Participate in the year's largest global gathering of women leaders!
Women leaders around the world will gather for the 4th International Women’s Summit on Women Creating a Safe World to be held in Zurich, Switzerland on July 12-13, 2011. Convened by the World YWCA, the Summit will provide a platform to define key recommendations for the agenda on women’s rights, empowerment and security. With many global commitments including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Beijing Platform for Action and International Conference on Population and Development agenda nearing their end date, it is time for women of the world to define a new path forward that will deliver positive change in the lives of women and girls.
Up to 1,000 leaders from civil society, UN agencies, philanthropy, women’s groups, faith-based communities and youth organisations are expected to attend the Summit, as well as young women activists, HIV positive women and women working through YWCAs in over 100 countries worldwide. As one of the largest global gatherings of women, the International Women’s Summit aims to:
- Share experiences and good practices on how women’s leadership is creating a safe world;
- Create a platform for defining key recommendations for the post-MDG development agenda on women’s rights, empowerment and security;
- Strengthen strategic partnerships and responses to violence against women, sexual and reproductive health, HIV and peace with justice;
- Define a global model of ‘safe spaces for women and girls’; and
- Honour and nurture the leadership of young women
Through plenary and breakout sessions, the International Women’s Summit will examine inter-linkages between sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and violence against women and how women’s leadership is making an impact on these issues. It also seeks to claim safe spaces for women and girls and identify key principles that must underpin the notion of safe space at the individual, community and country level. The Summit aims to set a strong agenda for the future, mobilising resources and political will, sharing skills and best practices, and strengthening the capacity and networks of women globally to respond effectively.
An exciting line up of speakers is currently being finalised and the latest details are available from the conference website: www.worldywcacouncil.org. Speakers already confirmed include:
- Susan Brennan, President, World YWCA
- Roberta Clarke, Regional Director of UN Women, Caribbean
- Gill Greer, Executive Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation
- Visaka Dharmadasa, Chair, Association of War Affected Women
- Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, General Secretary, World YWCA
- Musimbi Kanyoro Director , Population and Reproductive Health Programme, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
- Mary Robinson, Chair, Mary Robinson Foundation on Climate Justice
- Everjoice Win, International Head of Women’s Rights, Action Aid International
The Summit will highlight the tremendous leadership that is exemplified in many communities by women of all ages to make the world a safer place and will include the launch of the Mary Robinson Awards for Young Women’s Leadership in Human Rights. These Awards will recognise young women activists within the YWCA and from the broader community of partners working on human rights, as well as a YWCA that is providing exemplary support for young women’s leadership in the field of human rights. The Awards have been named in honour of Mary Robinson, a renowned human rights activist and a trail blazer for women’s rights and leadership as the first woman President of Ireland, a former United Nations High Commission for Human Rights and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders. Mary Robinson will be personally present the Awards in Zurich.
The International Women’s Summit will be a momentum gathering of women leaders from over 100 countries and a chance to contribute to women and girls gaining freedom, dignity and safety. Join us in Zurich for Women Creating a Safe World.
Register now online www.worldywcacouncil.org
