Safe, Strong and Sustainable: Women and the Future of Urbanization

NEW YORK (May 20, 2013)— Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21st 2013, WEDO Board Chair Dr. Marcela Tovar is excited to join the Metro Chapter of USNC to UN Women at their annual meeting for a panel entitled: Safe, Strong and Sustainable: Women and the Future of Urbanization. See details of the panel below and click here for tickets!

Safe, Strong and Sustainable: Women and the Future of Urbanization
Tuesday, May 21st 2013

Consulate General of Hungary
223 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022

Program Timeline:
5:30 – 6:30 PM Registration
6:00 – 6:30 PM Annual Meeting
6:30 – 8:30 PM Panel and Reception

Description:
According to UN statistics, over 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. With increased globalization and the industrialized growth of many developing countries, more and more people are shifting from rural to urban environments, and with them come increased social, environmental and economic challenges and opportunities. Women in particular are vulnerable to the changing landscape, bearing a disproportionate share of the burden during and after natural disasters, facing increased gender-based violence and harassment, as well as increased poverty and health issues.

As we’ve learned this past year from natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy in NYC and the tragic gang-rape of a 23-year old student in New Delhi, city-dwellers are subject to unique challenges that are no longer being addressed by the rural-focused solutions of the past. As we prepare ourselves for the world of 2050, we must begin to look at development and sustainability through the lens of urbanization, and how women might contribute to the building of more equitable and resilient cities.

Panelists:

Moderator: Siobhan Guerin, Metro NY Chapter of USNC to UN Women

Ms. Emily May, Co-founder and Executive Director, Hollaback!
Ms. Radha Patel, Executive Director of RightRides.
Dr. Janice Perlman, PhD, President and CEO, Mega-Cities
Ms. Anastasia Posadskaya-Vanderbeck, Global Manager/Advisor, UN Women Safe Cities Global Initiative
Dr. Marcela Tovar-Restrepo, PhD – scholar and activist in women’s and ethnic minorities movements. She obtained her PhD in Anthropology at the New School for Social Research (N.Y.) and her Masters on Urban Development Planning at University College of London. She is the incoming Chair of WEDO.

Hope to see you there!