Under the Auspices of her Excellency Mrs Leila Ben Ali Wife of His Excellency the President of the Republic And on the occasion of the celebration of the international women’s day UNFT & SAWID organize a conference Tunis, March 8th, 2007

Program & communications :

9.00 – 10.00 am Opening Ceremony:
* Welcoming remarks
  • Ms Aziza Htira
   President of UNFT
  • Ms Vuyo Mahlati:
  Chairman SAWID Development Caravan
* Official opening by Mr Sadok Chaabane Chairman of Tunisian Institute of the Strategiques Studies

10.00 am-11.30 First session: Women & Legislation.

Keynote speakers: Ms Faiza KEFI, 1st President of accounts’ Court
Panelists:
   o Ms Maite Mashabane, Ambassador and provincial Minister;
  o Ms Nassima Ghannouchi, Member of the Parliament and General Secretary of UNFT,
“Law reforms guarantee peace and prosperity”
   o Ms Vytjie Mentor, Member of the national parliament of South Africa
   o Ms Khadija Madani, Lawyer, “Factors contributing to the law reforms relative to Women”
   o Dr Cathi Albertyn, Professor University of Witwatersrand,
o Ms Souad Khalfallah, Lawyer & chair of the Alliance of women in legal professions (UNFT),
“The horizons of law reforms: The Tunisian Case”
o Ms Hazel Gumede-Shelton, CEDAW, Lawyer Constitutional Law “ “
   o Ms Yasmin Sooka, Lawyer, Chairman: Foundation for Human Rights “ “

11.30-12.00 am Coffee Break

12.00am – 2.00 pm Second session: Digital divide versus Women’s Role in a Knowledge Economy.

Keynote speakers: Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi: Minister of Public Service
Panelists:
   o Ms Lamia Chafai, CEO ANCE, “Women & ICT : after WSIS, Tunis phase »
   o Ms Jane Mosebi, Chairperson ICT on economic growth, communication
   o Ms Rim Belhaj, Executive Board UNFT, “ Empowering women in ICT : experience of UNFT”
   o Dr Moretlo Molefi, Distance Medical outreach through ICT, communication
   o Ms Leila benzarti, Chair of Women and NTIC Association, pcommunication
   o Ms Irene Charnley, MTN Vice President and SAWID trustee,
   o Ms Xoliswa Kakana, Chairperson of Women in ICT, “ “

2.00 3.30 pm Lunch Break

4.00 – 6. 00 pm Third session: Women’s participation in public life: Progress and challenges.
Keynote speakers: Neziha Zarrouk, Second Vice president of the Tunisian Chamber Chamber of Councillors.
Panelists:
   o Ms Salwa tarzi, Member of the Parliament & Executive Board UNFT, “Empowering women : A necessary condition for a sustainable development”
   o Ms Nomboniso Gasa, Gender Analyst & Author,
   o Ms Gloria Serobe, Founder and Executive Director ofWiphold
   o Ms Mounira Ben Fadhloun, Mayor of La Marsa « Women’s role in local development »
   o Dr Mohau Pheku, Economist, Joint steering Committee,
   o Ms Cheryl Carolus, Ambassador & Chairman Peotona
  o Ms Daphney Nkosi, Chairman Temoso ICT’s & Kalahari (Mining)

6.00 - 6.30 Closing Session: Recommendations and closing remarks