th Asian Women Parliamentarians’

5 and Ministers’ Conference

November 27-28, 2007 ❊ Beijing, China
 th
5
Asian Women
Parliamentarians’
and Ministers’ Conference
Educational Empowerment for Women and Girls:
Critical to Social and Economic Development
27-28 November 2007 ❊ Beijing, China

Organized by:

Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and

Development

In cooperation with:

Education, Science, Culture and Public Health

Committee of the National People’s Congress of China

All-China Women’s Federation

Government of Japan

United Nations Population Fund

INTRODUCTION
The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) is
pleased to announce that the 5th Asian Women Parliamentarians’ and Ministers’
Conference will be held on 27-28 November, 2007 at the Conference Center of the
National Peoples’ Congress in Beijing, China. Over 80 women parliamentarians
and ministers from Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, Europe and Africa are expected
to attend the conference, which will be hosted by the Education, Science, Culture
and Public Health Committee of the National People’s Congress of China and the
All-China Women’s Federation; and supported by UNFPA and the Government
of Japan.

The last conference, held in Wellington, New Zealand in 2006, discussed issues
related to gender-responsive governance and women’s participation in decision
making processes. The theme for the Beijing Conference is “Educational
Empowerment for Women and Girls: Critical to Social and Economic Development”.
The event will provide a new focus on education of girls and women. Education is
one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills
and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development process. It
can also be a means to improve the status of women; eliminate stereotypes; and
deconstruct negative, high-risk and sometimes harmful attitudes.

The conference will provide an opportunity to explore the links between women’s
education and outcomes in the areas of poverty reduction and income growth,
women’s political participation, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS,
trafficking, and violence against women. The event will bring together key experts
in the field to lead these important discussions. Since 2001, AFPPD has been
bringing women parliamentarians and ministers together in an effort to educate,
motivate and empower them through various information on women and related
issues.
AGENDA
MONDAY, 26 NOVEMBER

09.00-19.00 Registration of Participants at the Conference Center’s Lobby

TUESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER

07.30-08.30 Breakfast

08.30-09.00 Registration of Participants at the Conference Center’s Lobby

09.00-10.00 OPENING CEREMONY (Conference Hall, 2nd Floor)

Chair: Dr. Sang Guowei

Vice-Chairman of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health
of the National People’s Congress of China, and Vice-Chairman of AFPPD

Welcome Remarks
w Message of Congratulations from H.E. Wu Bangguo
Chairman of the Standing Committee, National People’s Congress of China
w Dr. Gill Greer
Director-General, IPPF
w Ms. Wakako Hironaka
MP (Japan)
w Mr. Bernard Coquelin
Representative, UNFPA-China

Greetings from European Parliamentary Forum

w Ms. Birute Vesaite
MP (Lithuania)
 Opening Remarks
w H.E. Gu Xiulian
Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee, National People’s
Congress of China

10.00-10.30 Tea Break

10.30-11.30 SESSION I: (Conference Hall, 2nd Floor)

Empowerment of Women and Girls, and the MDGs

Chair: To be identified

Speaker
w Dr. Arletty Pinel
Team Leader, Deliver Now for Women and Children, UNFPA

(Followed by Discussion)

11.30-12.30 SESSION II:

Education, The Cornerstone to Improved Sexual and Reproductive Health

Chair: Ms. Riffat Javaid Kahlon

MP (Pakistan)

Speakers
w Dr. Raj Karim
Regional Director, IPPF
w Dr. Ahn Myung Ock
MP (South Korea)

(Followed by Discussion)

12.30-13.30 Lunch
13.30-15.00 SESSION III:
Exploring the Links Between the Type and Level of Education Women
Receive, and Income and Economic Growth

Chair: To be identified

Panel Discussion
w Mr. David Dollar
Director, World Bank-China
w Ms. Jill Pettis
MP (New Zealand)

(Followed by Discussion)

15.00-15.30 Tea Break

15.30-16.30 SESSION IV:

Culture, Tradition and Engaging Men: Education that Changes
Attitudes and Behaviors

Chair: Ms. Khuon Sudar

MP (Cambodia)

Panel Discussion
w Ms. Chew Mei Fun
MP (Malaysia) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Women, Family
and Community Development
w Ms. Zhao Di
Member of the Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of the National People’s
Congress of China
w Parliamentarian from India (tbc)

(Followed by Discussion)
16.30-17.30 SESSION V:
Confronting HIV/AIDS Through Education

Chair: To be identified

Panel Discussion
w Dr. Gopakumar Nair
Global HIV Policy Advisor and Manager, Save the Children-UK
w Ms. Francesca Riannah Semoso
MP (Papua New Guinea)
w Ms. Fang Xin
Member of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health of the National
People’s Congress of China

(Followed by Discussion)

18.00 Participants Assemble at the Conference Center’s Lobby and Proceed to the Great
Hall of People

18.30-20.00 Welcome Reception Hosted by H.E. Gu Xiulian, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing

