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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Ministers to discuss partnerships for gender equality

27 May 2004

Commonwealth ministers responsible for women's affairs and their senior officials will meet in Nadi, Fiji Islands, to discuss 'Partnerships for Gender Equality' at the 7th Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting (7WAMM). The Prime Minister of Fiji Islands, Laisenia Qarase, will officially open the meeting, which will be held from 30 May to 2 June 2004. Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon will deliver a keynote address.

Ministers, meeting in plenaries and thematic discussion groups, will examine critical challenges and emerging issues facing Commonwealth women including:

  • Gender, Democracy, Peace and Conflict
  • Gender, Human Rights and Law
  • Gender, Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals
  • Gender and Trade
  • Gender and HIV/AIDS
  • The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality

At their meeting, the ministers will produce a new Commonwealth ten-year plan of action for gender equality, which will be presented to Commonwealth Heads of Government at their next summit, to be held in Malta in 2005.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Secretary-General said: "I'm very pleased that 7WAMM is being hosted by Fiji Islands. This is the first time that a Commonwealth Women's Affairs Ministers Meeting is being held in the Pacific. This is a very important meeting which will give Ministers a unique opportunity to take stock of advances made in gender equality - one of the areas in which the Commonwealth has taken a leading role. They will also have a chance to discuss the Commonwealth Plan of Action for gender equality, which will shape Commonwealth initiatives and programmes over the next ten years and provide us with a solid foundation to face the challenges that lie ahead."

A parallel event, the Commonwealth Partners Forum for 7WAMM, will run from 27 May to 4 June. It is being co-ordinated by the Commonwealth Foundation assisted by the National Council of Women, Fiji. The Partners Forum will bring together representatives of civil society organisations from around the Commonwealth.

Note to Editors:

Bona fide media representatives wishing to cover 7WAMM must be accredited in order to have access to the facilities.

For further details about the meeting, including accreditations, contact the conference spokesperson, James Robertson, from 29 May at the Sheraton, Nadi, on

Tel: + 679 675 9310

Fax: + 679 675 0280

Mobile: + 44 7730 90 00 20

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int