The Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community participated in the seventh edition of the World Forum for Democracy held from 19 to 21 November, hosted by the Council of Europe.  The annual forum is a platform to bring together political decision-makers, reformers, and global leaders to identify democratic responses to social issues. The forum centered on Women and Democracy, and was entitled “Gender Equality: Whose Battle?”  

Over 2,000 participants from over 80 countries gathered for the event to focus on the key issues the forum raised. Participants explored these questions over the course of three days through plenary sessions and a series of thirteen labs and eight roundtable discussions.

Ms. Samira Gould, representing the BIC at the Forum  noted that “in advocating for gender equality, the realisation of equality of women and men as a fundamental truth about human reality and not just a desired condition to be achieved for the good of society is an essential requirement to profound transformation. In achieving gender equality, our aim must go further than merely opening the door for women to participate in society. Women and men must work together as they apply spiritual principles to the building of a new social dynamic characterized by justice, peace and collective progress.”

Echoing the report’s conclusions, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia and former chair of the Council of Europe noted that "Achieving equality is the responsibility of all of us. We need to strive to change mentalities, stereotypes, policies and practices."

The forum’s Final Report can be accessed here:

https://rm.coe.int/world-forum-for-democracy-2018-final-report/16809231b5

The forum’s Conclusions and Recommendations can be accessed here:

https://rm.coe.int/world-forum-for-democracy-2018-conclusions-and-recommendations/168091f52d