As part of the Women in Parliament (WIP) Conference that was held at the European Parliament (November 27-29, 2013), the World Bank organized a workshop attended by about 50 participants on the theme of "Advancing Economic Opportunities for Women: What role for parliamentarians?". Hon. Della Sowah a Ghanaian MP, moderated the panel, which consisted of World Bank experts and Hon. Irene Addo Ghana MP and member of the Board of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF. The aim of the presentations was to highlight women's economic opportunities in Africa (Luc Christiaensen), Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Mamta Murthi) and Middle East and North Africa (Bernard Funk). The discussions also included the role of parliamentarians and how the Bank can include messages from policymakers into its work.
The WIP Conference was attended by about 500 participants worldwide -all influential legislators- with the aim of launching the Women in Parliaments Global Forum as a new assembly that brings together female parliamentarians from across the world to debate and propose solutions to problems affecting women globally.
