International

Seminar

FROM BEIJING ONWARDS: STEPS TOWARDS REAL EQUALITY

Bilbao, November 3-4, 2011

Organised by: CIINPI (International Centre of Innovation in Gender Equality)

INTRODUCTION
The World Conferences on Women organised since 1975 have served to guide and orient gender equality policies, and at the same time have opened up a path for analysing the situation of women in the world and for debate and proposals on what measures can be taken to eradicate the discrimination suffered by women in all aspects of life. Each Conference has given rise to documents and platforms for which the various countries draw up and implement mechanisms and actions to improve the living conditions of women all round the world, and thus to take steps towards real equality. Over these 36 years great progress has been made, but we must not lose sight of the challenges that still lie ahead. The Beijing Conference of 1995 was a landmark insofar as it led to the drawing up of a framework based on an action plan that could be adopted by different countries, and provided an international frame of reference to guide the various administrations and governments towards a set of objectives and actions in matters of gender equality. There have been no further international conferences since Beijing. Extraordinary meetings have been held within the framework of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing +5, +10 and +15), which have monitored and assessed the degree of implementation of the strategies and actions agreed by the participating countries. The Beijing Conference therefore remains the benchmark for the development and consolidation of equality policies, and the basis on which the CIINPI seeks to take its first steps in the construction of real gender equality. With this international seminar the CIINPI seeks to create a forum for reflection and debate among persons who are or have been involved in and committed to the advancement of womens rights and gender equality in and from different areas and levels of action.

We want this to be a critical, dialogue-based, transparent, participative journey from the origins of public gender equality policies towards the future, with the focus on designing, creating and innovating in the search for new ways of consolidating the progress made and lighting the way towards the achievement of real gender equality.

OBJECTIVES

To reflect on and discuss the current situation of gender equality policies. To propose and design steps towards real equality. To review the path already travelled and analyse any weak points and errors so that equality policies can be redirected. To generate synergies and forums where women and men can come together to achieve real equality. To propose innovation as a path for progress in gender equality. To generate a forum and a platform for social discussion with public policies. To promote co-operation networks with civil society, the feminist and womens associative movement an mens movements for equality to encourage progress and prevent any backsliding in todays complex reality. To combine knowledge, wills, efforts and energy in an active, democratic, participative process.

FIRST DRAFT PROGRAMME

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2011 MORNING
1st PANEL.- IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BEIJING:
HISTORY OF THE FIRST STEPS TAKEN THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN GENDER EQUALITY POLICIES AROUND THE WORLD AND THEIR IMPACT ON WOMEN

2nd PANEL.- WOMEN OF BEIJING

THE VOICES OF SOCIAL ORGANISATIONS

AFTERNOON
CURRENT STEPS
INTERNATIONAL STEPS. THE UN, WOMEN, EUROPE

STEPS FOR CHANGE. THE INDIGNANT, THE NEW GENERATION

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 MORNING

1st PANEL: STEPS FOR THE FUTURE
INNOVATING FOR PROGRESS KEYS TO COMMON STRATEGIES AROUND THE WORLD

DISCUSSION PANEL

AFTERNOON
OTHER STEPS: CREATING EQUALITY
****The speakers at the seminar are to include, among others, Marina Subirats, Alda Facio, Roxana Volio, Anabel Santos, Amelia Valcarcel, Marcela Lagarde, Wassyla Tamzali, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, Carmen Alborch, Helena Taberna, Virginia Imaz.