On 6 February 2025, UNU and Guardian Girls International (GGI), in partnership with the Koyamada International Foundation Japan (KIF Japan), will co-host “Women in Peace: Strengthening Economies to Address Violence Against Women”, a panel discussion on women’s empowerment. This event — a Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development Partner Project — will start at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Nearly one in three women and girls worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. In 2023, for more than 51,000 women, this violence escalated to femicide (homicide targeted at women) with over half committed by intimate partners or family members.
Women’s empowerment forms a cornerstone of the United Nations development agenda, notably through SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations and the European Union launched the Spotlight Initiative, focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls through the deployment of targeted, large-scale investments in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific.
Nia Lyte, President of GGI, will be joined by the Ambassador of Mexico to Japan Melba Pría, the Chargé d'affaires ad interim of South Africa to Japan Annelize Schroeder, and UNU Senior Vice-Rector Sawako Shirahase, for a discussion on initiatives and strategies for eliminating gender-based violence. What progress has been made in recent years? What new policies and strategies are being implemented at the international (UN) and national levels? How does economic development play a role in reducing gender-based violence?
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 5 February at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page.
Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
Participants
Opening Remarks
- Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Shin Koyamada, Chairman of KIF Japan and Chairman of Guardian Girls International
Moderator
- Nia Lyte, President of Guardian Girls International
Panelists
- Melba Pría, Ambassador of Mexico to Japan
- Annelize Schroeder, Chargé d'affaires ad interim of South Africa to Japan
- Sawako Shirahase, Senior-Vice Rector of the United Nations University and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations
UNU@50
This event is part of the UNU 50th anniversary celebration. To learn more, visit: https://unu.edu/unuat50