Side events

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UN Women organized/co-sponsored events:

11 March

Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Waiting 217 years or acting now? Saving the date or accelerating the move? Organized by the Mission of Switzerland, ILO, and co-sponsored by UN Women. Opening remarks by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women and Vinicius Pinheiro, Deputy Director, UN Office, International Labour Organization (ILO) on pay equality. Other speakers include members of EPIC such as: Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister, Iceland; Julie Anne Gente, Minister for Women, Associate Minister for Health, Transport, New Zealand; Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for International Development and Minister for Women & Equalities, United Kingdom. Panel Discussion moderated by Vinicius Pinheiro, with Sarita Nayyar, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, World Economic Forum, and Chris Martin, Manager, Senior Compliance & Analytics, Starbucks.

6.30–7.45 p.m., Conference Room 7, UN HQ.

12 March

Women in Power: Organized by the President of the General Assembly. This high-level event will bring together Heads of State and Government and other senior leaders to share experiences and learn from success stories on advancing women’s leadership. The program will feature an opening segment and three high-level roundtables.

9 a.m.–1 p.m., General Assembly Hall, UN HQ. [Link to event website]

Press Conference – Launch of the 2019 Women in Politics Map: Join the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women in launching the Women in Politics Map 2019, which depicts global rankings for women in the executive and parliamentary branches of government as of 1 January 2019. Remarks by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and Gabriela Cuevas Barron, IPU President and Mexican MP, moderated by Paddy Torsney, IPU Permanent Observer.

11–11.30 a.m., Press Briefing Room, UN HQ.

CSW63 Townhall Meeting of Civil Society and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres: The townhall, moderated by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, is an opportunity for civil society to engage with the Secretary-General António Guterres and his senior leadership on topics pertaining to gender equality and the work of the UN. The event is part of ongoing dialogue and engagement between civil society organizations and the Office of the Secretary-General.

1.15–2.30 p.m., Conference Room 4, UN HQ. [Webcast link]

13 March

Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa - Tapping into African Women Leadership to ensure Refugees and IDP’s Full Access to Social Protection: Organized by the Missions of Ghana and Germany, Group of Friends of the “African Women Leaders Network”, with the support of the African Union and UN Women. Speakers will present specific examples on projects and successful initiatives led to empower women and communities affected by forced displacement, living as refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa. The dialogue will enable Member States, the AU, the UN, civil society organizations and women leaders and affected communities by forced displacement to identify and propose a strategic mechanism to implement the socio-economic commitments made.

8.15-9.30 a.m., Conference Room D, UN HQ.

Launch of a High-level Group Report on Justice for Women: Organized by UN Women, International Development Law Organization, World Bank and the Task Force on Justice. The event will launch a high-profile report on Justice for Women to provide a platform for government representatives, civil society organizations and UN partners to mobilize further actions to accelerate implementation of SDG5 and SDG16. Speakers include Asa Regner, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women; Irene Khan, Director-General, International Development Law Organization; and Lang Yabou, Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the UN.

10 a.m.–12 p.m., Riverview Room, 28th Floor, East Tower, Millennium Hotel, One United Nations Plaza, New York. [Link to flier]

Investing in gender equality – Parliaments ensuring social protection, public services and infrastructure deliver for women and girls: Organized by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women. Annual parliamentary event in which MPs contribute to the Commission’s main theme, focusing on the vital role parliaments have to play in ensuring adequate resources are allocated and policies adopted in pursuit of gender equality. Opening Remarks by Gabriela Cuevas Barron, IPU President and Mexican MP and Asa Regner, Deputy Executive-Director of UN Women.

10 a.m.–5.45 p.m., Trusteeship Council, UN HQ.

"Take the Hot Seat" High Level Youth Dialogue: Young people push the boundaries and ask governments to make a commitment to make social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure deliver for young people.

11.30 a.m.–12.45 p.m., Conference Room 1, UN HQ. [Live webcast] [Event page] For more information, please contact [ Click to reveal ]. [Link to Flyer and RSVP]

Accelerating the elimination of harmful practices to reap the demographic dividend in Africa: Organized by Governments of Burkina Faso, Canada, Italy and Zambia in partnership with UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women. The event will be attended by heads of delegations, development partners and United Nations agencies and will aim to create a platform for Member States and young people to dialogue on commitments and innovative measures to eliminate child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation as Africa’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 by 2030 and Agenda 2063. Speakers include Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and Jaha Dukureh, UN Women Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa.

