09.00-10.30
Session 1
Chairperson: - Heidi Volkwyn, World Blind Union Women’s Forum , South Africa

9:00 - 9:15
Recorded Music, National Anthem Welcome and greetings, from a number of women including the WBU President, Kicki Nordstrom

9:50 - 10:10
Opening Address

10:10 - 10:15
List of Participants read, Performance by blind women from South Africa

10:30 - 11:00
Break

11:00 - 12:30
Session 2
Chairperson: Jasmine Khoo , Malaysia

“Leadership”

• What Is Leadership Topic Qualities of a Good Leader
• The Tools for Leadership and how to use when working within an existing structure
• Round Table discussions followed by 1,2 questions or comments to the panel from each table

12:30 - 13:30
Lunch

13.30-15.00
Session 3
Concurrent Workshops

Workshop A
Mentoring Chairperson - Maryanne Diamond, Chair, WBU Women’s Committee

Workshop B
Communication Chairperson - Sonia Povis, Chair, ULAC Women’s Committee

Workshop C
Strategic Planning Chairperson - Penny Hartin, Chair, North America AND THE Caribbean Women’s Committee

Workshop D
Lobbying Chairperson - Manjula Rath, Chair, ABU Women’s Committee

Workshop E
Teamwork Chairperson - Birgitta Blockland, Chair, EBU Women’s Committee

15:00 - 15:30
Break

15:30 - 17:00
Session 4
Chairperson: Geoff Gibbs, WBU Treasurer and linkperson to the Women’s Committee

Exploring Innovative and Creative opportunities for Small Business employment for blind women
Questions, comments and discussion from the floor

Evening free

09:00 - 10:30
Session 5
Chairperson: Birgitta Blockland , Netherlands

“Violence”

• Physical Violence
• EBU project on combating violence against blind and partially sighted women
• Linkages with existing programs and services to insure the needs of bind women are included
• Round Table discussions followed by 1,2 questions or comments to the panel from each table

10:30 - 11:00
Break

11.00-12.30
Session 6
Chairperson: Maryanne Diamond , Australia

Regional Reports
A panel consisting of the six regional Chairs from the WBU regional committees on the status of blind women and the Chair of WBU Women’s Committee

Each person will give a 5-minute presentation highlighting activities over the last four years followed by questions from the floor

Speakers

• Maryanne Diamond, WBU Women’s Committee , Australia
• Emma Parker, AFBU Women’s Committee , Sierra Leone
• Jasmine Khoo, WBU-AP women’s Committee , Malaysia
• Manjula Rath, ABU Women’s Committee , India
• Birgitta Blockland, EBU Women’s Committee , Netherlands
• Penny Hartin, North American and the Caribbean Women’s Committee , Canada
• Sonia Povis, Women’s Committee ULAC, Peru

12:30 – 13:30
Lunch

13:30 - 15:00
Session 7
Chairperson: - Penny Hartin, Canada

“Rights”

• UN Convention
• How to influence Legislation
• Self Advocacy and the Right of choice including Parenting
• Round Table discussions followed by 1,2 questions or comments from each table to the panel

15:00 - 15:30
Break

15:30 - 17:00
Session 8
Chairperson: - Heidi Volkwyn , South Africa

15:30 - 16:00
Presentation and discussion of resolutions Presenter Chair, Resolutions Committee

16:00 - 16:15
Summary of the forum Presenter Barbara Pierson, USA

Closing Remarks:
Maryanne Diamond , Australia
Kicki Nordstrom, President, Sweden

An Informal Farewell Dinner