Egypt, Tunisia: Centenary Celebrations of International Women's Day - 'Alert 2011 - Women for Transformation'
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
The Hague, 4th March 2011
Centenary Celebrations of International Women's Day
Solidarity with the women in Egypt, Tunisia and the Wider Region
‘Alert 2011 – Women for Transformation’
Campaign Launch: Women and Governance
Since the beginning of 2011, the world has witnessed Arab women’s defiant participation in the pro-democracy movements from Tunisia to Egypt and from Yemen to Libya. Despite women’s great contribution to recent political changes, there are serious concerns that women are being excluded from the processes of constitutional reforms and the formation of new governance structures.
Alert 2011 is a response to this fear.
Alert 2011 is a commitment that galvanizes support from the international community as well as regional and local stakeholders for a just inclusion of women in new structures of governance throughout the region. As a follow up to its various initiatives regarding the recent uprising in the Arab World and in line with the ‘Women for Transformation’ hearing at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Gender Concerns Internationall will launch its “Alert 2011 – Women for Transformation” campaign to highlight the need for women’s participation to permeate current and future governance structures.
The campaign launch will be followed by an Expert’s Interaction between women’s representatives from Egypt and Tunisia and a range of experts, invited by Gender Concerns International. The meeting will discuss mechanisms to ensure women’s participation in governance structures.
Alert 2011 – Women for Transformation
Tuesday 8th March
Session-1: 09:30 – 11:30
Meeting Room, 4th Floor, Gender Concerns International, Laan van Meerdervoort 70, The Hague
In close cooperation with the Embassy of Australia in The Netherlands
Opening speaker: H.E. Ambassador Lydia Morton – Australian Ambassador to The Netherlands
Dr. Amal Abdel Hadi – Coalition of Women’s NGOs, Egypt (via video link)
Dr. Soukeina Bouraoui - Executive Director, Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (via video link) (tbc)
Dr. Franzizka Brantner – Member of the European Parliament, Brussels / Strasbourg
Participants: Representatives of: Diplomatic Corps, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NGOs and Gender Experts
9:30 - Arrival (Coffee & Tea)
10:00 - Welcome remarks by Sabra Bano, Director, Gender Concerns International
10:05 - Opening Speech by H.E. Ambassador Lydia Morton, The Embassy of Australia
10:15 - Concerns from the ground: Video Link with women representatives from the region
10:45 - Discussion
11:15 - Concluding remarks
Session-2:
12:00 – 13:30 Public Discussion
Please confirm your attendance by email to sbano@genderconcerns.org
You are welcome to attend. Registration is required.
Phone: 00 31 (070) 4445082 Mobile: 0653965784
Laan van Meerdervoort 70 2517 AN, The Hague
Email: philipp@genderconcerns.org Site: http://www.genderconcerns.org
Philipp Schulz
Gender Concerns International
For further information please contact:
Programme:
Keynote speakers: