Schedule of Events

The United States Department of State

Presents the

Senior Roundtable for Women’s Justice

Special Address: Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice

Keynote Address:
Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (Ret.)
Andrea Jung, Chairman & CEO of Avon Porducts, Inc.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (By invitation only)

On March 12, 2008, in honor of International Women’s Day, the United States will host a global forum for women’s justice, bringing together judges from around the world to achieve the following objectives:

• Recognize the global severity of violence against women and women’s lack of access to justice.
• Share best practices to combat violence against women and improve women’s legal enfranchisement.
• Develop an Action Plan to identify and combat the most urgent obstacles to women’s justice.

Contact: Gerda Lane – 202-647-7282 or womensempowerment@state.gov

PROGRAM

08:15 – Shuttle from River Inn Hotel to U.S. Department of State

08:30 – 09:00 - Registration

09:00 – 09:10 – Opening of Roundtable

• Roundtable opened by:
  • Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for Women’s Empowerment
  • Kim K. Azzarelli, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Avon Products, Inc.
• Remarks by John B. Bellinger, Legal Adviser, United States Department of State

09:10: – 10:30: Panel 1 – Domestic Violence

• This panel will assess global patterns in domestic violence. Senior judges worldwide will discuss legal obstacles and best practices in assisting victims of domestic violence to receive justice.
• Discussion Leaders
  • Professor Elizabeth Schneider, Brooklyn Law School, Moderator
  • The Honorable Sandra Lynch, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • The Honorable Gill Freeman, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
  • Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Secretary-General, The National Council for Family Affairs, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

10:30 – 11:50: Panel 2 – Access to Justice

• Women worldwide lack access to institutions of justice, however the scope of this problem varies between nations. This panel features legal practitioners in developed, developing, and post-conflict countries, who will highlight the unique challenges women face in accessing legal systems.
• Discussion Leaders:
  • Ana Palacio, Senior Vice President and World Bank Group General Counsel, Moderator
  • The Honorable Ann Claire Williams, United States Court of Appeals for the 7^th Circuit
  • The Honorable Leslie Alden, Fairfax County Circuit Court, Virginia
  • The Honorable Jamesetta Howard-Wolokolie, Supreme Court of Liberia

11:50 – 12:50: Lunch

13:00 – 14:00: Case Study – The San Diego Family Justice Center

• The San Diego Family Justice Center was created as a full-service center for domestic violence victims. After a reduction of nearly 95% in domestic violence homicides, it is hailed as a national and international model of a comprehensive victim service and support center. This discussion will feature the community advocates involved in creating this model.
• Discussion Leaders:
  • Andrea Bottner, Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues, United States Department of State, Moderator
  • Casey Gwinn, President of the National Family Justice Center Alliance
  • Sue Else, President of the National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund

14:00 – 14:45: Keynote addresses

• Special Address by:
  • Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
• Remarks by:
  • Sandra Day O’Connor, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (Ret.)
  • Andrea Jung, Chairman and CEO of Avon Products, Inc.

14:45 – 16:30: Next Steps

• Discussion of case studies concludes and participants identify steps for future collaboration and action.
• Facilitated by:
  • Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for Women’s Empowerment
  • Kim K. Azzarelli, Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Avon Products, Inc.

16:30: Reception

• Participants are invited to a reception in the Delegate’s Lounge, directly across from the Loy Henderson Auditorium.

17:45: Shuttle Departs for River Inn Hotel