Sunday Times 2
Advancing women and child development in Asia Pacific
Women and child advancement and empowerment is among the most outstanding agent to the actualisation of a country’s progress and beyond. Across the Asia Pacific countries that have made great strides, gender inequality, educational, livelihood, social and economic gap and vulnerability still exists.
Colombo Plan, the oldest intergovernmental organisation in Colombo set up in the 1950 is hosting senior delegates from all its 27 member countries in Colombo from November 26-27 2015 for the First Gender Focal Point Conference.
64 years on from its inception, in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Government, this is a key progressive conference hosted by the Colombo Plan. It brings together focal points from all member countries in Asia-Pacific to discuss the importance of bridging the gap and increasing the participation, access, empowerment and development of women and children across Asia and Pacific. The Women’s Bureau of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs are among the Colombo Plan’s Gender Focal Points from Sri Lanka.
The two day conference held at Hilton Colombo will be inaugurated by Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Hon. Chandrani Bandara Jayasinghe.
The visiting dignitaries and participants are drawn from Ministers, Secretary, Under Secretary, Advisor and Chief Director levels from various Women Ministries and Departments across member countries who will share their inputs towards creating a gender equality perspective in the region on development goals.
It is hoped that the conference will lead to a Declaration from all member states which will serve as a roadmap for future cooperation to ensure women and child development across the region.
Press /media that wish to attend may kindly contact: gapgeneral@colomboplan.org