European Union to discuss women's economic empowerment through the lenses of post-2015 and Beijing+20

Riga – In celebrating 2015 as the European Year of Development, the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union is hosting a conference titled “Post-2015 and Beijing+20: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Development –the Synthesis for Success” in Riga, Latvia from 2-4 March. This high-level event, to be attended by international panelists and European parliamentarians, commemorates of the first-ever year to deal with the European Union's external action and Europe’s role in the world. UN System Coordination Division Director, Moez Doraid, will be speaking on behalf of UN Women.

The gathering aims to identify possible solutions for ensuring women’s equal rights and access to the market and economic resources and for unlocking women’s economic potential. Discussions will highlight best practices on women’s entrepreneurship and their contribution to sustainable social, economic and environmental development through the economic perspective. As 2015 also marks the year by which in 2000, the world agreed to reach the Millennium Development Goals, the conference will reflect and put forward the proposals to promote women’s economic empowerment in the post-2015 framework and the implementation of Beijing Platform for Action.