On 7 March, in the margins of the 67th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, the Council of Europe organised a side-event on: “Responding to Regional and Global Challenges: Protecting the Rights of Migrant, Refugee and Asylum-seeking Women and Girls” . The event was co-organised with the Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations and the Icelandic Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
This side-event highlighted the challenges and specific needs of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls, and outlined the existing legal framework, providing useful guidance. It brought together leaders, partners and civil society representatives to foster an understanding of how gender aspects intersect with migration, and it will promote gender equality and human dignity. The event was opened by Prime Minister of Iceland Katrin Jakobsdóttir and moderated by Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity. The panel of speakers included the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Migration and Refugees, Leyla Kayacik.