High-level event organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the EEAS, the German Presidency of the EU and the European Parliament
25 November 2020
9:00 – 11:00: Session 1 - The EU new Gender action plan – An ambitious agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action 2021 – 2025
Moderated by Beatrice Marshall, CGTN Africa (tbc)
9:00 Opening
Video on EU action on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
Josep BORRELL, High Representative/Vice-President of the European Commission
Keynotes
Gerd MÜLLER, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (video message)
Jutta URPILAINEN, Commissioner for International Partnerships
Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Development
10:00 Moderated talk
Youth as drivers of change – Moderated talk with young leaders and Mr Koen DOENS, Director General DEVCO (tbc)
- Vivian ONANO
- Reuben James BARRETE
- Riya WILLIAMS
- Cathy MKANDAWIRE
- Fatou BINTOU
10:45 – 11:00 Break
Session 2: 11:00 – 12:30 - Presentations and Discussion on the EU contribution to the Generation Equality Forum and the Action Coalitions
Moderated by: Ms Dagmar Schumacher, Director, UN Women Brussels Office
11:00 Opening – Overview on Generation Equality Forum and Action Coalitions
Delphine O, Ambassador-at-large and Secretary General for the Generation Equality Forum (Beijing+25), France
Mauricio ESCANERO, Ambassador, Mission of Mexico to the European Union
Xenia KELLNER, Young Feminist Europe, GEF Civil Society Advisory Group
Sarah HENDRICKS, Director Programme, Policy and Intergovernmental Division, UN Women(video message)
11.20 – 12.20 Moderated talks
Interviews with
Ann BERNES, Ambassador for Gender Equality, Sweden (tbc)
Claire FOURCANS, Director Programme, European Women’s Lobby
Irena MOOZOVA, Director JUST.D Equality Union Citizenship, European Commission
12.20 Call for action
Maria FLACHSBARTH, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
12:30 – 13:30 Break
Session 3: 13:30 – 18:00 - Panel discussions on key thematic areas for gender equality
13:30 – 15:00 Parallel sessions
Panel 1 - Promoting Economic and Social Rights and the Empowerment of Girls and Women
- Ana PELAEZ, Vice-President of the European Disability Forum
- Antti Pekka KARHUNEN, Principal Adviser for Trade and Development, European Commission, Directorate for International Development and Cooperation
- Christelle KWIZERA, Social entrepreneur, Water Access Rwanda
- Caren GROWN, Global Director Gender, The World Bank
- Lieve VERBOVEN, Director of the ILO Office to the EU and the Benelux countries, International Labour Organisation
- Sofía SPRECHMANN SINEIRO, Secretary General Care International, AC EJR co-leader
Moderated by: Hafsat ABIOLA, Founder – Women in Africa
Panel 2 - Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
- Gertrud Nørbjerg Kümmel BIRK, Global Equal Rights Coordinator and leads Team Leader “Equal Opportunities”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark (Generation Equality Action Coalition co-leader)
- Lorence KABASELE BIRUNGI, President of AfriYAN Eastern and Southern Africa (African Youth and Adolescent Network), President of UNFPA DRC Youth Advisory Panel, Executive Director of Young Peoples Network on End Child Marriage and Teenage pregnancy in DRC
- Yordanos T. WOLDE, Programme coordinator, Talent Youth Association
Moderated by: Professor Jane FREEDMAN, Professor of Politics at the Paris 8 University
Panel 3 - Promoting a Fair and Inclusive green transition
- Hindou OUMAROU IBRAHIM, Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad (AFPAT)
- Lesha WITMER, Women for Water Partnership
- Rose MWEBAZA, Director of the Climate Technology Centre & Network, UNIDO
- Sarah TOUMI, Expert in Social Innovation and Agroecology
Moderated by: Stefano SIGNORE, Head of Unit DEVCO.C.6 Sustainable Energy, Climate Change, European Commission, Directorate for International Development and Cooperation
15:00 – 15:15 Break
15:15 – 16:45 Parallel sessions
Panel 4 - Ensuring Freedom from Gender-Based Violence
- Henriette GEIGER, Director DEVCO B People and Peace, European Commission, Directorate for International Development and Cooperation
- Nahla VALJI, Senior Gender Advisor to the UN Secretary-General, Spotlight Secretariat representative
- Williametta SAYDEE-TARR, Liberia Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection
- Ana Inés ÁLVAREZ, Avon Foundation, Executive Director
- Nicolette TAYLOR, Ford Foundation, Regional Director
Moderated by: Krishanti DHARMARAJ, Executive Director, Center for Women's Global Leadership
Panel 5 - Women, Peace and Security
- Aine HEARNS, Ambassador, Director of the Conflict Resolution Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
- Dr Laura DAVIS, Senior Associate, Gender Peace and Security, European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO)
- Ernest URTASUN, MEP and Vice President EFA and member of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality , European Parliament
- General Claudio GRAZIANO, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee
- Olof SKOOG, Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation to the United Nations
- Vanessa PRINZ, Women, Peace and Security Focal Point, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Germany
Moderated by: Mara MARINAKI, EEAS Principal Advisor on Gender and UNSCR 1325
Panel 6 - Promoting Women Empowerment through Digitalisation
- Carla MONTESI, Director “Planet ad Prosperity”, European Commission, Directorate for International Development and Cooperation
- Barbara RAMBOUSEK, Director for Gender and Economic Inclusion, European bank for Reconstruction and Development
- Nandini CHAMI, Deputy Director, IT for Change, A+ Alliance
- Katri VIINIKKA,Ambassador for Gender Equality (Finland)
- Henriette KOLB, Head Gender and Economic Inclusion Group, International Finance Corporation
- Victoria MALOKA, Acting Director of the Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) of the African Union Commission
- Ibilola AMAO, Executive Consultant at Lonadek Global Services
- Marie Goretti Nduwayo, UN women Regional Senior Adviser to African Union and ECA
Moderated by: Sasha RUBEL, programme specialist in the Digital Innovation and Transformation Section of the Communication and Information Sector at UNESCO
16:45 – 17:00 Break
17:00 Presentations
Outcomes of the panel discussion
Keynote
Åsa REGNER, Deputy Executive Director UN Women (tbc)
Closing remarks
Marjeta JAGER, Deputy Director General DEVCO
