Building Inclusive Democracies: Empowering Women in Economic Life

A Briefing Series Inspired by Sustainable Development Goal #5: “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.”

Join Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the seventh event of a briefing series exploring each element of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #5, “Achieve Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls.”

Rep. Jackson Lee will host the event, which will be moderated by IFES Senior Congressional Liaison Liz Sidell. Panelists include:

• Dr. Müge Kökten Finkel, Assistant Professor of International Development, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Co-Director, GIRL@Pitt, University of Pittsburgh
• Barbara Langley, Director, Center for Women’s Economic Empowerment, Center for International Private Enterprise
• Robin R. Runge, Senior Gender Specialist, Equality and Inclusion Department, Solidarity Center
• Rachel Vogelstein, Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow and Director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program, Council on Foreign Relations

When women are empowered economically and have increased financial independence, they are more likely to have the necessary resources – time, money and networks – to participate equally and meaningfully in political and public life. Join us as we hear from practitioners and researchers on how economic empowerment can engage and connect women worldwide, increase political participation, ensure elections and democracies are inclusive, and why these issues should be considered by U.S. policymakers.

There will be opportunity for Q&A. Light refreshments will be served.

Follow the conversation on Twitter @IFES1987 and @IFESGender and by searching #SDG5 and #HerVoteHerVoice.