Gender | Commonwealth

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Commonwealth project to boost the number of Tanzanian women leaders

Tanzanian citizens will be the first to benefit from a Commonwealth-wide initiative to put more women at the helm of public and private sector organisations.

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11th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting

5 September 2016 to 8 September 2016

Event

The 11th WAMM will be hosted by the Government of Samoa on the theme of ‘Gender equality through sustainable development in an inclusive commonwealth’.

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Business groups agree plan to support Commonwealth businesswomen

Ahead of the Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting in Samoa next September, two prominent business groups have joined forces to help financial institutions support the economic empowerment of women.

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Commonwealth Secretary-General says ‘No More’ to domestic violence

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland made a heartfelt appeal today in support of a new campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence in the United Kingdom.

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New Commonwealth judicial book targets violence against women in Asia

Judges and human rights experts from Commonwealth countries in Asia will meet in Bangkok to develop a judicial resource book to help them handle cases involving violence against women and girls.

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International Women’s Day: ‘We must put right all the ills against women’

“Any gender disadvantage in education is not only morally deficient but is also economically inefficient.” stated Guy Hewitt, the Barbados High Commissioner to the UK.

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International Women’s Day 2016

Statement to mark International Women’s Day 2016 throughout the Commonwealth

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International Women’s Day 2016: Ending global inequality in education

To mark International Women’s Day, the Commonwealth Secretariat will hold a panel discussion in London on 8 March under the theme, 'Sustained education of women and girls for their economic and political empowerment'.

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International Women's Day - Panel discussion at Marlborough House

8 March 2016 to 8 March 2016

Event

To commemorate IWD the Commonwealth Secretariat will be holding a panel discussion on: 'Sustained education of women and girls for their economic and political empowerment'.

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It is time for quotas and targets on women leaders

CHOGM Women’s Forum: Clear message sent to leaders to take urgent action getting more women into decision-making roles.

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Jamaican named Commonwealth Women Entrepreneur of the Year

Businesswoman Valrie Grant was awarded Commonwealth Women Entrepreneur of the Year at the first ever Commonwealth Women’s Forum.

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Survivors lead charge to end child marriage in the Commonwealth

Commonwealth Champions Against Child Marriage seeks to empower survivors to raise awareness and galvanise action to end child marriage.

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Women’s Forum urged to ‘be bold and hold leaders accountable’

Commonwealth’s first ever Women’s Forum participants were urged to increase pressure on leaders to take action on gender discrimination.

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Malta Prime Minister opens first Women’s Forum

Delegates were welcomed to the first Commonwealth Women’s Forum ahead of the Commonwealth summit.

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Amplifying the voices of women

First ever Commonwealth Women’s Forum to address lack of women leaders. The Forum will take place ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta (CHOGM).

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International Day of Rural Women: statement by Secretary-General

International Day of Rural Women on 15 October is a time to celebrate and applaud the role of women in rural development, food production and poverty eradication.

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International Day of the Girl Child: statement by Secretary-General

October 11 2015 is International Day of the Girl Child. The theme this year is: 'The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030'.

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Statement: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2015 focuses on the Right to Rehabilitation, a right guaranteed by Article 14 of the Convention against Torture.

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Secretary-General's visit to St Kitts and Nevis

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, met the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Hon Dr Timothy Harris, on his ongoing visit to the country.

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Breaking the glass ceiling in public and private sector leadership

The Commonwealth is developing decisive action plans, based on new and globally leading research, to tackle institutionalised exclusion of women in public bodies and private companies.

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Women in Leadership

10 June 2015 to 11 June 2015

Event

The event will focus on findings from recent research conducted by the Gender Section on the position of women in leadership across the Commonwealth.

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Women’s political leadership in Africa – time to look beyond numbers

The Commonwealth Secretariat and African Union (AU) held a high-level dialogue in New York last week to address women’s political leadership in delivering democracy and development in Africa.

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Women’s Forum to “unearth” solutions to gender issues

The Commonwealth Women’s Forum is needed to “unearth responses to the challenges that women and girls are facing”

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The Impact of Women's Political Leadership on Democracy and Development

Women’s minimal leadership role in national and local political spheres remains a serious concern worldwide. The Commonwealth Gender Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005–2015 calls on governments to introduce measures to promote at least 30 per cent representation of women in parliament, government and business.

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Gender Responsive Investment Handbook

Women account for between 25-40 per cent of SMEs worldwide and their earning power is estimated to reach US$18 trillion by 2014 – more than double the estimated 2014 GDP of China and India combined.

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