Canada and UN Women to Host Conference to Boost Women’s Economic Empowerment

New York — Canada and UN Women will co-host a Conference on Women's Economic Empowerment next month. The Conference will focus on ways of supporting economies to fully advance women's empowerment, and on identifying the tools needed by women to genuinely participate in and benefit from gender-responsive inclusive growth and development. The results of the Conference will inform the activities and planning of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and UN Women.

“Evidence shows that improving women's economic empowerment is not only critical to achieving gender equality, it also boosts national economies, said Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director Michelle Bachelet. “This important event will foster dialogue and action among leaders, international development practitioners and innovators from a range of sectors to promote gender equality and prosperity for all women — for today and the future.

“Our Government understands that the full participation of women is necessary to long-term, sustainable economic growth and social progress, said the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation of Canada. “This Conference will bring together a diverse group of women and men, and their deliberations will identify concrete ways for women to participate in the economy and strengthen their economic security and rights. This Conference will allow both CIDA and UN Women to deliver better more effective programs, and deliver tools into the hands of the women around the world.

The conference will take place in Ottawa from October 3-5, 2011. It will bring together approximately 100 invited participants, representing a broad range of ideas, skills and expertise. It will provide a venue for entrepreneurs, thinkers, and policy makers from both the developing and developed worlds to exchange ideas and identify forward looking practical steps to address the evolving needs of women internationally.