Generation Equality Forum was held from 30 June to 2 July 2021 in Paris with the majority of delegates attending the event virtually. The Forum launched a Global Acceleration Plan to drive major policy reforms for Gender Equality, driven by six Action Coalitions and launched a Compact on Women, Peace & Security and Humanitarian Action. The aim is to accelerate gender equality globally in the next five years by 2026.
The event marks the most significant international convening for gender equality since the 1995 Women’s Conference in Beijing. The Forum was inaugurated by the co-hosts, President of France, Emmanuel Macron and Mexico’s President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres and convener of the Forum & Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Speakers at the opening event included Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, Nobel laureate Nadia Murad, President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The event also featured long-term advocate for gender equality and former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, welcomed the bold ambition of the Forum, saying that the Forum was a moment to redress a global imbalance, for a more just and gender-equal society. Executive Director of UN Women, Mlambo-Ngcuka said this is a new chapter for gender equality. The Vice President of the United States made policy and resource commitments on gender-based violence and women’s rights. President of France underscored his commitment to confronting the gender equality crisis. The Prime Minister of Canada presented the country’s commitment to invest in a care system to benefit women. The President of Kenya announced the strategy and resources to prevent gender-based violence and the President of Georgia presented her commitment to legislative changes.
The Forum sessions aligned with the Action Coalitions – the six catalytic actions required to accelerate gender equality, including economic justice, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, impact of the climate emergency, need for digital and technology inclusion and support for women leadership were the key components of the event agenda.
The action by ILO on global standards for ending violence and harassment in the world of work is a great initiative and this was discussed in the sessions. ILO Convention No. 190 is the first international treaty to recognize this right which includes gender-based violence and harassment. The Convention was adopted in June 2019 by the International Labour Conference and came into force on 25 June 2021. ILO is now embarking on a global campaign to ratify and implement C190 in all countries and it’s time that all stakeholders take this as a responsibility and as a goal. It represents an opportunity to shape a future of work based on dignity and respect for all.
Women in Global Health collaborated with WHO & Government of France and organized the session on “The Gender Equal Health & Care Workforce Initiative”. The commitments from all Governments and International Organizations received for this important initiative will be showcased at the UN General Assembly in September 2021. Dr. Sashikala Chandrasekar, Chair, Scientific Committee on Rural Health participated in the Forum as a member in the Women in Global Health’s delegation.