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The Second Conference on WoMen and Democracy, Reykjavik - Vilnius will be held in Vilnius on 15-17 June 2001. 1999 Reykjavik Conference "Women and Democracy" entrusted Lithuania to welcome guests from five Nordic states, three Baltic States, the USA and Russia. Vilnius Conference also extended invitations to the representatives of Poland, Germany, Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers. Hosts of the Conference-H.E.Mr. Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania and Mrs. Alma Adamkiene. Guest of honour- H.E. Ms. V.Vike-Freiberge, President of Latvia. More than 500 participants are expected to come to the conference, including European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou, Commissioner of the Council of the Baltic Sea States on Democratic Development Helle Degn, First Deputy Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Ms Sirkka-Liisa Anttila, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Mr. Soren Christensen, Head of the IOM Regional Bureau for the Nordic and Baltic countries Mr. Jose-Angelo Oropeza, Minister of Gender Equality of Denmark Ms. Lotte Bundsgaard, Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia Mr. Eiki Nestor, Minister of Social Affairs of Iceland Mr. Pall Petursson, Minister of Welfare of Latvia Mr. Andrejs Požarnovs, Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania Ms. Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Minister of Gender Equality of Sweden Ms. Margareta Winberg, Minister of Health and Social Services of Finland Mr. Osmo Soinivaara. It is expected that the Conference would facilitate more active cooperation among the participating countries in dealing with issues of equal opportunities for men and women, initiate new international projects, promote closer cooperation among nongovernmental organizations and attract more attention to equal opportunities for men and women in contemporary democratic society. Equal opportunities are an inseparable part of the democratic process. Equal participation of genders in state structures, various professional areas or business is one of the most important conditions for the creation of open democratic society. Two plenary sessions devoted to the topics "Future Challenges for Gender Equality Work" and "Trafficking in Women: Protection and Prevention" will take place at the Conference. Twelve workshops such as "Economic and Labour Policy from a Gender Perspective", "Women and Entrepreneurship", "Developing Leadership Skills", "Governments Promoting Gender Equality with the Input of NGOs on International Level", "Governments Promoting Gender Equality with the Input of NGOs on National Level", "Municipality Promoting Gender Equality with the Input of NGOs", "Media Promoting Gender Equality", "Men Promoting Gender Equality", "The Social Partners promoting Gender Equality in Working Life", "Young Women and Men: New Challenges", "Crossing Borders against Trafficking in Women", "Gender Aspects on Minorities" will be organized. As a host country Lithuania is invited to chair workshop "Governments promoting gender equality with the inputs on NGO's on national level".Vice Minister for Social Security and Labour Mr.Rimantas Kairelis will be chairing person and Head of the Division of Equality, Ministry of Family of Germany Ms. Brigite Unger-Soyka will be co-chairing person. Workshop will be concentrated on development of legislation, development of national institutional mechanisms, implementation of gender mainstreaming strategy, gender equality programs, covering all critical areas, cooperation with non-governmental organizations and as a result will initiate bilateral and multilateral projects related to these issues. Lithuania is also invited to co-chair workshop "Crossing borders against trafficking in women". Deputy Chairman of the Board of Lithuanian Parliament Mr. Gintaras Steponavičius will be co-chairing person and Minister of Gender Equality of Sweden Ms. Margareta Winberg will be chairing person. Violence against women, prostitution and trafficking in women are sore issues and a big international problem. Therefore activities of this working group initiated by Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou together with Sweden are to be treated as a very important step. Final document of the UN GA Special Session foresees actions to be taken in this field through a comprehensive anti- trafficking strategy consisting of legislative measures, prevention campaigns, exchange of information assistance and protection for and reintegration of the victims and prosecution of all the offenders involved, including the intermediaries also strengthening of national mechanisms, international cooperation and partnership with non-governmental organizations. Taking steps to combat this, National program on control and prevention of prostitution and trafficking in women is to be adopted by the Government of Lithuania to the end of May of this year. This program includes actions and measures of the prevention of trafficking in women and protection of the victims of trafficking. Media representatives are invited to participate. Information on the program of the conference and practical arrangements will be available at the Information and Culture Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania at: fax: 370 2 362487, 370 2 621657, tel.: 370 2 362453, 370 2 362454, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], valdas.steponavicius@urm.lt, website: http://www.womenanddemocracy.lt