H.E. Mary Robinson

This side-event co-hosted by the Government of Canada, UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage, and Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage, will provide an opportunity for an intergenerational discussion on the urgent need to accelerate action to end child, early and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU).

As the polycrisis of conflict, climate change, food insecurity and COVID-19 continue to have devastating impacts for women and girls, we must work together to ensure that progress made to reduce the prevalence of CEFMU is not reversed. It will bring together young global leaders, influencers, and key stakeholders driving action to end CEFMU around the world. The event will encourage open dialogue on challenges and effective tools for preventing CEFMU, including through comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) – an empowering tool for changing harmful gender norms and practices that perpetuate child marriage and gender inequalities. Organized by Government of Canada

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Climate justice and gender justice are inseparable. The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect girls and women globally, and it is time to shift power so that girls, women, and young people can take lead in meaningful climate action – crucial for advancing gender equality and enhancing resilience in the face of the climate crisis. This plenary will serve as a platform for collaboration and engagement among youth climate activists, grassroots leaders working at the intersection of gender and climate, and political leaders. Together, they will strive to bridge divides and tackle the pressing imperative of empowering girls, women, and youth to take a central role in steering climate justice efforts.

Opening: Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Eco-Feminist

Moderator: Shahira Amin, Award winning Journalist and Former Deputy Head of Egypt’s Channel Nile TV

Panel:

• Viva Tatawaqa, DIVA for Equality
• Mwanahamisi Singano, Senior Global Policy Lead WEDO
• Zainab Yunusa, Feminist Activist, UNFCCC Women and Gender Constituency (WGC)
• Sivananthi Thanenthiran, Executive Director of the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) SRHR and climate nexus board member

FireStarter Talk: Licypriya Kangujam, Activist & Founder, The Child Movement

Intergenerational FireSide Chats:

• H.E. Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland
• Vanessa Nakate, Global Youth Climate Advocate
• Hindou Omarou Ibrahim, Indigenous Climate Activist
• Hafsat Abiola, Human Rights Activist

Closing: Honorable J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, Vice President of the Republic of Palau & Minister of Justice

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Join us for this thought-provoking conversation with five extraordinary women leaders who have made remarkable contributions to gender equality and women’s empowerment globally. H.E. Joyce Banda, H.E. Helen Clark, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, H.E. Mary Robinson, and H.E. Graça Machel will share their extraordinary journeys, highlighting pivotal moments, challenges and triumphs, through their impactful work. Together, they will reflect on the progress made in achieving gender equality to date, address persistent barriers, and explore innovative approaches for accelerating change. In this session participants will gain valuable insights on fostering inclusive societies, amplifying women’s voices and creating long-lasting pathways for future women leaders. This is a unique opportunity to hear from influential global leaders shaping a more equitable and inclusive world.

Opening Keynote: H.E. Graça Machel, Former First Lady of South Africa

Moderator: Yvonne Ndege, Former Al-Jazeera and BBC Correspondent, Current Regional Spokesperson for the IOM

Conversation:

• H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia
• H.E. Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
• H.E. Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland
• H.E. Phumzile Mlambo Nckgucka

Closing: Shamira Mshangama, Founder and Executive Director of Mwanamke na Uongozi

This session will address the huge gap in optimizing the potential of the rule of law and justice approaches in collective action to advance climate justice for women and girls. It will explore good practices and promising approaches on how legal and justice interventions have been utilized to achieve gender-transformative climate action and strengthen accountability for the promotion of women and girls’ human rights. The panelists will share their expertise and experiences on using legal and justice approaches to promote women’s environmental rights, build their resilience to climate impacts and strengthen women’s leadership in climate decision-making processes.

Session format: Thought Leadership

Organized by International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in partnership with Rights and Resources Initiative, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice