The 18th edition of the “Women’s Forum” takes place this November 28 and 29 at the Palais Brongniart in Paris. As in previous years, the aim of the event is to strengthen the presence of women and gender diversity at all levels of power in society. The Forum highlights projects that promote women’s entrepreneurship through education, parity in business and the media.
The theme of this year’s event is “Change Education, Educate For Change”. The organization explains: “From Afghanistan, where girls are excluded from the education system, to our companies, where, despite all the talk and effort, inequalities between men and women are still so glaring in certain sectors, it’s time to change our level of ambition when it comes to education.”
“Education is a fundamental human right for all, but we are not all equal in access to education, and the inequality between men and women in this field is considerable. According to UNESCO, two-thirds of the 750 million illiterate adults are women, a proportion unchanged since 1976. And 15 million girls and 10 million boys will never set foot in a school,” explains the Women’s Forum in a press release.
From education to change
Over the two days, the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society focuses on “education and how it gives us the power and ability to shape our lives and our future in a variety of areas: Tech, climate, health, the future of work, entrepreneurship, feminist diplomacy and women and money.”
The event will feature several highlights, including discussions on:
Girls’ access to education: The key to a fairer future for all Bridging the gap: Innovative solutions to the STEM pipeline problem Economies in transition: Are women ready for the future of work ? Eliminating gender bias in education: Empowering girls to thrive in the classroom and beyond 175 countries represented
Over 175 countries are represented. The meetings will serve as think tanks for effective decision-making, and showcases for initiatives such as Rising Talents, CEO Champions, the Barometer, WomenEntrepreneurs4Good and Youth Voices.
Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner, President of the Women’s Forum, says “it’s time to harness the full power of education to empower women and drive economic, social and political transformation. The Women’s Forum believes that education is essential to making women’s voices heard, creating change.”
Women from all walks of life
Numerous personalities representing companies and institutions will be giving their views on education around the world through round tables and debates. Among them: Begoña Lasagabaster, Director of Gender Equality at UNESCO; Blanca Elena Jiménez Cisneros, Mexican Ambassador to France; Delphine O, French Ambassador to the United Nations; Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and co-founder of WEConnect International; Rachel Barré, Director of Environmental Leadership at L’Oréal; Insaff El HassanI of the Les Glorieuses collective; Margaret Johnson Clarke, Global Director of DE&I at L’Oréal; Elisabeth Richard, Director of Civil Society Relations at ENGIE; Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, Managing Director of L’Oréal Paris; and Frenchwoman Nina Métayer, voted best pastry chef in the world in 2023.
The Women’s Voices is once again a media partner of the Women’s Forum. Cynthia Illouz, founder of The Women’s Voices, will moderate the panel: “Breaking stereotypes: Pioneering women redefine traditionally masculine fields” with Amandine Galindo, Captain of the Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP), and Nina Metayer, voted World’s Best Pastry Chef 2023.