Asked about the conference, H.E. Ambassador of Norway Karsten Klepsvik had this to say: “Gender equality is a human right, but we still see a persistent gap between men and women when it comes to participation in politics and in the workforce. Guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential is essential not only for attaining gender equality, but also for meeting a wide range of international development goals. Women's empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality. It includes increasing a woman's sense of self-worth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources and her ability to effect change.”

The conference will bring together leading voices in business and politics to share experiences and practices for recognising and utilising the full potential of women. How do you motivate and empower women to make important life decisions in a context where these possibilities was previously denied? How can we foster the potential of women to aim higher in their professional aspirations? How can women operate across sectors on equal terms with men? How can we best engineer the public sphere to create equal opportunities for everyone?

Representatives from the Norwegian and Lithuanian public and private sectors will share and discuss their personal opinions and experiences on what measures can be taken politically and socially to encourage women’s participation in business and politics.