International Round Table Round Table organized by the Division for Gender Equality, Bureau of Strategic Planning, UNESCO. The publication of this year’s International Round Table entitled “Gender Equality as a Global Priority: Next Steps Forward” is now available in PDF format. Click here to access the publication.

 
9 March 2009, Room II, 3 p.m. - 5.30 p.m.

This year’s International Women’s Day 2009 focused on the landmark decision of the Member States and the Director-General to designate gender equality as one of two global priorities of the Organization for the period 2008-2013. Mr. Matsuura, entering his final year as Director-General of UNESCO, has been a strong advocate for the promotion of gender equality in UNESCO’s programmes and activities throughout his term, ensuring it is acknowledged and promoted as a key component in the programming, as well as in the Secretariat.

This year’s high-level Round Table focused on the theme:

“Gender Equality as a Global Priority: Next Steps Forward”.

The Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, opened the International Round Table that brought together women Ambassadors to UNESCO representing each region of the world, in order to examine the role UNESCO can play to accomplish this goal, and identify the future challenges.

The guest speaker for the keynote address was the First Lady of Panama, Ms Vivian Fernández de Torrijos. A special message for the occasion from the Secretary of State of the United States, Ms Hillary Clinton, was read by Mr. Steve Engelken, Chargé d'affaires of the United States of America to UNESCO.

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Photo: © UN
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The Round Table Programme

- The Master of Ceremony, Mr. Hans d’Orville, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Strategic Planning introduced the event.

- Opening speech by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura.

- First Lady of Panama, Ms Vivian Fernández de Torrijos, delivered the keynote address.

- Mr Steve Engelken, Chargé d'affaires, USA Delegation to UNESCO delivered a special message to UNESCO from the Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton.

- The Moderator, Ms Sanye Gülser Corat, Director of the Division for Gender Equality of UNESCO launched the discussion

Panelists invited to take the floor:

• H.E. Ms Natasha Cayer - Chargé d'affaires a.i. of Canada
• H.E. Ms Irina Bokova - Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Bulgaria
• H.E. Ms Maria Pilar Armanet - Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Chile
• H.E. Ms Shi Shuyun - Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the People’s Republic of China
• H.E. Ms Tadelech Haile Mikael – Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Ethiopia
• H.E. Ms Sylvie Fadlallah - Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Lebanon
• H.E. Ms Indira Thacoor Sidaya Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Mauritius, President of the Group of Women Ambassadors to UNESCO for Gender Equality

- Questions and Answers

- Closing remarks