2015’s Gender Gap Report showed that progress towards equality has slowed. This depressing news informed the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day - Pledge for Parity.
The global campaign calls for women and men to make pledges to “take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly”. Suggestions for these steps include: supporting girls to help them achieve their ambitions, making demands for equality in leadership and ensuring women get fair pay for their work.
What are the remaining obstacles to girls education, reaching equal political representation and economic equity around the world? Why is progress slowing down in some places? And what are the practical actions that can hasten the long march to gender equality?
Join an expert panel on Thursday 10 March, 1-3pm GMT, to discuss these questions and more.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). Get in touch via globaldevpros@theguardian.com or @GuardianGDP on Twitter to recommend someone for our expert panel. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #globaldevlive.
The panel
Patricia T. Morris, president, Women Thrive Worldwide, Washington DC, USA, @PatThrive
Patricia has had a 20-year career in gender mainstreaming, previously at Peace X Peace, Women for Women International and InterAction.
Gayatri Buragohain, executive director, Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT), New Delhi, India, @fattechy
Gayatri works to promote equal participation of women in usage, creation and decision-making around technology.
Åsa Skogström Feldt, president and CEO, The Hunger Project, New York, USA, @asaskogstrom
Åsa has a background in international business and is passionate about sustainable development and a world with equality, dialogue and dignity for all.
Asif Saleh, senior director, Brac, Dhaka, Bangladesh, @asifsaleh
Asif is in charge of strategy, comms and empowerment related programmes at Brac. In 2013 he was named World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
Njideka Harry, president & CEO, Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF), Louisville, USA, @njidekaharry
Njideka is passionate about the use of appropriate technology at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship for development. She is an Ashoka Fellow.
Barbara Rodriguez, assistant director, women’s empowerment programme, The Asia Foundation, Washington DC, USA, @barbilucia
Barbara has been working to advance women’s political participation, economic opportunities, and rights and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Christine Hunter, country representative, UN Women, Dhaka, Bangladesh, @UNWomenCHunter
Chris has worked for women’s rights as a policymaker, researcher, development practitioner and activist.
Mandana Hendessi, country director - Kurdistan region of Iraq and Afghanistan, Women for Women International, London, UK, @womenforwomenUK
Mandana oversees the implementation and development of Women for Women’s programmes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Aya Kibesaki, senior education specialist, Global Partnership for Education, Washington DC, USA
Aya has been working on policy development and programme management for equity in education, with particular focus on gender and girls’ education.
