This year’s High- Level Political Forum theme is “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. In this context, the Government of Luxembourg, the Government of Finland, the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are organizing the high-level side event “Equalizing Opportunities for Women and Girls through Innovation”. The event draws attention to the need for innovative solutions to advance gender equality, build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030.
Agenda:
13:00 Introduction
- Moderator, Ms. Monica Ferro, Director of Geneva Office, United Nations Population Fund
13:05 Keynote Remarks
Changing the Innovation Narrative: From Disruption to Transformation and Development
- H.E. Mr. Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg
Three Goals, One Vision: Transforming Our World Through Equal Opportunities for Women and Girls
- Dr. Natalia Kanem, UN Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund
Pivotal Role of Women: New Economies Catalyzed by Innovation
- H. E. Evelyn Wever-Croes, Prime Minister of Aruba
13:25 Roundtable on Equalizing Opportunities For Women And Girls Through Innovation, Session 1. High Level Interventions: Women and Girls as Key Actors of the Innovation Ecosystem
Digital Generation: Technology and Innovation as Accelerators of Girls’ Bodily Autonomy
- H.E. Ambassador Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Permanent Representative of Lao PDR to the UN
Empowering Youth Innovators: Youth for Social Impact
- H.E. Ambassador Claver Gatete, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the UN
Investing in Impactful Innovations: Empowering Women through Equal Rights and Equal Choices
- H.E. Ambassador Marie-Louise Koch Wegter, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
13:45 Roundtable on Equalizing Opportunities For Women And Girls Through Innovation, Session 2. Innovation to Accelerate Progress for Women and Girls: Building Back Better
Moderated panel discussion with senior leaders from the private sector and young entrepreneurs.
- Mr. Claus Runge, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Market Access, Public Affairs &
- Sustainability at Bayer Pharmaceuticals
- Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, Assistant Vice President, Health Equity, Lead, Merck for Mothers
- Dr. Salima Bhimani, Chief Strategist and Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Systemic Change, the other Bets, Alphabet Inc.
- Ms. Cheryl Dorsey, President at Echoing Green
- Ms. Mayra Bravo, Co-Founder of Abitü, Columbia University/Columbia Startup Lab
14:15 The Power of Partnership - Co-creating Solutions for a Bigger Social Impact
Moderated discussion, brief minute-long contributions outlining key transformative ideas, including from the audience
14:25 Concluding remarks
- H.E. Ambassador Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations
- Dr. Natalia Kanem, UN Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund
