CSW65 online side events

The sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place from 15 to 26 March 2021. In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation, and taking into account the latest guidance from the United Nations Secretary-General and the World Health Organization (WHO), CSW65 will take place in a hybrid format with mostly virtual meetings.

Switzerland is organizing two online side events together with the Equal Pay International Coalition as well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 

1. Violence against women in the public and private spheres: measure it to end it

Monday 15 March, 16h30-17h45 (CET) / The event will discuss the importance of data, statistics and indicators to end violence against women and monitor progress towards the achievement of Goal 5 of the SDGs and its target 5.2 which aims at ending all forms of violence against women. The panel will also examine existing challenges in this regard, especially in times of crisis, as well as good practices at national, European and global level. This event will be held in English and French.

For this event, please register before 12 March, 18.00 (CET).

Also, please note that the event will be broadcast live on the Facebook Page of the Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence.

Monday 15 March 2021 Time: 16.30-17.45 (CET)

10 minutes	Opening remarks: Zita Gurmai, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, General Rapporteur on Violence against women and Coordinator of the Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence
35 minutes	Panel with Ministers and High Level Representatives: Hanen Benzarti, Expert in sexual and reproductive health and violence against women, Ministry of Women, Family and the Elderly, Tunisia Hilde Barstads, State Secretary for the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Norway Clara Cabrera Brasero, Ambassador- at-large for Gender Equality in Foreign Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Sylvie Durrer, Director, Federal Office for Gender Equality, Switzerland Delphine O, Ambassador-at-large and Secretary General for the Generation Equality Forum, France  Åsa Regnér, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women Cristina Fabre, GBV team leader, European Institute for Gender Equality Moderator: Petra Bayr, President, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Equality and Non-discrimination
20 minutes	Q&A
5 minutes	Closing remarks: Eglantina Gjermeni, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Gender Equality

2. "Thank you" doesn't pay the bills:  join epic and close the gender pay gap

Wednesday 17 March, 14h-15h15 (CET) / The event will be an opportunity to amplify interest in innovative and practical solutions and in promising global initiatives to reduce the gender pay gap, also in times of crisis. Special guests will engage in an interactive discussion to advance equal pay for work of equal value globally and take tailored action at country level. This event will be held in English only.

For this event, please register before 16 March, 18.00 (CET). Any registration after this deadline will not be taken into account.

Wednesday 17 March, 2021 14.00-15.15 (CET). Panel with Ministers and High Level Representatives

65 minutes

Opening remarks: Mousa Maaytah, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Women’s Empowerment, Jordan Åsa Regnér, Deputy Executive Director - Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships, UN Women    Panel with Ministers and High Level Representatives (50 minutes): Tamila Barkalaia, Deputy Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs, Georgia  Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD  Muriel Pénicaud, Former Minister of Labor and Ambassador to the OECD, France  Svitlana Panaiotidi, Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, Ukraine (pre-recorded) Shakeda Williams, Industrial Relations Officer, Barbados Workers’ Union  Miriam Pinto Lomeña, International Affairs Officer, Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organizations  Guy Ryder, Director-General, ILO  Moderator: Rakesh Patry, Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development, Canada, and EPIC Steering Committee member

10 minutes

Closing remarks Rakesh Patry, Director General, International and Intergovernmental Labour Affairs, Department of Employment and Social Development, Canada, and EPIC Steering Committee member Sylvie Durrer, Director, Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality and EPIC Steering Committee Chair