12.30–3 p.m., Unicef House, Labouisse Hall, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York. RSVP here.

Social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure: Policy coherence for the empowerment of women in informal employment. Strengthening policy coherence—across sectors and levels of government—is critical to make social protection systems, public services and sustainable infrastructure work for women in informal employment. The panel which includes: Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women; Grete Faremo, Executive Director of UNOPS; Laura Alfers, Social Protection Programme Director, WIEGO, South Africa; Susan Thomas, Head of Health & Childcare Team, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India; will explore synergies, tensions and pathways to policy coherence for the empowerment of women in informal employment. It will engage member states, international organizations and civil society, including grassroots organizations of women informal workers, in an interactive discussion with the audience.

3–4.15 p.m., Conference Room 11. [Live webcast]

Raising Voices in Media as a Weapon of Power: A discussion around the film, WOMAN by Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

6.30 p.m., ECOSOC Chamber, UN HQ. RSVP Link

14 March

2019 Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum: Organized by UN Women, UN Global Compact and UN Office of Partnerships. Annual flagship event on gender equality for the private sector, bringing together 500+ other leaders and innovators from business, government, civil society, academia and the UN. The Forum participants gain exposure to new knowledge on strategies for advancing women's empowerment in the future of work, through gender-lens investing and by addressing sexual harassment in the world of work. Agenda here.

3–6 p.m., ECOSOC Chamber, UN HQ. [To RSVP, email carla.kraft[at]unwomen.org] [Link to Webcast]

15 March

Youth Dialogue Innovation Labs: Engage in a space where effective, dynamic, influential young advocates are self-organizing, networking and mobilizing towards gender equality.

15 March, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York. For more information, please contact Youth.Engage[at]unwomen.org. [Link to Flyer and RSVP]

Promoting access to universal social protection: Organized by the mission of South Africa (RSA), in collaboration Ilitha Labantu and UN-Women. This event will feature an interactive forum for participants and member states to identify and share good practices and lessons learned to promote and advance inclusive social protection for all, lessons from the Global South, examples of how Social Protection models have been used to reverse decades of exclusion of the most vulnerable in RSA, and what a Universal model looks like that includes investments in economic solutions to reduce dependency. Confirmed speakers include: Susan Shabangu, Minister of Social Development, RSA; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director; Bathabile – Dlamini, Minister in the Presidency for women, RSA; Paul Fletcher, Minister of Families and Social Services, Government of Australia; among others.

1.15–2.30 p.m., Conference Room 7, UN HQ.

The Road to 2020 – Accelerating action on women, peace and security before the 20th Anniversary of Security Resolution 1325: This interactive session will offer space for participants to voice their ideas and concerns, as well as provide input to the priorities being shaped by key stakeholders and decision-makers. Speakers will explain their vision for 2020, including how to link the anniversary to the commemoration of Beijing+25 and the five-year review of the Sustainable Development Goals. Moderated by Mavic Cabrera-Balleza, Chief Executive Officer, The Global Network of Women Peacebuilders. Speakers include: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women; Jean-Pierre LaCroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations (TBC); Helen Kezie-Nwoha, Executive Director of Isis-WICCE; Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls, Chair of Board of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict; Edita Tahiri, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Dialogue, Republic of Kosovo[1]

3–4.15 p.m., Conference Room 12, UN HQ.

Making Social Protection, Public Services and Infrastructure Inclusive and Meaningful for Women and Girls in Africa: Organized by OSAA, African Union, UN Women, United Nations Global Compact, and the Missions of Finland and Egypt. Opening by Ms. Bience Gawanas, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa. Moderated Interactive Panel and General Discussion Segment panelists include: Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Nations in Egypt’s capacity as Chairperson of the African Union for 2019; Kai Sauer, Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations; Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women; Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security. Moderated and closing remarks by Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Chief Executive, Rozaria Memorial Trust and African Union Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage.

4.45-6 p.m., Ex-Press Bar, General Assembly Building, UNHQ. 