Committee, National People’s Congress of China

20.30 Arrival at the Conference Center (from the Great Hall of People)

20.30-21.30 AFPPD’s Executive Committee Meeting

WEDNESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER

07.30-08.30 Breakfast

09.00-10.00 SESSION VI: (Conference Hall, 2nd Floor)

Violence Against Women, and Trafficking of Girls and Women in the Region:
How Education can Make a Difference
 Chair: To be identified

Panel Discussion
w Ms. Ryratana Rangsitpol
National Programme Officer, UNIFEM
w Dr. Girja Vyas
Chair, National Commission for Women, India
w Ms. Darlene Custodio
MP (Philippines)

(Followed by Discussion)

10.00-10.30 Tea Break

10.30-11.30 SESSION VII:

Using Education as a Tool to Enhance Women’s Political Participation

Chair: Parliamentarian from Timor-Leste (tbc)

Speaker
w Hon. Phoebe Asiyo
Board Member of CEPDA

(Followed by Discussion)

11.30-12.30 SESSION VIII:

Parliamentarians Input to the Major Challenges and Opportunities for
Improving Women and Girls’ Education in the Region

Chair: To be identified

Panel Discussion
w Ms. Annisa Mahfudz
MP (Indonesia)
 w Ms. Pang Lijuan
Member of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health of the National
People’s Congress of China
w Ms. Baimagambetova Bagila
Deputy of International Affairs and Security, Kazakhstan
w Parliamentarian from Iran (tbc)

(Followed by Discussion)

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.00 SESSION IX:

The Way Forward: Donor Commitment to the Education of Women and Girls,
and Gender Sensitive Budgeting

Chair: To be identified

Panel Discussion
w Mr. John West
Director, OECD Forum
w Hon. Claire Moore
Senator of Australia

(Followed by Discussion)

15.00-15.30 SESSION X:
Adoption of the Joint Statement

Chair: To be identified

15.30-16.00 CLOSING CEREMONY

Closing Statement
w Ms. Zhu Lilan
Chairperson of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee,
National People’s Congress of China
16.30 Participants Assemble at the Conference Center’s Lobby and Proceed to the Great
Hall of People

17.00 Courtesy Call by Heads of Delegations on H.E. Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the

Standing Committee, National People’s Congress of China

17.30 Group Photo of all Participants

17.45 Arrival at the Conference Center (from the Great Hall of People)

18.30-20.00 Dinner Reception Hosted by Mme. Zhu Lilan, Chairperson of the Education,
Science, Culture and Public Health Committee, National People’s Congress of
China

THURSDAY, 29 NOVEMBER

Departure of Participants
INFORMATION
VENUE
The Conference Hall (2nd Floor)
Conference Center of the National People’s Congress
G ₼⦌▦℻導⩝◉導䤖⩝㫈▦嫦⚆
2 Xihuangchenggenbei St., Xicheng District
Beijing 100034, China
Tel : +861063091999 Fax: +861063091909

œ
DATES
Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 November, 2007 (Please arrive in Beijing on Monday
26 November and leave on Thursday 29 November)

ACCOMMODATION
G All participants will have a room booked for them in the Conference Center of the
National People’s Congress (NPC). The conference center offers room accommodation
for participants.

ROOM CHARGES
For participants who have been offered full financial support, the single room charge
will be borne by the organizers, excluding incidental expenses charged to the room
such as telephone calls, mini-bar, room service, laundry, charges for additional
person(s) etc. Kindly ascertain the charge of a service before using the facility. Please
$ settle your incidental expenses before departure. We understand that person(s)
accompanying the participants and observers will take care of their own expenses.

If participants wish to make international calls in their room, a credit card or a deposit
payment should be given to the front desk in advance.

DSA
Participants who have been offered full financial support will be provided with a
 Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to cover expenses for meals not provided for
during meeting days, airport taxes, and other incidental expenses. Any participant
$ who is unable to stay for the duration of the meeting is requested to inform the
Secretariat as soon as possible after arrival, so that the subsistence allowance can
be adjusted accordingly.

MEALS
Breakfast will start at 7.30-8.30 a.m. in Haoyuan Hall (1st Floor). Breakfast is included
ä in the hotel room charge. Lunch will also be provided at the same hall. Reception
dinners will be held in the Great Hall of People on Tuesday 27 November, and in
Haoyuan Hall on Wednesday 28 November, at 6.30-8.00 p.m.

VISA
Participants should obtain their visas before coming to China. They should bring the
Q letter of invitation to the Chinese Embassy as reference to their request for visa. As
for participants from countries that do not have a Chinese Embassy, contact AFPPD
or Mr. Mao Junfeng of NPC-China directly.

AIRPORT TRANSPORT
Airport Transfer (in & out) is arranged for the participants, provided their arrival and
departure flight details were informed not later than Wednesday 21 November. NPC
staff will be welcoming all participants at the airport’s arrival area. In case participants
were unable to meet the parliament staff, a taxi can be hired from the arrival hall. Taxi
should take around 1 ½ hours from the airport to the conference center and costs
Q around 100-200 RMB. The taxi fare is already covered in DSA.

