Highland lecturer speaks at United Nations

A lecturer from the University of the Highlands and Islands spoke at the United Nations (UN) in New York this week.

Dr Jim MacPherson from the university's Centre for History was invited to speak at an event on ‘Women and Diaspora’ organised by the Armenian and Cypriot Permanent Missions to the UN. Speaking about his research on Irish women abroad to the 100-strong audience, Dr MacPherson explained how policy makers can learn from the past.

Dr MacPherson was part of a panel of policy experts from around the globe invited to share their ideas about how the UN should help promote greater gender equality. He concluded his speech by calling on the UN to “embrace the potential of women to become global actors through diaspora organisations and, in the process, challenge and change gender conventions and promote a greater freedom of gender identity.” Other speakers included lawyer and human rights activist Semhar Araia, founder of the Diaspora Africa Women’s Network, and former New York judge Harriet Pavles George.

The event, which took place on Monday (9 March) was part of the recent 59th UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. In summing up proceedings, the Armenian Ambassador to the UN, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, stated that the discussions would be a “springboard” to future policy discussions about women, migration and diaspora.

You can view Dr MacPherson’s talk on the UN Web TV website: http://webtv.un.org/watch/women-and-diaspora-from-past-to-post-2015-csw59-side-event/4101562206001