Executive Director at AWID discusses “feminist futures”
Date:
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka participated in the 13th International Forum of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) in Costa do Sauípe, Brazil. From 8 – 11 September, the Forum, themed “Feminist Futures: Building Collective Power for Rights and Justice”, is expected to convene more than 2,000 women's rights and development practitioners, grassroots leaders, donor agencies and activists from 120 countries to collectively strategize on women’s rights and feminist movements’ contributions to build sustainable, equitable and peaceful societies.
8 September
At the opening of the Forum, the Executive Director met the Board of AWID and reaffirmed UN Women’s support in strengthening civil society organizations and movement-building. She highlighted the need to increase women’s participation and influence in decision-making spaces, structures and positions.
UN Women also participated at a panel entitled “Democracy in our current realities: Lessons learned, challenges and the way forward”, highlighting that women must be at the heart of democracy and play an active role in political processes. The panel discussed the aspirations and promises of democracy, its challenges and potential, building upon diverse experiences.
9 September
In a plenary session titled “Reclaiming Democratic Spaces”, the Executive Director, along with Jessica Carvalho Morris from the organization Conectas Human Rights and Aya Chebbi, Tunisian youth activist and blogger, will discuss ways in which civil society and social movement actors can reclaim, defend and expand democratic spaces for organizing and solidarity building, at a national and international level.
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