Women on the Frontlines: The Importance of the Empowerment of Female Refugees and Migrants for a Socially Inclusive Europe

Across the globe many women and girls still face discrimination on the basis of sex and gender. Gender inequality underpins many problems which disproportionately affect women and girls, such as domestic and sexual violence, lower pay, lack of access to education and inadequate healthcare. Female refugees and migrants in particular face heightened discrimination, violence and forced displacement at a time when support services are lacking.

As part of the occasion of the World Refugee Day, with the aim to build empathy and understanding for the plight of refugees and migrants and recognise their resilience in rebuilding their lives, the webinar “Women on the Frontlines: The Importance of the Empowerment of Female Refugees and Migrants for a Socially Inclusive Europe” brings together women from the field of social cohesion and women’s rights. It will address the challenges of social inclusion faced by female refugees and migrants, the actions currently being taken by key stakeholders to proactively support women and girls in their inclusion, and how intercultural and interreligious dialogue can contribute to building a more socially inclusive society. The webinar will also show a short video from the Network for Dialogue members, who share messages of solidarity and hope for the plight of refugees and migrants when moving to a new country.

SPEAKERS

Dr. Salome Mbugua

Commissioner for Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Co-President of the European Network of Migrant Women

Dr. Salome Mbugua is a Commissioner for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. As a researcher, gender equality activist and human rights advocate, Salome has over 20 years’ experience working with underrepresented groups, in particular women, children and youth, in Europe, Africa and internationally. Salome is also co-president of the European Network of Migrant Women, founder of AkiDwA, a migrant women’s network in Ireland where she heads the operation and strategy, and co-founder of Wezesha, an African Diaspora-led development organization where she works with women, children and youth affected by conflict, war violence and poverty. She serves on various advisory committees, expert groups and boards at the European level and in Ireland, and is chairperson of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion project board for Public Appointment Services in Ireland.

Ms. Anila Noor

Policy Advisor on Diversity, Integration & Gender Inclusion and Member of the Expert Group on the Views of Migrants in the field of Migration, Asylum & Integration

Anila Noor is a policy influencer for inclusion, diversity and social justice, Feminist Ecosystem Builder, activist, TEDx speaker and researcher based in the Netherlands. Anila recently became a member of the European Commission Expert Group and evaluator for AMIF calls, and tries to highlight the issue of refugee representation gap in the European Member States and at EU Institutions. As an advisor and expert consultant, she works with different institutions on designing engagement projects related to inclusion and diversity and designs and delivers trainings on refugees' meaningful participation. Anila also initiated and is managing director of New Women Connectors, a movement striving for mainstreaming the unheard voices of migrant and refugee women living across Europe. Anila is also a board member of the Women Leaders (GIRWL) and co-founder of the European Coalition of the Global Refugee Led Network.

Ms. Yadviga Kirdzik

Program Manager, ICMC Jordan

Yadviga Kirdzik is a Program Manager at the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Jordan, where she manages the ICMC’s Protection, Livelihoods and Humanitarian Assistance multi-donor programs. She is responsible for leading activities to identify vulnerable refugees, migrants and Jordanians for all ICMC Jordan programs. Yadviga is an emergency response professional with broad expertise in program management, capacity development, protection mainstreaming, child protection, gender issues, accountability to affected population and intercultural communication. She began her career with UNODC in Vienna in 2013 and went on to work in different positions within the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and Caritas partners. Yadviga holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Cambridge. She is fluent in English, Russian, Belarussian and Polish and is currently learning Arabic.

MODERATOR(S)

Amina Khalid

Head of Sustainable Communities Programme, Initiatives of Change

Amina Khalid has been working with Initiatives of Change for over 10 years and is currently Head of the Sustainable Communities Programme. She is a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and a Trustee for Somali Initiatives for Dialogue and Democracy (SIDD). Amina is also founder of Peace Begins at Home- an international inter-generational dialogue training created to empower and build bridges between the generations and policy makers. Amina has expertise in dialogue facilitation, mediation, communication and conflict resolution and has worked in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe. Amina’s passion lies in working with people of all backgrounds, ages and faiths to build bridges and unlock their full potential. In her role as an international advocate for peace she uses her language, public speaking and coaching skills to inspire, equip and connect individuals and organisations to become positive change agents. Amina holds a master’s degree in Equality and Diversity Policies.