The Executive Director of UN Women meets representatives of civil society before concluding her visit to Peru

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet emphasized gender equality at the event \"" />

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On 16 October, Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, took part in an international conference on social inclusion entitled “Power: Women as Drivers of Growth and Social Inclusion at the start of her two-day visit to Lima, Peru. She was joined by the President of Peru, Ollanta Humala, and the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

During her speech, Ms. Bachelet stressed that, despite evidence that greater gender equality positively correlates with a higher GDP per capita and that women's participation in the workforce has a multiplier effect on society, women still do not enjoy the same conditions and opportunities as men in the workplace. This leads to a slowdown not only in economic growth, but also in the advancement of women's rights, and therefore affects a country's development.

The visit included a ceremony in the Municipality of Lima, one of the most populated cities in Latin America and the Caribbean, and one of the few cities in the continent that is now, for the first time, governed by a democratically elected woman. The mayor, Susana Villarán, welcomed Ms. Bachelet as a distinguished guest.

Ms. Bachelet recognized the progress made in Lima as it strives to become “a city for all women and all men, by promoting the principle of inclusion and the elimination of all forms of discrimination. She pointed out that UN Women is helping to make this concept a reality, and to develop effective strategies that reduce violence, poverty and inequality in the city. She highlighted the 2012 Regional Plan for Citizen Safety and Social Co-existence in Lima, with its focus on gender specifically in its outlook on women, their needs, demands, risks and potential.

UN Women has financially supported the implementation of a project that seeks to formulate policies and actions to combat violence against women in Lima, by means of a Trust Fund for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Later, Michelle Bachelet visited the Cayetano Heredia University, where she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the rector, Dr. Fabiola León Velarde. On receiving this recognition, Ms. Bachelet explained how much the degree meant to her, stating that the current university management has put great emphasis on its role as a strategic partner for development. This intention is clearly expressed through the university's research and scientific publications, as well as study programmes focusing on skills development, teamwork, freedom of thought and expression, the rejection of violence, and the stimulation of initiative, creativity and innovation.

The Executive Director of UN Women ended the first day of her visit with a bilateral meeting with the President of Peru, Ollanta Humala.

During the second day of the visit to Lima, Ms. Bachelet met members of UN agencies in Peru, female members of the Congress of the Republic, representatives of civil society organisations, and women who have benefited from projects implemented by UN Women in Peru.

One of the UN Women projects that is being implemented in Peru is the joint work plan with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to reinforce basic organisations and the potential for incidence of female domestic workers. Another project involves establishing political proposals for indigenous Andean and Amazonian women in order to improve the effectiveness of judicial services, and yet another programme concerns gender-sensitive budgeting.

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Highlights of the official mission to Peru by UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet made an official visit to Peru from 16 - 17 October, 2012. See photos of her visit, watch or read her speech, and find out more about projects to end violence against women in Lima, Peru.

Photos:

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet joins US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso at the event “Power: Women as Drivers of Growth and Social Inclusion, in Lima, Peru US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet emphasized gender equality at the event \ UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet delivers remarks at the event “Power: Women as Drivers of Growth and Social Inclusion, in Lima, Peru UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet greets Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso at the event “Power: Women as Drivers of Growth and Social Inclusion, in Lima, Peru UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet takes part in the opening ceremony of the event \ US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet emphasized gender equality at the event “Power: Women as Drivers of Growth and Social Inclusion,\ UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet visits the textile production and trade center of Gamarra in Lima, Peru, on 16 October 2012 together with Peruvian First Lady Nadine Heredia UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visit the textile production and trade center of Gamarra in Lima, Peru, where both had the opportunity to talk with women entrepreneurs on 16 October UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet greets crowds at her arrival at the textile production and trade center of Gamarra in Lima, Peru, on 16 October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet greets crowds at her arrival at the textile production and trade center of Gamarra in Lima, Peru, on 16 October UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet receives an honorary doctorate from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia during her visit to Lima, Peru in October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet and Vanda Pignato, First Lady and the Secretary of Social Inclusion of El Salvador, are honored by Lima's Mayor Susana Villarán UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet speaks with Lima's Mayor Susana Villarán before before being declared an honorary guest of the city on 16 October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet is declared an honorary guest of the city of Lima from Mayor Susana Villarán on 16 October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet receives is declared an honorary guest of the city of Lima from Mayor Susana Villarán on 16 October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet speaks with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso during her two-day visit to the country on 16 October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet meets with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso during her two-day visit to the country on 16 October 2012 UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet visits Peru's Congress to meet with women leaders from various political parties UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet visits Peru's Congress to meet with women leaders from various political parties. Photo credit: UN Women/Anibal Solimano UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet visits Peru's Congress to meet with women leaders from various political parties UN Women Executive Director arrives at the Peruvian National Congress where she is welcomed by the Chairwoman of the Women Parliamentarians' Board, Congresswoman Ana María Solórzano

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Read her speech (16 October):

“Power: Women as Drivers of Growth and Social Inclusion: speech by UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, in Lima

Speaking at an event during Social Inclusion Week in Peru, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet highlighted what can be done to identify, combat and overcome inequality, and ensure women's inclusion as drivers of development. Read more »

Watch her speech (archived from the livestream):

http://www.livestream.com/powerofwomen

Watch live streaming video from powerofwomen at livestream.com

Q&A with one of our partners in Peru:

Mobilization by Municipalities to End Violence against Women
A conversation with Silvia Loli Espinoza, coordinator of the project “Articulation of Policies and Actions to End Violence against Women in the Municipality of Lima, supported by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. Read more »

Read the press release announcing her visit:

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet visits Peru
Public budgets with an emphasis on gender, women's participation in politics, decent work for female domestic workers and the elimination of violence against women will be the main topics to be addressed by the Executive Director during her visit. Read more »