IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has emphasized his personal commitment to gender equality – alongside that of IPU as a whole – at an event on the theme of “The power of empowered women” (#PoEW). It was held under the auspices of the International Geneva Gender Champions initiative and involved US Ambassador Pamela Hamamoto, UK Minister of State Baroness Anelay and other high-level delegations from countries including Australia, Afghanistan, Iceland and Sierra Leone.
The event, at Geneva’s Palais des Nations on 16 June, was addressed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein of Jordan. It brought together men, women, youth, businesses and international organizations, calling on them to recognize they were all agents of change and asking what each of them would do to make equality a reality at home, at work and in wider daily life. The spotlight was on areas including gender-equal roles in parenting and the promotion of women into decision-making positions.
IPU is strongly committed to gender equality and Mr Chungong has already signed up to be a Geneva Gender Champion. At the mid-year review of the Gender Champions initiative in May, Mr Chungong outlined strategic steps necessary for progress in parliaments and politics, including the setting of targets and monitoring.
