Join this session and share successful experiences and stories on some of the targets related to SDG5 such as fighting violence against all women and girls, promoting women´s participation and leadership at all levels of decision making, ensuring equal rights to economic resources, and enhancing the use of enabling technology for women´s empowerment.
In order to conduct the discussion and provide to participants with detailed information about the purpose of the debate and the issues we would like to raise during the discussion, please download the Concept Paper and the programme.
From the local to the global level, women´s leadership and participation in society are restricted. Women are underrepresented at the political and economic level, as well as leading positions, whether in elected office, the civil service, the private sector or the Academia. This occurs despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance. Women face several obstacles to participating in public life. Structural barriers through discriminatory laws and institutions still limit women´s options to run for office. Capacity gaps mean women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders. As the 2011 UN General Assembly resolution on women´s political participation notes, “Women in every part of the world continue to be largely marginalized from the political sphere, often as a result of discriminatory laws, practices, attitudes and gender stereotypes, low levels of education, lack of access to health care and the disproportionate effect of poverty on women”. Individual women have overcome these obstacles with great acclaim, and often to the benefit of society at large. But for women as a whole, the playing field needs to be level, opening opportunities for all[1].
The first session of this cycle will be focused on the challenges we confront as society in fighting violence against women with the objective of promoting good practices, as well as disseminate testimonials of women.
“Creative industries are those industries that have their origin in individual creativity, skill, and talent, and have potential for job creation through the generation and exploitation of ideas or imagination. Using this broad definition, creative industries range from advertising and social media to the likes of agribusiness, design, and handicrafts. Creative industries provide a platform to support the sustained empowerment of women. In communities across the world, rich cultural value and traditional designs have been protected and nurtured by women through creative industries.”[1]
The rise of the creative industries presents significant opportunities for transforming women´s energy into new ideas, organisation and a future vision for societies. The sessions will address some of the critical policy approaches that are required to promote creative entrepreneurship among women and young women.
[2] “Building a Digital Economy: The importance of saving jobs in the EU’s creative industries”, TERA Consultants, March 2010.
[3] Commission Recommendation on the digitalization and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, C(2011) 7579 final, 27.10.2011
Dialogue Cafe is facilitating dialogue between people from all walks of life, across the world, to address social issues ranging from youth literacy to urban development.
