Ms. Betty Murungi, Kenya
- Mr. Vincent Warren, Director, Center for Constitutional Rights, United States of America
16:45–17:30
Summary and Closing
- Ms. Winnie Byanyima, UNDP
- Mr. Massimo Tommasoli, International IDEA
- Dr. Anne Marie Goetz, UN Women
- UN Assistant Secretary-General Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco
For more information, contact Ana Lukatela, Peace and Security Cluster, UN Women, ana.lukatela[at]unwomen.org
