GFDD and FUNGLODE Convey Importance of Education As Crucial to Women Empowerment

GFDD and FUNGLODE, in partnership with the Dominican Republic Mission to the UN, The Dominican Ministry of Women, Reso-Femmes-International and the Alliance of Civilizations, will collaborate on a discussion panel “Education and other important tools for women empowerment and the Prevention of Violence Against Women” during the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women to be held
on Wednesday 6 March, 2013, from 1:15pm to 2:30pm at the United Nations NLB, Conference Room 7.

On behalf of GFDD and FUNGLODE, we are pleased to announce that Ms. Alejandrina Germán, the Minister for Women Affairs in the Dominican Republic, will report on the Dominican Republic’s achievements and challenges in eliminating violence against girls and women through education and other important tools. As
the Dominican Republic is referred to as a model country where women have risen to participate in every aspect of society thanks to education, central to the presentation will be the theme of education in the DR as one of the tools to empower women. In addition, the Dominican Republic was host country since 1982 of the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women until it became part of the United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN). At present the Dominican Republic is host country of the Global Training Center of UNWOMEN and also of an UNWOMEN National Office.

The given panel discussion will feature presentations by accomplished and influential women who will speak about best practices in their respective countries, which include European, Latin American and West African states. Although these countries have vastly different
historical, political and cultural contexts, the shared struggle by women to gain equality and opportunity in traditionally patriarchal societies will unify the various nations represented in this panel.

The discussion of women’s empowerment comes at a particularly critical time, when populations around the world are rising and demanding more rights. The role of women in the uprisings of recent years, in particular in the Middle East, has garnered substantial
media attention and sparked enthusiasm about the potential of women to bring change, economic growth and stability to their countries. The empowerment of women would see that governments harness this potential and thereby make investments in equality and prosperity.

Education is one of the most important tools to delegate power to groups and minorities that are discriminated on the basis of their disability, race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. From best practices of
civil society organizations that work in the field of education, empowering women through training and other academic tools advances their status to intermediaries in society. Women participation in national and international governance not only changes a traditional, obsolete view on women as community leaders, but also helps government create development policies that eliminate violence and discrimination against them.

The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of
Women will bring together government officials, representatives of the United Nations and civil society, the media and the private sector from all regions of the world. They will meet at United Nations headquarters to review progress, share experiences and best practices, analyze gaps and challenges and agree on priority actions to eliminate and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls. Additionally, the high-level discussion
agenda will encompass the issue of equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care giving in the context of HIV/AIDS, and the reflection of key gender equality issues in the post-2015 development framework.

About: Education and Other Important Tools for Women Empowerment and the Prevention of Violence Against Women
United Nations NLB,
Conference Room 7
New York, NY 10017
6 March, 2013, from 1:15pm to 2:30pm

Guest Speakers include:
Ambassador Virgilio Alcantara, Welcome by the DR Mission to the UN
Natasha Despotovic, Welcome and introduction of panel on behalf of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development
Alejandrina Germán, Minister, Ministry of Women Affairs in the Dominican Republic
Nadege Chell, President, Reso-Femmes International
Anniete Cohn-Lois, Youth Representative, Soy Mujer and Clinton Global Initiative for Universities
Moderated by Dr. Hanifa
Mezoui, Special Advisor, UN Alliance of Civilizations

For more information or to get passes to attend (those without UN ground passes) contact margaret@globalfoundationdd.org 212 751-5000