The work of GRÓ presented to European National Commissions for UNESCO

GRÓ, and in particular the work of the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Program (GEST), was presented today to European National Commissions for UNESCO that are in Reykjavík for the 6th meeting of their Informal Network, that is co-hosted by Canada and Iceland.

Ms. Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director General of GRÓ, presented the history of GRÓ and its four training programmes on geothermal energy, sustainable fisheries, land restoration and gender equality. GRÓ is the first multidisciplinary Category 2 Centre at UNESCO.

The academic coordinator of GRÓ-GEST, Dr. Thomas Brorsen Smidt, and GEST fellows from the 2022 cohort, Ms. Sandani Abeywardena and Ms. Lahya Shikongo, then presented the work and activities of GEST and how their time at GRÓ GEST over the last five months will benefit them in applying gender perspectives in their work after they return back home.

Ms. Abeywardena, who is an Attorney-at-Law at the Chambers of Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane in Sri Lanka, spoke about the curriculum content of the GEST Programme and how it has influenced her work. Ms. Shikongo presented her own research for her final project on Namibian women in security and peacekeeping.