High level event: Towards a Gender-Equal World

Moderated by Naledi MOLEO

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 Hannah NEUMANN, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Human Rights

• Vivian ONANO
• Reuben James BARRETE
• Riya WILLIAMS
• Cathy MKANDAWIRE
• Fatou BINTOU

10:45 – 11:00 Break

Moderated by 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
• 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 (video message)

12:30 – 13:30 Break

13:30 – 15:00 Parallel sessions

Panel 1 - Promoting Economic and Social Rights and the Empowerment of Girls and Women

• Ana PELÁEZ, 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

• Dr Matilda KAKUNGU SIPUNGWE, Director Public Health, Ministry of Health, Zambia (tbc)
• 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 Nana POKU, Executive Director (HEARD); Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu-Natal 

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, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection of Liberia
• Ana Inés ÁLVAREZ, Avon Foundation for Argentina, 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 Ambassador 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
• 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

Closing remarks

• Marjeta JAGER, Deputy Director General DEVCO