2006 Celebrations Every year on 8 March, both at and away from Headquarters, UNESCO celebrates International Women’s Day, a flagship event which highlights at the international level questions relating to the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality.

 

Events taking place at UNESCO Headquarters - Paris Organized by the Section for Women and Gender Equality of the Bureau of Strategic Planning, in close collaboration with UNESCO Sectors. View the VIDEO of events. CLick here to view UNESCO's International Women's Day Publications. ______________________________________________________

News

International Round Table on - Women In Politics - (BSP/GE) The brochure of this publication celebrating International Women's Day is available in PDF format

Keynote Address by HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia - (UNESCO) Paris, 8 March 2006 - Keynote Address delivered on the occasion of the opening of the International Round Table on "Women in Politics"

International Round Table - Women in Politics - (BSP/WGE) Wednesday 8 March 2006, at 3:00 pm– Room II Guest of honour: Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia Inaugurated by Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO CLICK here to see the VIDEO

Multicultural concert - Voices of Women, but not only... - (BSP) (Mozart, but not only.…part II) Wednesday 8 March, 7:30pm – Room I Organised by The Melody for the Dialogue among Civilizations Association This concert, given mainly by women musicians from all regions of the world united to celebrate the dialogue between classical, contemporary and traditional music, illustrates the power of music and artistic creativity as language. Click here to download the detailed Programme CLICK here to see the VIDEO

Women Make the News 2006 - (CII) By creating this initiative, which is taking place annually, UNESCO’s Director General, Mr Koichiro Matsuura, emphasizes that the issue of gender equality must remain at the forefront of each society’s agenda and the international community until gender balance is achieved at every level in the workplace

UNESCO-L’OREAL's 2006 “Week for Women” - (SC) The UNESCO-L’OREAL prize-giving ceremonies will take place at UNESCO HQ, Paris during the week 27 February-4 March 2006. Prizes and fellowships awarded aim to promote women’s participation in scientific research and especially in decision-making posts.

60 minutes to convince - Education of girls and women - (ED/BAS/PE - BSP/WGE) 7 March 2006 - 2pm (Paris) - Education is a human right for all individuals. It contributes to sustainable development and has positive effects at the political, economic, cultural and social levels. However, today more than 100 million children are still not enrolled in primary school, 55% of them girls, and about two thirds of adults without literacy are women. What are some of the underlying issues and barriers? What is UNESCO doing to assist in bringing solutions?

Photo exhibition - Women Rebuilding Life in Post-Tsunami Asia - (BSP/WGE) by Agostino Pacciani 8 to 14 March 2006 – Salle des Actes Opening on Wednesday 8 March 2006, at 6:30 pm The exhibition will bring together twenty photos taken by the photo-journalist Agostino Pacciani, who travelled in several countries affected by the tsunami in order to witness the specific situation women in these regions are facing as they reconstruct their houses, villages, cities and lives. The collection of photos expresses the emotion and vitality of these women, their strength and incredible perseverance, their confidence, and their hope for the future. Download the CATALOGUE

Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Women’s Day - (UNESCO) "On this International Women’s Day in 2006, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to efforts promoting women’s empowerment and female participation in decision-making at all levels. We invite all our partners to join in the ongoing endeavour to build a solid foundation on which full gender equality may rest..."

Photo exhibition - Bertha von Suttner: a life for peace - (BSP/WGE) 8 to 30 March 2006 – Room Miro Opening on Wednesday 8 March 2006, at 6:30 pm Organized in collaboration with the Permanent Delegation of Austria to UNESCO This exhibition will pay tribute to Bertha von Suttner, a remarkable woman who not only inspired her friend and benefactor Alfred Nobel to create the Nobel Peace Prize, but who was also the first woman to receive the prize. The 100th anniversary of her receiving the award of the Nobel Peace Prize is an excellent opportunity to remind us of her work and to allow us to reflect upon the contributions of women to peace.

Photo exhibition -Dialogues - (BSP/WGE) by Angèle Etoundi Essamba 8 to 30 March 2006 – Room des Pas Perdus Opening on Wednesday 8 March 2006, at 6:30 pm Organized in collaboration with the Permanent Delegation of Cameroon to UNESCO Angèle Etoundi Essamba's work invites us to careful observation, participation, reminds us of the need to see, to understand, and to act. Even though Essamba's photographs capture just a single moment in time, they convey something enduring and of great permanence: they can make us see others and ourselves. Others enter into DIALOGUES with us and we dialogue in return in different forms. Download the EXHIBIT CATALOGUE >>>

Photo, painting and mosaic exhibition - African Women Architects - (BSP/WGE) 6 to 16 March 2006 - Foyer I Opening on Monday 6 March 2006, at 8:00 pm and Film projection and debate Monday 6 March 2006, at 6:00pm – Room IV Organized in collaboration with the A.S.F. Bâtir et développer Association This multimedia event will offer a tribute to women construction workers in conjunction with other collaborators in the fields of conservation, restoration and land settlement. The objective of the event is to broaden debate on the value of “know how” and the participation of women in the process of sustainable development.

Round Table - Women of Exception - (BSP/WGE) Friday 10 March 2006 – Room II; 2:30pm Organized in collaboration with Réponses Initiatives Femmes Handicapées This Round Table will bring together women artists, engineers and architects, who chose atypical modes of expression, far from the traditional concepts to which the people in situation of handicap are very often confined. These women with original paths give a lesson of life and optimism.