Discussion guide for the ministerial round tables to be held under the priority theme “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”

In its resolution 2015/6 on the future organization and methods of work of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Economic and Social Council decided that the session of the Commission would include a ministerial segment to reaffirm and strengthen political commitment to the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as well as their human rights, and to ensure high - level engagement and the visibility of the deliberations of the Commission, and that the segment would include ministerial round tables or other high-level interactive dialogues.

In accordance with the multi-year programme of work of the Commission, as contained in Economic and Social Council resolution 2016/3, the Commission will consider “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls” as its priority theme for the sixty-second session, to be held from 12 to 23 March 2018. Further to that decision, it is proposed that, at that session, the Commission hold ministerial round tables to provide ministers with opportunities for high-level engagement on key issues arising under the priority theme.