18 March

Towards gender-responsive climate action: In support of the UN Secretary-General’s 2019 Climate Summit and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25), this side event will give impetus to gender equality and women’s rights in the context of national-level climate action. Welcome remarks by Luis Alfonso de Alba, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the 2019 Climate Action Summit. Moderated by Lorena Aguilar, Vice-Minister of International Relations, Costa Rica. Panelists include: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN-Women; Milena Zindovic, Association of Women Architects, Serbia; Agnes Leina, Executive Director, Il’laramatak Community Concerns, Kenya; Chantel Comardelle, Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe, Isle De Jean Charles, Louisiana; Cathy Lee, Women-+ Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN).

11.30 a.m.–12.45 p.m., Conference Room 11. [Live webcast]

The Road Ahead–Making Gender Parity a Reality: This side event will bring together senior UN officials, civil society and Member States to discuss efforts and measures to reach the gender parity within the UN System. Panelists include: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women; Ana Maria Menendez, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Secretary-General’s Senior Advisor on Policy; Laxman Belbase, Acting Director, MenEngage; Anne-Marie Goetz, Clinical Professor, Center for Global Affairs; Ronald Jean Jumeau, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Nations.

4.45–6 p.m., Conference Room 12, UNHQ. [Live Webcast] [Link to Event page]

19 March

Consigning sexual harassment to the dustbin of history – what it would take to achieve cultural change?: This interactive panel, moderated by Purna Sen, UN Women Executive Coordinator on Sexual Harassment, will bring together different voices and experiences to address cultural change and sexual harassment while highlighting the knowledge of victims/survivors. Panelists include: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive-Director of UN Women; Jan Beagle, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance and Chair of the CEB Task Force on Sexual Harassment; Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission; Dimitri Tskitishvili, Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament of Georgia; Upasana Chauhan, United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth and Man Up campaign; Kerry Gibson, President, EcoCentury Technologies, Canada; Faiza Mohamed, Africa Regional Director, Equality Now.

11.30 a.m.–12.45 p.m., ECOSOC Chamber, UN HQ. [Live Webcast] [Event page]

2019 IOC Women and Sport Award Ceremony: In the context of the CSW, this joint event is organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UN Women. This annual event recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements and contributions of change-makers making a difference for women and girls involved in sport across the world. Hosted by Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, with guest speakers: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, and Marta Vieira da Silva, six- time winner FIFA Best Women’s Player 2018 and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

6–8.30 p.m., UN Delegates Dining Room, UN HQ. [RSVP here before 1 March 2019. Key: WomenandSportAwards2019] For more info, contact genderequality[at]olympic.org.

20 March

Launch of Strategy on #EqualityinLaw for Women and Girls by 2030 – A Multi-Stakeholder Strategy for Accelerated Action: Organized by UN Women, in collaboration with the African Union, Commonwealth, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and Secretaría General Ibero-Americana. The event brings together government representatives, civil society organizations and UN partners to generate awareness and reinforce the important role of gender equal laws in the achievement of gender equality and the importance of eliminating discriminatory laws in all countries by 2030. Speakers include Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Jakomba Jabbie, young gender activist, The Gambia.

9.45–11.15 a.m., Conference Room 12, UN HQ. [Event page] [ Live webcast] [Link to flier]

UN Women senior officials will also speak at the following external events:

• CSW NGO Consultation on social protection schemes: 10 March, 1.40–3 p.m., Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, New York.
• Interactive panel during Nordic-international high-level reception, in conjunction with the CSW63, hosted by the Prime Minister of Iceland: Panel Discussion on theme: #MeToo as an indicator of the urgent need to invest in a public infrastructure supporting the realization of equal rights and status of men and women. 10 March, 7.30–15 p.m., Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave, New York. To RSVP, email annros@norden.org
• The Istanbul Convention – a global instrument to prevent and combat violence against women and girls: Sponsored by Mission of France, 11 March, 10–15 a.m., Conference Room 11, UN HQ.
• Intergenerational Policy Dialogue on Girls and Adolescents: Organized by Plan International. Three women-led UN Funds and Programmes will demonstrate a shared commitment to ensuring the systematic consideration of girls and adolescents in the CSW’s Agreed Conclusions. 12 March, 8–30 a.m., UNICEF House, New York.
• Women, Business and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reform: 14 March, 6.30 –8.30 p.m., Millennium Hilton Hotel One UN Plaza, Diplomat Ballroom, New York.