PRESS  INVITATION  

 The   global   network   of   female   politicians   to  design  in  Mexico  new  strategies  for  getting  more  women  into  power  The  WIP  Mexico  Summit  is  co-­‐hosted  by  the  Women  in  Parliaments  Global  Forum  (WIP)  and  the   Mexican   Senate   and   will   mark   the  40th  anniversary   of   the  First   World   Conference   on  Women.    Dates:  7-­‐9  October    Venue:  Ministry  for  Foreign  Affairs,  Mexico  DF,  Mexico  Official  hashtag:  #wipmexico2015    -­‐-­‐    The  Women   in   Parliaments   Global   Forum   (WIP)   Mexico   Summit   2015   will   gather   female  Parliamentarians  from  all  continents  for  a  3-­‐day  conference  that  will  analyze  and  celebrate  the   strides   towards  gender  equality   in  politics,   in  a   region   that  has  more   than  doubled   its  number   of   female   members   of   Parliaments   over   the   last   20   years.   The   international  politicians  will  exchange  best  practices  on  political  action  and  changes   in   legislation  to  get  more   women   into   positions   of   influence   and   power.   The   MPs   will   also   address   pressing  issues   on   the   global   agenda   such   as   peace   and   security,   trade,   health,  migration   and   the  sustainable  development  goals.    The  WIP  Mexico   Summit,   taking   place   from   7   to   9   October,   is   co-­‐hosted   by   the  Mexican  Senate.  It  will  mark  the  40th  anniversary  of  the  First  World  Conference  on  Women  (Mexico  City,   1975)   under   the   global   theme   “Make   it   happen!   Influence   and   power   of   women   in  Parliaments”.  The   list  of  confirmed  speakers   includes  Alicia  Bárcena,  Executive  Secretary  of  ECLAC,  Rebeca  Grynspan,   Ibero-­‐American  Secretary  General,  Caren  Grown,  Senior  Director  for   Gender   of   the   World   Bank   Group,   and   Geraldine   Fraser-­‐Moleketi,   Special   Envoy   on  Gender  of  the  African  Development  Bank.  

This  will  be  the  first  time  that  the  global  network  of  female  Parliamentarians  –the  Women  in  Parliaments   Global   Forum   (WIP)-­‐   will   gather   for   a   global   Summit   in   Latin   America,   after  holding   groundbreaking   meetings   in   Europe   (European   Parliament   -­‐   2013)   and   Africa  (Parliament  of  Rwanda  -­‐  2014,  African  Union  Commission  -­‐  2015).    

 

 

 

Mexico  was  selected  to  host  the  WIP  Mexico  Summit  after  joining  the  list  of  countries  that  have   enshrined   gender   equality   in   politics   directly   in   their   highest   legal   text,   the   national  Constitution.  In  2014,  Mexico  passed  an  amendment  to  its  Federal  Constitution  stating  that  political   parties   should   put   in   place   rules   to   ensure   gender   parity   in   the   nomination   of  candidates  in  federal  and  local  congressional  elections.  The  amendment  is  the  first  of  its  kind  in  Mexico  and  has  helped  to  reach  a  39%  share  for  women  in  the  national  Parliament  (after  the  elections  of  May  2015).  

On  the  Agenda    See  the  draft  preliminary  agenda      • Keynote  speeches  by  high-­‐level  speakers  • Parallel  Sessions  on  topics  such  as  trade,  health,  migration  and  development.  • Field  Visits  to  selected  projects  in  Mexico  City.  • Working  groups  organised  by  UNISDR,  NDI,  OECD,  UNDP  and  the  World  Bank  Group.  • Social  Media  training  for  female  politicians  organized  by  Facebook’s  Politics  and  Government  Outreach.  • Cultural  evening  hosted  by  the  Mexican  Government      PRESS  ACCREDITATION  If  you  wish  to  cover  the  WIP  Mexico  Summit  2015,  please  send  the  request  indicating  Name,  Country  and  Media  Outlet  by  the  6th  of  October.      WIP  Communications  Manager  Aretha  Francis  aretha@womeninparliaments.org  +32  27  33  13  44        About  WIP:    

The  Women  in  Parliaments  Global  Forum  (WIP)  is  the  global  network  reaching  out  to  all  female  Parliamentarians.    

 Everywhere   in  the  world  women  are  underrepresented   in  decision-­‐making  positions.  Today,  only  22%  of  Parliamentarians  and  6%  of  government   leaders  are  women.  WIP  aims   to   see  greater  gender  equality  in  politics,  which  reflects  the  diversity  of  our  societies.