Anyone and everyone – the YWCA attracts everyone from grassroots women, politicians, sex workers, young women, HIV positive women, indegenous women….all the women movers and shakers from around the world!
But, there are going to be a few AMAZING guest speakers. Women who have, and continue to challenge the status quo!
Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the United Nations (UN Women) and a long-time champion of women’s rights, who has advocated for gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout her career, will be one of the keynote speakers at the International Women’s Summit to be held in Zurich, Switzerland in July 2011. Ms Bachelet will be speaking on “inequality, sexual and reproductive health rights, HIV and violence: the nexus and agenda for women and girls over the next decade” during the opening plenary. You can read more at www.worldywca.org
Michelle Bachelet
And that is not all – Mary Rob inson will be there too! What better example for young women worldwide than that of a woman of the stature of Mary Robinson – the embodiment of leadership, commitment, achievement, vision, integrity, relentless hard work and loyalty! Presently leading Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative, Mary Robinson is a world renowned human rights activist and a trailblazer for women’s rights and leadership. She was the first woman President of Ireland (1990-1997) and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002). She has spent most of her life as a human rights advocate. As an academic (Trinity College Law Faculty 1968-90), legislator (Senator 1969-89) and barrister (1967-90, Senior Counsel 1980, English Bar 1973) she has always sought to use law as an instrument for social change, arguing landmark cases before the European Court of Human Rights, the Irish courts and the European Court in Luxemburg. She also served as Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders.
Mary Robinson
