MEDIA ADVISORY

World March of Women Culminates
at UN Headquarters

PRESS CONFERENCE
11:15 a.m., Tuesday, 17 October 2000
Room 226

Special event will commemorate International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

The World March of Women, initiated by the Fédération des femmes du Québec, a Canadian non-governmental organization, is a global initiative involving approximately 5,000 NGOs from 159 countries and territories from all regions of the world. Through the March and their signed petitions, the women of the world have been drawing attention to the need to take concrete measures to eliminate poverty, to ensure an equitable distribution of the world's wealth, to eradicate violence against women, and to ensure equality between women and men. On 17 October, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the March will culminate in the Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza in front of UN Headquarters at 11 a.m.

A briefing on the World March of Women 2000 will be given by Ross Hynes, Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations. Among the speakers will be Françoise David, Fédération des femmes du Québec, and several of the women marchers. The briefing, which will take place at 11:15 a.m. in room 226, is open to accredited journalists. Journalists without UN credentials should fax a letter of assignment to (212) 963-4642, with follow-up call to the UN Media Accreditation Unit at (212) 963-7164. For UNTV coverage, call (212) 963-7650.

Following the briefing, a panel discussion will be held in Conference Room 1 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. The participants will be addressed by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette. Other speakers will include His Excellency Paul Heinbecker, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations; Assistant Secretary-General Angela E.V. King; and the organizer of the World March of Women, Françoise David. There will also be presentations by regional representatives of the March on World March demands, and by representatives of the World March living in situations of armed conflict. A brief question and answer period will follow (time permitting). Members of permanent missions, UN staff, non-governmental organizations and the media are invited to attend. Accredited NGOs wishing to attend must pre-register at the Registration booth located in the Public Lobby at the Visitors' Entrance.