Vienna Discussion Forum 2019

In recent years we have seen a rise in movements all around the world with women standing up for their rights and demanding equality. Despite progress made in women’s participation in politics, the economy, and society at large, we still face significant challenges in reaching gender equality.

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November), the Vienna Discussion Forum will discuss ways to end violence against women through crime prevention, criminal justice responses and women’s economic empowerment through two main topics. The first one deals with violence against women including gender-related killing and particularly focuses on the crime prevention and criminal justice responses to such violence (SDG 5 and 16). The second topic is built around women’s economic empowerment within industrial sectors and the resilience that increased economic opportunity could foster against violence and abuse (SDG 5, 8 and 9).

Programme

10.00 Opening remarks

Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, UNODC

Mr. LI Yong, Director General, UNIDO

Mr. Thomas Blomqvist, Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality, Finland

10.30 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Ms. Lourdes Victoria-Kruse, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the International Organizations in Vienna

11.00 Coffee break

11.30 Panel session I

Crime prevention and criminal justice responses to violence against women, including gender-related killings

Ms. Miwa Kato, moderator, Director, Division for Operations, UNODC

Ms. Angela Me, Chief of Research and Trend Analysis Branch, UNODC

Ms. Hanne Finanger, Assistant Chief of Police, Head of Preventive Unit, East Police District, Norway

Ms. Alicia Buenrostro Massieu, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the International Organizations in Vienna

Ms. Inka Lilja, Senior Programme Officer, European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations (HEUNI)

Mr. Miki Jacevic, Vice Chair, Inclusive Security

Mr. Alán Ali, President, MÄN – Promoting gender equality. Against Violence. Redefining masculinity. – Sweden

Dr. Dubravka Simonovic, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences

13.00 Lunch break

14.15 Panel session II

Women’s economic empowerment and the resilience that increased economic opportunity can foster against violence and abuse

Ms. Monica Carco, moderator, Chief of the Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security Division, Department of Agri-Business, UNIDO

Ms. Laura Capobianco, Global Advisor on Safe Public Spaces, Ending Violence against Women and Girls Section, UN Women

Ms. Beatrice Gakuba, Executive Director, AWAN-Africa network

Mr. Sami Nevala, Policy Coordinator – Statistics, Research & Data Unit, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Ms. Haya Sheikh Yasin, Owner, Quick Packaging Company, member of Palestine Business Women Association

15.45 – 16.15 Closing remarks