International Women's Day, 8 March

International Women's Day, 8 March

To Be Observed At UN
Headquarters With Several Special Events

Note to Correspondents Note No.5652 6 March 2001 This year's observance of International Women's Day on 8 March will have as its focus the recent adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security. The United Nations has been observing International Women's Day since 1975 -- the International Women's Year. This year, the following special events will take place at Headquarters: -- Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts will be the theme of an event to be held in Conference Room 3, from 9:45 a.m. to noon. The event, which will highlight the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), is sponsored by the Inter-Agency Meeting on Women and Gender Equality. The programme includes: 9:45 a.m. Screening of film "Women, Peace, Security". 10–10:40 a.m. Segment I Opening Statement: Louise Fréchette, Deputy Secretary-General Speakers: Harri Holkeri, President of the General Assembly; Volodymyr Yel'chenko, President of the Security Council; and Angela King, Assistant Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, who will also act as moderator. 10:45 a.m. – noon Segment II Moderator: Shashi Tharoor, Interim Head, UN Department of Public Information (DPI). Guest Speaker: Elisabeth Rehn, Former Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Panellists: Felicity Hill, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; Asma Jahangir, UNIFEM/International Alert Millennium Peace Prize Recipient; and Theresa Kambobe, United Nations Volunteer Programme. Question and answer period will follow, with audience participation. (more) - 2 - Note No. 5652 6 March 2001 For further information, contact Elisabeth Ruzicka-Dempsey, DHRS/DPI, tel. (212) 963-1742. Journalists without United Nations credentials should fax name and affiliation to Sonia Lecca, Chief, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, DPI, fax (212) 963-4642. -- 50/50 in the United Nations will be the subject of a discussion jointly organized by The Group on Equal Rights for Women in the United Nations (GERWUN) and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) in Conference Room 3 from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. The featured speakers are: Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette; Jean-David Levitte, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, speaking on the "Parité Law"; Dumisana Shadrack Kumalo, Permanent Representative of South Africa, speaking on political quotas; Angela King, Assistant Secretary General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women; Shashi Tharoor, Interim Head of the Department of Public Information; and Marcia Brewster, President, GERWUN. June Zeitlin, Executive Director, WEDO, will serve as moderator. The panel will be preceded by a performance of "Equality Live" from 1-1:30 p.m. For further information, contact Marcia Brewster, tel. (212) 963-8590. -- The first Millennium Peace Prize for Women will be launched by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to honour the vital role that women play in peace-building and the indispensable contributions they have made to resolving and preventing conflicts. The prize is being launched as a joint initiative between UNIFEM and the London-based organization International Alert. This year, six prizes will be awarded to individuals and organizations from Kosovo, Pakistan, Rwanda, Colombia and Papua New Guinea. Awards will be presented at a gala benefit dinner at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room, hosted by a dozen of New York's finest chefs. The benefit dinner will be attended by more than 200 business leaders, opinion makers and celebrities, including Glenn Close, Dana Reeve (Mistress of Ceremonies) and Lee Grant. There is a champagne reception at 6:30 p.m. and the dinner starts at 7:30 p.m. (tickets required). -- A panel discussion with the prize winners will be held as a follow-up to the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325, hosted by UNIFEM and International Alert on 9 March from 1:15-2:45 p.m. in Conference Room 3. The topic of the discussion will be the impact of war on women and the role of women in peace-building. Press who would like to cover the event or interview any of the prize winners should contact Micol Zarb of UNIFEM at tel. (212) 906-5463. Should any member of the press wish to interview officials of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) during the Day’s observance, contact Abubakar Dungus, tel. (212) 297-5031. * *** *

ENDS

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