Representatives from government, civil society and the private sector gathered in New York at the United Nations to discuss the importance of promoting equal participation of women in international positions of authority to promote sustainable development.
Speakers included representatives from Costa Rica, the European Union, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Sweden, Panama, the United States, Uruguay, and the International Womens' Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific.
“Women remain sorely underrepresented in the justice sector at every level and in every country,” said U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Catherine Russell.
“These issues deserve to be front and center in New York and in capitals around the world – and they will need to stay front and center so there’s no backsliding on progress made,” she continued.
Patrizio Civili, IDLO Permanent Observer to the UN, noted that adequate representation of women in international judicial bodies is a central factor in ensuring the legitimacy of these bodies and in determining the quality of their contribution to engendering and sustaining progress for all.
“In this outcome-oriented perspective of the rule of law, not only the contents of the law but also the way it is administered – and indeed who it is that administers it –become crucial,” he said.
The event – hosted by GQUAL in collaboration with the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) and IDLO – was convened during the 60th Session of the Committee on the Status of Women.
At the conclusion of the event, participants were invited to join the GQUAL Campaign for Parity In International Representation by signing the Declaration.
Statements from the event are available for download below.
Event Webcast:
