The University of Washington hosted civil society leaders, academics, and students for an in-depth panel discussion on women’s economic empowerment. Women make enormous contributions to economies, whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs and employees, or by unpaid work in the home. Women also remain disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination and exploitation. The panel, featuring PhD student Guadalupe Tovar, Professor Sabine Lang, Sarah Hendriks from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Sarah Gammage from the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), and Margret Schuler from World Vision, discussed these topics and much more during their time.
The keynote speaker, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, delivered a speech focused on the need for investment in women’s economic empowerment, as a means of addressing gender inequality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth. HRH’s speech was followed by a dynamic discussion featuring the above mentioned panelists, and was moderated by Dr. Sarah Degnan Kambou from the ICRW. Concluding remarks were delivered by the Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen. To listen to the full panel discussion click the link here!