Welcome to the United Nations
The sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW60) will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 24 March 2016. This year, the priority theme of the commission is women’s empowerment and its link to sustainable development and the review theme is the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from all regions of the world will attend the session.
During CSW60, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), in collaboration with UN Women and United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), will organize a side-event on women and girls with disabilities, entitled: "Operationalizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Women and Girls with Disabilities". The 2030 Agenda promises to close the gender gap, strengthen support for institutions in relation to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It recognizes that the empowerment of all women and girls is crucial for the achievement of all goals and targets in the new global development framework. Women and girls with disabilities would also have a critical role to play in all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to effectively leave no one behind.
A multi-stakeholder discussion will take place to explore priority issues and specific goals for the realization of the SDGs for women and girls with disabilities, as well as discuss how existing mechanisms can be used to strengthen links between gender, disability and sustainable development. The discussion will also provide an opportunity to stakeholders to share information on activities and actions to advance the rights and well-being of women and girls with disabilities in society and development.
The main objectives of the side event are to:
- Identify gaps and barriers;
- Discuss concrete priorities and goals;
- Share information on effective strategies;
- Identify opportunities for multi-stakeholder partnerships.
The event will consist of a key note address from Minister Baroness Verma, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the UK Department for International Development (DFID), followed by a multi-stakeholder dialogue.
Programme
Welcoming remarks
Ms. Daniela Bas, Director of Division for Social Policy and Development, UN DESA
Opening statement
Minister Baroness Verma, DFID
Speakers
| Mrs. Esther Lungu | First Lady of the Republic of Zambia |
| Ms. Alexia Manombe-Ncube | Deputy Minister for Disability, Namibia |
| Ms. Veronica Magar | Director of the Gender, Equity, and Human Rights Unit, World Health Organisation |
| Ms. Gillian Bird | Ambassador of the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations |
| Ms. Kathy Greenlee | Assistant Secretary for Ageing and Administrator for Community Living, United States |
| Ms. Stephanie Ortoleva | President, Women Enabled International |
| Ms. Vanessa dos Santos | International Disability Alliance |
| Ms. Rangita de Silva de Alwis | Associate Dean of International Affairs
University of Pennsylvania Law School |
| Ms. Nancy Khweiss | Fund for Gender Equality, UN Women |
| Ms. Dena Gassner | Board member of Arc, United States |
| Ms. Ernestine Ngo Melha | Chair & Founder, Association d'Aide à l'Education de l'Enfant Handicapé (AAEEH) |
| Ms. Boram Lee | Women’s Refugee Commission |
| Mr. Takashi Tokushige | Berkley University |
Contact
Please send your interest to contribute to this event via email to Ms. Miranda Fajerman: fajerman@un.org