"4^th Forum of the Global Leadership Initiative on Gender Equality in Cities (2006-2009)"

Atlanta, Georgia November 2008

As a member of the UN's UNITAR and CIFAL program committee for the “Global Leadership Initiative on Gender Equality in Cities Conferences”, Astrid attended the fourth forum “Gender Governance and Economic Empowerment in the Americas” held in Atlanta November 20-21, 2008.  Astrid is also the Gender Equality consultant for Fulton County which was the lead sponsor of this year's event. She was more than a little proud of the amazing work Fulton County has achieved in gender equality under the leadership of Fulton County Commissioner Nancy Boxill. Commissioner Boxill is the epitome of what it takes to successfully launch major changes in mindsets around gender – a passionate champion!

The United Nations' Fourth Forum on the Global Leadership Initiative on Gender Equality in Cities organized by the UN agencies UNITAR and CIFAL Atlanta was held in Atlanta in November. Chaired by Fulton County Commissioner Nancy Boxill and attended by the Mayor of Atlanta Shirley Franklin, former Prime Minister of Jamaica the Rt. Honorable Portia Simpson Miller, Ambassador Maria del Lujan Flores of the Organization of American States, Raquel C. Kismer Secretary of the Interior Ministry of Argentina, Agnes Scott College President Elizabeth Kiss and 40 delegates from the Americas,  the conference was the third in the global series on best practices in gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting for municipal government officials to be held in Atlanta.

Using the UNITAR self assessment model for Gender Equality in Municipal Governments, participants worked together to establish their individual  level of awareness and achievement  about gender equality in each of eleven gender categories. Once the self assessment was completed, participants chose three priority areas they would focus on in the following year, established what level they wished to achieve and then worked with other municipalities who had more experience in these areas to develop concrete action plans for implementing their top three priorities.

There were also a number of interesting “Best Practice” presentations where participants were able to share their successful experiences with colleagues. Fulton County made an extensive presentation on the impressive progress they have achieved over the past year with Fulton County Manager Zachary Williams and five of his senior staff making presentations and fielding questions. From North America the cities of San Francisco, Washington DC and Montreal made presentations. Gender and Governance in the America's best practices were presented by the Organization of American States, Inter-American Commission on Women, UN Instraw and the Jamaica Office of Women's Affairs.

Participants left the conference with concrete action plans for their municipality in hand, a network of relationship around the hemisphere to support their work and renewed motivation having seen so much excellent work being achieved by so many parties.