Upon their departure, participants are kindly requested to meet the NPC staff at the
time agreed in the lobby. (Please inform AFPPD/NPC Secretariat in advance if they
have changed their return flight)

AIR TICKET REIMBURSEMENT

Q For those whose tickets are to be reimbursed, please bring the original invoice together
with a photocopy of their air tickets at the time of registration.
 INSURANCE

ž Participants are requested to obtain their health insurance before travelling as

medical treatment in China is costly. AFPPD is not responsible for health and accident
insurance.

REGISTRATION
Participants are kindly requested to register upon arrival to the conference center.
Registration will take place in the lobby near the reception desk at 9.00a.m.-7.00
p.m. on Monday 26 November. Participants who arrive late are requested to register
at the same place on Tuesday 27 November at 8.30-9.00 a.m., before the meeting
commences. At registration, participants will receive their identity badge and
information kit. The identity badge gives entry to the conference venue.

ž Participants’ photo will be taken on site and an identity badge with the photo will
be issued to them within a few minutes. Their patience in this process is highly
appreciated.

The conference center also serves as the office building of the National People’s
Congress of China. Participants are requested to wear their identity badges at all
occasions. For security reasons, admission to the meeting venue and programme
activities will only be limited to those wearing the identity badges.

LANGUAGES

i Simultaneous interpretations will be provided in Chinese, English, Japanese and

Russian.

WEATHER
ü Winter season in China starts in the end of November. The temperature will range
from 0 to 10 degrees Celsius at this time so kindly wear warm clothing.

CURRENCY
Chinese Yuan (RMB) exchange counters are open at the airport and in the city. A
$ foreign exchange service is also available in the reception area of the conference
center. The current rate is USD 1 to approximately 7.5 RMB.
 TIME ZONE
Q Beijing is GMT +8 hours.

È MOBILE PHONE
The mobile phone network in China uses GSM standard.

i
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
24-Hour Helpline (provided by the Chinese Secretariat): 63091654
Conference Center of the National People’s Congress : +861063091999
Beijing Tourist Hotline: 65130828

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For additional information, please contact:

Mr. Mao Junfeng

Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee
National People’s Congress of China
23 Xi Jiao Min Xiang, West District
Beijing 100805, China
Tel: +861063098524 Fax: +861063097914
Email: mjfgary@hotmail.com, maojunfeng@npc.gov.cn

i
Ms. Carla Benham
Programme Associate
Phone: +66817540043
e-mail: pariyaporn@afppd.org
Ms. Pariyaporn Sappapan
Administrative Associate
Phone: +66817540043
E-mail: afppd@afppd.org

Mr. Philip Nalangan AFPPD in Bangkok

Editorial Associate
Phone: +66817540043
e-mail: philip@afppd.org
Phyathai Plaza Building, Suite 9-C
Phyathai Road, Rachathewi
Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +6622192903/4; Fax: +6622192905
Email: afppd@afppd.org
Website : www.afppd.org

At the hotel, please contact the reception desk, AFPPD Secretariat (Room V, 2nd
Floor) or NPC Secretariat (Room VI, 2nd Floor)
Location Map of the Conference Center of the
National People’s Congress
 Conference Center of the National People’s
Congress (2nd Floor) ↩帽₼㉒ℛ⻑㄂槱⦍᧤嗘⦍᧥

Meeting 㧉㓎
Meeting Meeting 㾦 Meeting Room V
㓚 Cloak Room
Room VII Room I Room III ℣↩ 嫲ヌ梃
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Elevator A
Lounge Lounge 㬾 Conference Hall
Room Room Restroom Elevator C
▔梃 ▔梃 㬾 ⮶䯋⪑

Escalator

Feng Wei Hall

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Restroom 㬾
Elevator B
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Meeting 㾦 Meeting Kindly take note:
Room II 㓚 Room IV
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Room VI
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 NOTES

Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development

Phyathai Plaza Building, Suite 9-C, Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +6622192903/4; Fax: +6622192905
Email: afppd@afppd.org; Website : www.afppd.org
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on
Population and Development
Phyathai Plaza Building, Suite 9-C
Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel: +6622192903/4; Fax: +6622192905
Email: afppd@afppd.org
Website : www.afppd.org

Education, Science, Culture and Health

Committee
National People’s Congress of China
23 Xi Jiao Min Xiang, West District
Beijing 100805, China
Tel: +861063098524 Fax: +861063097914

All-China Women’s Federation

15 Jianguomennei Daijie
Dongcheng District
Beijing 100730, China
Tel: +861065103550 Fax: +861085112107
Website : www.women.org.cn

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kasumigaseki 2-2-1, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 1008919, Japan
Tel: +81335803311
Website : www.mofa.go.jp

United Nations Population Fund

220 East, 42nd Street
New York 10007, USA
Tel: +12122975114; Fax: +12125576416
Website : www.unfpa.org

Cover by: Philip Nalangan