W20 at the G20: the gender perspective is added! Now add your voice today.

Below, two important opportunities to contribute to a global gender-informed conversation. Take this opportunity to help ensure this is a powerful and comprehensive representation of the issues that are vital to be addressed and what's needed to make the difference.

Background: the G20

Also known as Group of 20 nations, G20 is a forum attended by finance ministers and central bank governors from the world's highly developed economies consisting of 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK, USA) and the European Union.  They meet to discuss global economic problems and issues. (Source: London Financial Times)

16 years on, a gender lens is added

Sixteen years after the G20 was established in 1999, the W20 - the G20's gender engagement group - was launched in Ankara on 6 September to advise on gender equality issues relevant to the G20 agenda.

Dr Susan Harris Rimmer (right, above) and Ms Anne Fulwood (right, below ) have been named the first Australian representatives to the W20 and they are keen to brief and consult widely.

For background reading, an article by Dr Rimmer is available at http://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australian_outlook/can-the-w20-improve-the-g20/

Dr Harris and Ms Fulwood are calling for widespread input in two ways, starting with:

1. BRIEFINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY. 
BRISBANE'S DATE: MONDAY 12 OCTOBER    
(plus aiming for another, Nov’15 after 2015 G20 Summit,16-17 Oct, Istanbul)

BRISBANE VENUE:                  QLD COUNCIL OF UNIONS auditorium L2, 16 PEEL ST, STH BRISBANE
TIME:                     6.45 for 7pm (approx. 1.5hrs presentation and discussion)    
 
The mandate for W20 is to advance recent G20 commitments:

• Women’s full economic and social participation (Los Cabos Leaders’ Declaration, 2012)
• women’s financial inclusion and education (St Petersburg Leaders’ Declaration, 2013)
• Reducing the gap in participation rates between men and women in our countries by 25 per cent by 2025, taking into account national circumstances (Brisbane Leaders’ Declaration, 2014).
• W20’s ultimate objective is to increase women's participation in the global economy by 100 million more women.

(Note: I've not located information about the dates for other cities. Can anyone assist with this information?)

2. COMPLETE SHORT SURVEY
Susan and Anne request your assistance in voicing Australian women’s priorities at the 2015 & 2016 G20 Summits, (China Sep’16) by completing the short survey at this link

 -  http://o2dconline.ipsos.com.tr/PANG0028_1   

-   Check out the W20 priorities: http://w20turkey.org/w20-priorities/  

Scroll down for the priorities you are asked to rank in the survey.  BTW, the Turks had feedback from nearly 400 people for this survey. Let's get our voice heard too.

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Priorities you'll be invited to rank in the survey:

Strengthening Global Recovery and Lifting Potential
1. Address women’s economic empowerment through linkages between education, employment and entrepreneurship
2. Eliminate workplace discrimination, enforce rights and promote equal opportunities
3. Ensure women’s access to finance and productive assets
4. Support women owned enterprises and innovation
5. Increase women in both public sector and private sector leadership positions
6. Strengthen women’s economic, social and political networks
 
Enhancing Resilience
7. Support Work - Life Balance by developing and / or improving infrastructural mechanisms for social care (child, elderly, sick and disable care)
8. Deliver Adequate Social Protection
9. Improve Working Conditions
 
Buttressing Sustainability
10. Promote women’s leadership in creating sustainable consumption patterns and green growth
11. Engender agricultural and food security policy with special attention to rural women

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