Women's Issues
G7 Hiroshima Summit Follow-up event: Symposium on GEAC Report 2023
Towards Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
Concept
In May 2023 prior to G7 Hiroshima Summit, the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) (note) under Japanese Presidency presented its summary recommendations, which highlight four fundamental pillars for the realization of gender equality and promotion of women’s empowerment: “Economic Empowerment”, ”Education”, ”Peace building”, and ”Data”. Based on the summary recommendations, the GEAC has recently prepared a final report and plans to submit it to Prime Minister Kishida. Taking this opportunity, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Japan organizes a public event “Towards Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment” to commemorate completion of the report.
In the event, eminent members of the GEAC will make presentations on the final report and participate in a panel discussion based on the report, bringing their academic and professional knowledge and expertise. Through the panel discussion by the GEAC members and Q&A session, the event aims to provide an opportunity for the audiences to deepen understanding on the recommendations and galvanize domestic discussion on realization of gender equality and promotion of women’s empowerment. This follow-up event will be an opportunity of external communication as a follow up to gender related issues that have been discussed in the course of events from WAW! 2022 to G7 Hiroshima Summit.
(note) GEAC: the Gender Equality Advisory Council
The GEAC is an external advisory body that makes recommendations on gender equality for G7 leaders. Launched in 2018 by Canada, the then G7 Presidency, and convened by the respective G7 Presidency since then (except under the U.S. Presidency in 2020), the GEAC has submitted useful recommendations to the leaders of the G7 to achieve gender equality and promote the empowerment of women. The GEAC consists of 14 members, two of whom are from Japan: Dr. Sawako Shirahase of the University of Tokyo (Chair) and Dr. Reiko Kuroda of the University of Tokyo.
Date and Location
- Date:
- December 13 (Wed), 2023 10:00-12:00
- Location:
- Elizabeth Rose Conference Hall, United Nations University (map
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Summary of the Event
Application Form (Closed)
General Audience Registration is now closed.
Program
| 9:30-10:00 | Registration |
| Opening remarks: UENO Michiko, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for Women's Empowerment, Consumer Policy and Elderly Policy Video Message from Yoko Kamikawa, Minister for Foreign Affairs |
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Presentation by the GEAC leaders of each pillars
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Comment by the GEAC members (Alphabetical order)
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| Q&A | |
| Chair’s summary: Sawako Shirahase, Chair of the GEAC 2023/ Professor, Tokyo University |
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| Remarks: Tshilidzi Marwala, the Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations |
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| Concluding remarks: Naoko Saiki, Ambassador in Charge of Women’s Issue |
GEAC members in the symposium (The members listed below the GEAC Chair are in alphabetical order. Titles omitted.)
Sawako Shirahase GEAC chair/ Professor, University of Tokyo
Shirahase received her D.Phil in sociology from the University of Oxford in 1997, and joined the University of Tokyo in 2006. Her main research interests include social stratification and social demography, inequality in income and wealth, and family and social security system with a focus on gender generation. She served as Vicer President of the International Sociological Association from 2018 to 2023 and she has been Vice President of the International Science Council since 2021.
Caroine Farberger Chair/ Board Executive/ Investor
Caroline Farberger has a long career in financial services and has held several senior positions in financial institutions in the Scandinavian region, most recently as a CEO of the Swedish insurer ICA Insurance. Caroline now works as a board executive and is a board director of several international financial institutions. She is very active in the Venture Capital and Private Equity scene.
Maxime Houinato Regional Director, UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office
Prior to joining the UN, between 2000 and 2008, Houinato held the roles of Deputy Regional Director (West Africa), and Regional Director (Southern Africa) for Oxfam UK. He has collaborated with various organisations, including UNDP, ILO, and AfDB. He holds a PhD in Applied Sociology, an MBA and a Certificate in Sustainability & Social Impact.
Reiko Kuroda Designated Professor of Chemistry and Biology, Chubu University / Professor Emerita, the University of Tokyo
Received M.Sc. and Ph.D. from The University of Tokyo in Chemistry. Worked at King’s College London and The University of Tokyo. Specialized in left-and-light asymmetry in spectroscopy, crystallography, molecular and developmental biology. In parallel, in science policy (Vice President of ICSU), education, women in science, science communication and the environment (Advisory to the UN Secretary-General on SDGs, Club of Rome).
Hedwige Nuyens Chair, European Women on Boards
Nuyens is an influential leader in finance. As CEO of the International Banking Federation, she represents the industry worldwide. A longstanding advocate for gender diversity, she is serving pro bono as Chair of European Women on Boards and representing the EU in the GEAC. She was instrumental in getting the Women on Boards Directive approved at EU level.
Sarah Sands Deputy Chair, British Council
Sands has edited two newspapers, The Sunday Telegraph and The Evening Standard and is a former editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme. She is currently a board member of the Berkeley Group, a board member of Channel 4, a partner at Hawthorn Advisors and a trustee of the Science Museum Group. She chaired GEAC in 2021.
Anda Sapardan Co-founder, Sehati TeleCTG
Entering the healthcare industry approximately 20 years ago. Managing hospitals for 12 years, before founding Sehati TeleCTG in 2016 - a medical technology company that enables pregnant mothers to have equal opportunity for quality healthcare and has proven to assist in lowering down Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Rate through preventive measures. She is acknowledged as one of the “50 Women in Tech”, and is now entering the policy space.
Melanne Verveer Executive Director, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
Most recently served as the first U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, coordinating foreign policy issues and activities relating to the political, economic and social advancement of women. Served as the Chair and Co-CEO of Vital Voices Global Partnership, and during the Clinton Administration, as Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady.
Contact
Gender Mainstreaming Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
TEL: +81-(0)3-3580-3311