On December 4 and 5, 2024, the Sixty-Sixth Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean will be held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile. Organized by ECLAC in its role as Secretariat of the Conference, in collaboration with UN Women, this meeting serves as a critical space for evaluating progress on gender equality in the region.
One of the main items on the agenda will be the upcoming XVI Regional Conference on Women, to be held in Mexico in 2025. Government delegations will examine the progress made in preparations for this event, which will address the theme, "Transformations in the political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental spheres to promote the care society and gender equality." This intergovernmental gathering in Mexico will discuss how building a care society can provide a transformative response to the crises facing the region, fostering a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable development path where care policies are key to reducing gender inequalities and generating greater social well-being.
The 66th Meeting of the Presiding Officers, attended by Ministers of Women and senior officials from the National Machineries for the Advancement of Women in the region, will also feature a special regional consultation session prior to the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).
A day prior, on December 3, the Civil Society Forum will take place as preparation for the regional consultation. Additionally, there will be an informative meeting with strategic partners of the Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean (OIG), a key tool for monitoring progress on the Regional Gender Agenda.
On December 4, the 66th Meeting of the Presiding Officers will be officially inaugurated, followed by the approval of the provisional agenda and reports on the OIG and the Regional Fund for Women's and Feminist Organizations and Movements. This day will also include the special regional consultation session.
Finally, on December 5, the regional consultation will continue, and preparations for the XVI Regional Conference on Women in Mexico will be discussed. The day will conclude with the consideration and approval of agreements and the closing session.
The 66th Meeting of the Presiding Officers will be a key moment for coordinating regional efforts and promoting public policies that strengthen the autonomy of women and gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean.