Media advisory: UN Women at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly

Amplifying women’s voices and concerns at the conjunction of major historic processes

Date:

United Nations, New York — The sixty-ninth session of the UN General Assembly represents a unique opportunity to position gender equality and women’s empowerment at the heart of the global agenda as it occurs at the conjunction of major historic processes: the deliberations on the post-2015 development framework and Sustainable Development Goals, the 20-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 29th special session on the follow-up to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the high-profile World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. Preparations are also underway for the 15th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325, the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, as well as the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC to be held in Paris in 2015.

Against this background, through a series of high-profile events at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly, UN Women will bring the diverse voices and concerns of women into the debate. Throughout the session, UN Women will engage with Member States and partners to ensure that gender perspectives are fully reflected in the dialogues and debates, and that gender equality issues receive strong visibility, and actionable commitment and implementation.

NOTE TO MEDIA: All UN Women events are open to the media, but space is limited. Please RSVP to media contacts listed. However, events on UN premises are open only to UN-accredited media. More information at https://www.un.org/media/accreditation

Media-only events

HeforShe Campaign Special Event

Co-hosted by British actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson, the event will bring together Heads of States, senior United Nations officials, champions for women’s empowerment, as well as role models and the general public.

When: 20 September 2014, 5–7 p.m.

Where: Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York

The event will be webcast live at www.unwomen.org

A photo opportunity for photographers will be arranged immediately prior to the event. Open to UN accredited media only, but space is limited. RSVP at: http://goo.gl/keW56x

Press Conference

What: Launch of the first-ever global study on gender stereotypes in popular films by the Geena Davis Institute, supported by UN Women.

Who: Academy award-winner Geena Davis, Founder & Chair, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media; UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka; and Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.

When: 22 September, 2 p.m.

Where: McGraw Hill Financial, 1221 Ave of the Americas, New York. Please RSVP to media contacts listed below.


 

UN Women–hosted or –co-organized events

20 SEPTEMBER

HeforShe Campaign Special Event

The event co-hosted by British actor and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson will bring together Heads of States, senior United Nations officials, champions for women’s empowerment, as well as role models and the general public. They will gather to support what is becoming a dynamic solidarity movement for gender equality, calling upon one half of humanity to join with the other half in addressing persistent inequalities faced by women and girls around the world.

Venue: Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters, New York

Time: 5 – 7 p.m.

The event will be webcast live at www.unwomen.org

A photo opportunity for photographers will be arranged immediately prior to the event. The event is open to UN accredited media only, but space is limited. RSVP at: http://goo.gl/keW56x

22 SEPTEMBER

Leaders’ Forum on Women Leading the Way: Raising Ambition for Climate Action

With the participation of Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, five former women presidents and prime ministers, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Graça Machel and the UN Secretary-General, the event aims to demonstrate women’s leadership on climate action and highlighting gender-responsive actions at all levels. It will also feature voices of women leaders representing youth, grass-roots and indigenous communities, and be an opportunity to position gender equality at the centre of the discussions on climate change and sustainable development in the post-2015 development agenda, in the lead-up to the Beijing+ 20 commemoration next year.

Host: Mary Robinson Foundation-Climate Justice and UN Women

Venue: Grand Hyatt Hotel, E 42nd St, New York

Time: 6 – 8.30 p.m.

2nd Symposium on Gender in the Media and launch of global study on gender stereotypes in family film entertainment

Focusing on Beijing Platform for Action’s Section J—the critical area of concern on women and the media—the first-ever global study on gender stereotypes in family entertainment from leading markets including Australia, Brazil, China, France, India and the United Kingdom will be launched at the event.

Host: The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, UN Women, The Rockefeller Foundation and USC’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism

Venue: McGraw Hill Financial, 1221 Ave of the Americas, New York

Time: 3 – 5 p.m.

At 2 p.m., a press conference will be held before the opening of the Symposium, with Geena Davis, Founder & Chair, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

23 SEPTEMBER

High-Level Side Event- Affirming the Beijing and Lima Plans of Action for Indigenous Women and Girls

Against the backdrop of the World Conference of Indigenous Peoples, the International Forum on Indigenous Women (FIMI) and UN Women will highlight the situation of indigenous women and girls, focusing on issues to include violence, inheritance rights, participation in decision-making and the role of men and boys. Speakers include: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director; Aili Keskitalo, President, Sami Parliament of Norway; Otilia Lux de Coti, Executive Director, International Forum on Indigenous Women; Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Soyata Maiga, Special Rapporteur on Women’s Rights and Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations/Communities of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights; Raja Devasish Roy, Traditional Chief and Member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Ms. Rosalina Tuyuc Velásquez, Mayan human rights activist. The event will be moderated by Andrea Landry and Aili Laue of the Indigenous Youth Caucus.

Host: International Forum on Indigenous Women and UN Women

Venue: DNB 19th floor Conference room, Daily News Building, 220 E, 42nd Street, New York

Time: 12.30 – 2 p.m.

Soccer Match to End Violence against Women (UNiTE)

The G77 countries together with UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN Women), with the support of the UN Soccer Club, are co-hosting the third Soccer Match to end Violence against Women. The Bolivian President, Evo Morales; UNDP Associate Administrator, Gina Casar; and UN Women, Deputy Executive Director, Lakshmi Puri will kick off the match.

Hosts: Permanent Mission of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the UN, UNDP and UN Women

Venue: Roosevelt Island Soccer Field, 755 Main Street Roosevelt Island, New York

Time: 2.00 - 3.00 p.m.

Voices from the Climate Front Lines, Thematic Session at UN Climate Summit

As part of the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit, UN Women, UNICEF and UNFPA will co-host this event which will focus on the experiences and voices of children, youth, women, indigenous peoples and other groups whose voices are too-often ignored in building resilience and contributing to climate solutions on the ground. Co-Chairs of the event are Evo Morales, President of Bolivia and Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu. Panellists include: Mary Robinson, UN Special Envoy for Climate Change and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation–Climate Justice; Ronan Farrow, MSNBC host, and former UNICEF youth advocate; Sylvia Atugonza Kapello, climate and development expert, Uganda; Christina Ora, youth volunteer with the Honiara Youth Council, Solomon Islands; and Alina Saba – Young Mugal indigenous woman, Nepal. The event will be moderated by Femi Oke, international broadcaster and journalist.

Hosts: UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, with support from UN-NGLS

Venue: Conference Room 3, United Nations HQ, New York

Time: 5.15 – 6.30 p.m.

The event will be webcast live at www.unwomen.org

Additional information