Minister Barbara Steffens and the Representation of the State of North Rhine-
Westphalia to the European Union are pleased to invite you to the discussion

Refugee Women on the Move
Wednesday, 16th November 2016 from 19h00 onwards, Rue Montoyer 47, 1000 Brussels
At least half of the refugees worldwide are women. Like men, women flee from war, prosecution, torture and poverty. They are however confronted with human rights violations and dangers that exclusively or very often affect women in particular, such as genital mutilation, forced marriages or rape. They are in search of protection, security and a better life for them and their children. Often they are on their own and experience
unimaginable things on their flight. When they arrive in Europe, they are often traumatized. The accommodation in crowded and provisionary housings not infrequently leads to anew exposures to violence and the worsening of their situation. Desperate and strong at the same time, these women seek a better future and fight for their survival on a daily basis, some already for a few years. North Rhine-Westphalia takes diverse measures to improve the reception, support and integration of refugees. The different services of support focus on the group of traumatized refugee women, a group that particularly deserves protection.
Keynote:

No protection – anywhere Refugee women and children on the move
Maria von Welser, journalist and publicist

Panel discussion:
Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Co-Chair of the intergroup LGBT rights and leader of the delegation of the Austrian Green Party;
Dr. h. c. Esther Mujawayo-Keiner, Sociologist, trauma therapist, author from Rwanda, co-founder of the association Widows of the Genocide April 1994;
Dagmar Schumacher, Director UN Women Brussels Office;
Barbara Steffens, Minister for Health, Equalities, Care and Ageing of the State North Rhine-Westfalia
Moderation:
Ralph Sina, WDR/NDR, Head of Studio Brussels
Please register by sending a mail to: event.nrw@lv-eu.nrw.de
The event will be simultaneously translated (EN-DE, DE-EN).
Refreshments respecting different diets will be offered after the discussion.