The 5th annual North Texas United Nations (UN) Conference on Women will convene on the campus of The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3. The theme for this year’s one-day conference is “Saving Women’s Lives,” and attendees will learn about ways to make the health and safety of women a top priority in lectures, special sessions and group discussions.

Speakers will include Wariara Mbugua, chief, Gender Issues Branch, UN Population Fund, who will discuss “Saving Women’s Lives: A Global View;” Alexander Sanger, chairperson, International Planned Parenthood Council, who will talk about “Reproductive Health: Past and Future;” Noeleen Heyzer, executive director, UNIFEM, who will address “Women: A Leadership Paradigm for the 21st Century Challenge;” and Suzanne Wills, CPA, Drug Policy Forum, who will discuss “The Influence of the United Nations on Drug Policy.”

As in the past, this year’s conference is a community-based event, planned and developed through the efforts of volunteers, including faculty and students from area universities and volunteers from community groups throughout North Texas. Keynote and lead speakers for the breakout sessions are donating their time and knowledge to the event.

The conference originated at UTD in 1997 under the direction of the late Dr. Rita Mae Kelly, former dean of UTD’s School of Social Sciences, and is sponsored by The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Empowerment and Global-Local Equity (EAGLE Center), The United Nations Association Dallas Chapter and Texas Division, as well as several others.

Dr. Kelly became interested in establishing a conference about global issues affecting women after attending the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. The Dallas chapter of the UN Association later contacted her about bringing the conference to the UTD campus.

Dr. Marianne Stewart, acting dean of UTD’s School of Social Sciences, says she believes the conference will provide vital knowledge to those interested in improving gender relations and the well-being of women and girls in Texas, as well as globally.

The fee to participate in the conference, which will take place at the UTD Conference Center, ranges from $30 to $60, depending on which events attendees choose to take part in and when attendees register (fees increase after Oct. 17). Pre-registration is encouraged. Visit www.utdallas.edu/dept/socsci/ or call (972) 883-2935 for additional information.

About UTD

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 7,000 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s Web site at www.utdallas.edu.