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Vision of Young Women and Men for Gender Equality
17 January-6 February 2005
Moderated by the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)

Objective of the discussion

Gender equality is a crucial component of peace, human rights and development. But what is gender equality? Is gender equality just a 'women's issue' or should it concern and engage men as well as women? Does it recognize the diversity of different groups of women and men? Does it mean that women and men should be the same or does it mean that women's and men's rights, responsibilities and opportunities should not be different depending whether someone was born female or male?

How are women's and men's rights, responsibilities and opportunities defined in your environment? How does it affect you? Do young women and men have equal rights? Are young people concerned and engaged with gender equality? What is the vision of young women and men for gender equality in the future? What are your particular concerns in relation to gender equality? Poverty? Education? Natural disasters? HIV/AIDS? Information technology? Peace? How do these concerns relate to the equality between young women and men in your environment? What can be done and by whom?

Here is an opportunity for YOU to share your ideas with other young women and men from around the world!

Thirty years ago, in 1975, the United Nations held its first world conference on women in Mexico. Since then the United Nations and the international community has affirmed its commitment to gender equality in three additional world conferences. At the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 and at its follow-up session in 2000, Governments made commitments to promote the role of young women and men in achieving the goal of gender equality, addressing both the vulnerability that they face in many areas and their capacity to build a better future based on equality.

In March 2005, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, during its forty-ninth session, will undertake a ten-year review and appraisal of the commitments made by Governments in Beijing in 1995. To ensure diversity of inputs to this review, the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs invites you to participate in a three-week online discussion (17 January - 6 February 2005) on "Vision of Young Women and Men for Gender Equality" with three distinct themes:

  • Week 1 (17-23 January): You will have the opportunity to share your views on gender equality and stereotypical attitudes and behaviour. How is gender equality defined in your environment? Are there stereotypes in your community about the roles, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys? What steps do you think should be taken to challenge these stereotypes?
  • Week 2 (24-30 January): Your contributions will be welcome on issues related to gender equality and peace, education and employment, health and HIV/AIDS, the environment, and other areas that concern young women and men, and their role as leaders in promoting gender equality.
  • Week 3 (31 January-6 February): We will welcome your thoughts and vision for gender equality in the future. What actions do you think should be taken by Governments, civil society, including young women and men, to promote gender equality?
» View archived discussion


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