UNITED NATIONS GIRLS EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child will be the theme of the 51st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) from 26 February to 9 March 2007.

NEW YORK, NY, 23 February 2007 - The United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) will host a panel discussion on “Partnerships for protection in the education of girls” on 1 March 2007, 1:15-2:45pm, in Conference Room 1 at the United Nations building in New York. The panel will give young girl activists the opportunity to speak to their work within communities on issues related to girls’ education, such as trafficking, domestic labour, violence in schools and HIV/AIDS.

The panel invites four youth panelists from Kenya, South Africa, Philippines and Zambia to share their experiences and suggest solutions to issues related to girls' education, highlighting the role of partnerships. Binita Shresthta, a young activist from Nepal, will moderate the discussion.

Hon. Grace Datiro, Minister for Education, Western Equatoria State, Girls’ Education Movement (GEM) patron for Southern Sudan and Chairperson for the Gender and Social Change Thematic Working Group for the Education Sector, will give opening remarks. Lucy Lake, Executive Director, Camfed International and UNGEI co-chair, will chair the event.

The panel will be held as a side event of the UN 51st Commission on the Status of Women, February 26 – March 9, 2007, focused on the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.

For more information please visit the CSW, 51st session website: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/51sess.htm