Forum on Minority Issues

Side event organised by OHCHR on Tuesday, 29 November 2011

“Guaranteeing the rights of minority women”
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Side Event
“Empowering Minority Women to Claim Their Rights: Identifying effective practices”

29 November 2011 - Room XXIII, Palais des Nations, 13:00 to 15.00
AGENDA

The side event seeks to complement the work of the 4th session of the Forum on Minority Issues by giving focused consideration to how minority women empower themselves and can be empowered by others in very practical and concrete ways, both within their communities and in the wider society.

Documents:

• Flyer
• Concept note

Welcome address - Ms. Isha L. Dyfan, Chief, Women's Human Rights and Gender Section
Rule of Law, Equality and Non -Discrimination Branch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Introduction by the Chairperson
Mr Mark Lattimer, Executive Director of   Minority Rights Group International

The side-event will focus on the following themes:

• How can minority women mobilize themselves to claim their rights at the community level?
• What is the role of the State and civil society in empowering minority women?
• What practical initiatives have worked to assist and empower minority women?
• What are the effective practices, tools and approaches aimed at empowering minority women to claim their rights?
• What are the strategies and practices that minority women can use to ensure that their own communities benefit from their own contributions?

13.20 to 14.10 - Presentations each of 7 to 10 minutes by:

Ms. Mercedes Barquet – Member of the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and in Practice (Mexico)
Ms. Atieno Junnipher Kere- Executive Director, Women In Fishing Industry Programme (Kenya)
Ms. Renu Sijapati – Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) (Nepal)  
Beata Bislim Olahova  - Roma Education Fund (Slovakia)
Leonardo Reales Martinez – Ethnic Rights Consultant for: AFROLATINOS and ECODESARROLLO (Colombia) Executive Director
Women In Fishing Industry Programme

14.10-14.50 – Interactive Discussion

14.50 - Closing remarks