CSW68 Side Event: Financial Inclusion for Gender Equality

March 13, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. (EST) / 10:30 a.m. (CST) | Virtual

Organized by the European Union Delegation to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, and UN Women

The event provides a critical opportunity to raise awareness and consider strategies for strengthening women’s economic empowerment, promoting human rights and gender equality through financial inclusion.

National financial inclusion strategies can play an important role in identifying and overcoming financing gaps and lifting the structural barriers to women and girls’ equal access to economic resources. Digital financial technologies can further provide new ways to support women and girls in the informal sector. When women gain access to and control over capital, credit and other resources, technology and training, women can have more influence over their own lives, as well as increase production, marketing and income , so as to support gender equality for sustainable development.

Speakers

• Ms. Sarah Hendriks, Moderator, Deputy Executive Director of the Policy, Programme, and Intergovernmental Support Division, UN Women
• H.E. Ms. Huang Xiaowei, Minister and Deputy Head of the National Working Committee on Children and Women of the State Council, China
• H.E. Ms. Stella Ronner, Ambassador for Gender and Diversity, European Union
• H.E. Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

Panel discussion

• Ms. Chan Lok Nga, Designate Commissioner for Women Affairs/Principal Assistant Secretary for Home Affairs, HKSAR Government of China
• Ms. Hana Brixi, Global Gender Director at the World Bank
• Ms. Dong Kui, Secretary-General of the All-China Women’s Development Federation
• Ms. Sarah Cliffe, Executive Director of New York University’s Center on International Cooperation