During this meeting held in September, about 80 participants addressed two major issues addressed to United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250, respectively on gender mainstreaming and the importance of the role played by the younger generation in peacekeeping and international security.
The double discrimination suffered by women was discussed, i.e. by gender and by age; in addition participants discussed the importance of women having the energy, idealism, commitment and understanding of their functions in society and in activities to promote peace and security.
At the event, it was also stressed that only three women have presided over the General Assembly of the United Nations in the last 72 years: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1953), Angie E. Brooks (1969) and Rashed Al Khalifa (2006). Moreover, it was emphasized that it is not enough simply to adopt a resolution, it is also necessary to ensure women’s participation and the necessary financial support for women’s empowerment and development of activities.
Presentations were made by: the Ambassador of Bangladesh, Anwarul k. Chowdhury, former Deputy Secretary-General and high representative of the United Nations, Jayathma Wickramanayake, envoy of the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations for the youth issues, and Sophie Giscard d’Estaing, analyst on policy, peace and security for UN Women
The participants also addressed the preparation of the 62nd session of the CSW, from 12 to 23 March 2018, at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The issues to be raised are the following:
- Challenges and opportunities in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls,
- The participation of women in the media and information and communication technologies
