19 January 2015: The Office of the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Sam Kutesa, has released a concept note for the high-level thematic debate on ‘Advancing Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls for a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda,’ taking place in March. Among the aims of the event, the concept note highlights sharing good practices and experiences on increasing access to quality education as a tool for empowering women and girls.

The first panel discussion will address ‘Women’s economic and political empowerment, including access to decent work, and control over economic and productive resources and active participation in governance and decision-making.’ It will consider questions related to: successful and transformative strategies and policies that advanced women’s rights and economic and political empowerment; ways to change social norms, beliefs and practices on gender roles that contribute to under-representation of women in decision-making at all levels; and empowerment of women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

The second panel discussion will address ‘Access to quality education and skills development as tools for empowerment of women and girls.’ It will consider questions related to: policies and programmes supporting women’s access to decent work; education and training systems that facilitate lifelong learning opportunities for girls and women and measures to increase entrepreneurship; success stories in achieving gender parity in education and further actions necessary to close the remaining gender gap as well as related non-education actions that have increased girls’ access to education; and initiatives to combat gender stereotypes in education and training, initiatives to increase representation of girls in male-dominated fields and boys in female-dominated fields, and recommendations to remove gender stereotypes in curricula, textbooks and teacher training.

This event, convening on 6 March 2015, will feature an opening session, two interactive panel discussions and a closing session. The opening session will include a commemoration of International Women’s Day to celebrate achievements, identify gaps and challenges and reaffirm political will to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and gender equality worldwide.

The event will result in a President’s summary. [UNGA President’s Website on Post-2015 Development Agenda and Related Events] [Letter and Concept Note] [IISD RS Story on Announcement of High-level Events] [Provisional Programme Released 27 February]