ISSUE 41: MARCH-MAY 2006
network of research and training centres/programmes
FRONT PAGE | ARCHIVE |
UNU hosts forum on women in decision-making
United Nations agencies in Japan organized a half-day forum to celebrate International Women’s Day March 8 at UN House, the headquarters of UN University. This year’s theme was Women in Decision-Making, a topic chosen to coincide with the agenda of the 50th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
The event began with a message from the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, read by UNU Rector Hans van Ginkel. In his statement, the Secretary-General acknowledged some of the achievements of past decades, including a record number of women representatives in parliaments around the world, while noting that progress had been slow despite the general recognition of the positive impact that women’s empowerment has on societies around the world.
This year’s forum included video messages from two recently elected women political leaders: Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia. In their messages both leaders shared the idea that women’s empowerment is indispensable for peace, development and the prosperity of the international community.
The keynote speaker was Ms. Ginko Sato, Honorary President of the Japan Association for the Advancement of Working Women, who said there was a need for further improvement of women’s working condition in Japan. Despite efforts made by the government, insufficient support given to working mothers from their corporate environment often leads women to abandon the workplace. The subsequent panel discussion, lead by Kimiko Horii, Yoshimi Nagamine and Glenda Roberts, addressed issues of women in decision-making in civil society, business and academia.
The event concluded with the screening of short-videos showing special greetings from the four female ambassadors in Japan: H.E. Liliane Marie Laure Boa, Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire, H.E Guisse Maimouna Dial (Mali), H.E. Solmaz Unaydin (Turkey) and H.E. Michele Pranchere-Tomassini (Luxembourg).
© 2006 United Nations University