22-26 September 2024, New York – A delegation of the PAM Women Parliamentary Forum (WPF) actively participated and contributed to the high-level convenings of Women Political Leaders (WPL), held during the week of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The delegation was composed by Hon. Joana Lima (Portugal), President of the PAM WPF, Hon. Klodiana Spahiu (Albania), Vice President in-pectore of the WPF, Hon. Tuba Durgut (Türkiye), Vice President in-pectore of the WPF, and Hon. Rejhana Dervišević (Bosnia and Herzegovina), PAM Rapporteur on Economy.
On 22 September, the delegates attended the annual Representation Matters reception, which gathered high-level politicians, thought leaders, and influential stakeholders, under the theme “Charting the Course: Politics in the 21st Century”. The reception focused on the vital role of women in political leadership and the positive impact of their equal representation at the national and international level. During the event, PAM WPF delegates exchanged their respective experiences, visions, and strategies to increase women’s representation in leadership positions.
On 23 September, PAM WPF delegates participated in the session More Women to Power – More Power to Women, held in cooperation with the Oliver Wyman Forum and the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law Initiative. The event provided key findings on global women’s representation in politics, emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive policymaking.
On 24 September, the MPs participated in the roundtable Protecting Women Leaders: Combatting Abusive AI-Generated Content. Co-hosted by Microsoft, the session focused on AI-driven disinformation and gender-based online violence. Hon. Spahiu and Hon. Dervišević addressed the rising threat of AI-driven disinformation targeting women in leadership, emphasizing the need for international regulations on AI usage and calling for global cooperation to protect women from digital violence.
Finally, on 26 September, Hon. Spahiu intervened in the session entitled Her Health: A Demand for Equity, focusing on healthcare access. In her address, she highlighted the importance of equitable healthcare services, particularly for women in rural areas. Hon. Spahiu also urged for securing healthcare for women in conflict zones. She further reiterated PAM’s support for advancing health equity through policy measures that tackle gender disparities.
The PAM WPF is committed to further collaborate with WPL to advance gender equality. All the topics addressed during the WPL meetings will be further discussed during the upcoming Second Session of the Forum, scheduled for December 2024 in Paris, which aims to enhance dialogue and cooperation on women’s empowerment throughout the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf regions, and beyond. //