WHITHER WOMEN’S PARITY? -NEOLIBERALISM: THE DEVASTATION & INSTITUTIONAL LEGAL REFORMATION

-An official Parallel Program of the 64th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW64) (Beijing+25)

Primary Sponsor:  International Bar Association (Women Lawyers Interest Group)

Co-Sponsors:  American Bar Association SIL (Government and Public Interest Committee); International Alliance of Women; Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum; African Women Lawyers Association INT’L; TRLPLAW.

Program Narrative

Characterized by free market trade, individualization and a paradigm-shift from state welfare,
Neoliberalism progressively/unabatedly permeates policies of world governments, international agencies and even, technical agencies of the United Nations.

This unconscionable pursuit of profit inexorably exacerbates a global crisis involving inter-alia, worldwide ecological devastation; poverty/underdevelopment; violence; worsening patriarchal despotism; decreased civil societal influence; increased inequalities and heightened systematic onslaught on women’s rights ubiquitously.

Remedially, this program will re-evaluate prevalent neoliberalist defies to the Beijing Declaration vis-a-vis applicable regulatory instruments within international human rights law, whilst establishing much-needed advocacy partnerships for a new world order, towards our rocky journey to 2030.

The Program Format

This event is to be presented in compliance with specific procedures of the NGO CSW/NY (a group of New York–based women NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council) which is responsible for the organization of parallel events at UN CSW Sessions.

The planned format will (as is the norm) comprise an erudite, renowned panel of discussants who will be both gender and geographically diversified -and specially selected by each of the collaborating entities represented for inputs. The schedule will be as planned and presented by the Program Chairs (also from each collaborating entity) who will double up as moderators and who will direct the session. The audience/attendants will also comprise globally-renowned stakeholders with invaluable insights on the topic, subject-matter of discourse who will be specially-invited for their knowledgeable/experienced inputs and vivid participation.

PARTICIPANTS

Possible Panelists/Specially Invited Stakeholders

Thus far:

  1. Joanna Manganara, President, Int’l Alliance of Women
  2. Chief Aaron Schildhaus, Past Chair, American Bar Association SIL.
  3. Abike-Dabiri-Erewa, Chair, Nigerian Diaspora Commission/Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria
  4. Deborah Enix Ross, Vice Chair, Int’l Bar Association Bar Issues Commission
  5. Prince Ajibola Oluyede, Principal, TRLPLAW
  6. Vijaya Lakshmi, President, Women Empowerment and Human Resource Development, India
  7. HE Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria
  8. HE Arabirin Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, First Lady of Ondo State, Nigeria
  9. Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
  10. Stephen Denyer, IBA SPPI/Law Society of EnglandWales UK
  11. WomenNC 2019/20 Juanita M. Bryant CSW Scholars, North Carolina, USA
  12. Nancy Stafford, Chair, American Bar Association Section of International Law
  13. HE Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, Governor, Rivers State of Nigeria

Program Chair(s)/Facilitators/Interim Speakers

Olufunmi Oluyede, IBA/ABA/AWLA/TRLPLAW

Charandeep Kaur, IBA Women Lawyers Interest Group

Oluyemisi Bamgbose, Chair, Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum

Meg Strickler, Co-Chair, ABA Government & Public Interest Committee

Luz Nagle, Chair, IBA CL Crimes Against Women Committee

Mandy Asagba, President, African Women Lawyers Association INT’L