The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the governments of Sweden and Romania, and International IDEA held a hybrid event at Georgetown University ahead of the second Summit for Democracy.

The second Summit for Democracy is a key opportunity to recognize and incorporate gender equality across all democracy-building policies and initiatives. To support this goal the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the governments of Sweden and Romania, and International IDEA formed a Cohort on Gender Equality as a Prerequisite for Democracy. In collaboration with the U.S. government, the Cohort is working across policy and practice to elevate gender equality considerations throughout the Summit and provide concrete recommendations for governments and civil society partners to build greater democratic resilience.

Ahead of the second Summit for Democracy, the Cohort hosted a high-level event at Georgetown University to highlight the need for sustained efforts to address discriminatory gender norms that hinder the full and meaningful political participation and leadership of diverse women and girls. The event will also spotlight a new Network for Gender-Inclusive Democracy that USAID is bringing together to accelerate women’s political participation and serve as an entry point to advance the recommendations of the Gender Cohort. It will also showcase efforts by the US Department of State to advance the Presidential Initiatives for Democratic Reform, including through programs like SHE WINS and SHE PERSISTS which integrate women into peace building efforts in particularly vulnerable regions around the world.

Speakers

• Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States
• Tobias Billström, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs (recorded remarks)
• Bogdan Aurescu, Romanian Minister for Foreign Affairs (recorded remarks)
• H.E. Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States
• Jamille Bigio, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, USAID
• ​​Katrina “Kat” Fotovat, Senior Official to the Secretary of State in the Office of Global Women’s Issues, US Department of State
• Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of International IDEA; former Vice President of Costa Rica
• Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy in Ukraine
• Ikram Ben Said, Founder, Aswat Nissa, Tunisia
• Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security