Don’t Stop Them Now: Education Without Barriers
- Mar 10, 2026
- 10:00–111:15 a.m. (EST)
- Conference Room E - General Assembly Building (405 East 42nd Street, New York)
Gender-specific barriers can stop progress before it begins, holding girls and boys back from reaching their full potential and from having a good time in education systems that must not slow them down, but empower and accelerate their development.
The side event aims to highlight the role of States and educational institutions in removing structural barriers to safe and inclusive learning. It will examine how education systems can better respond to the diverse realities of girls and boys. The discussion will focus on measures to support girls’ participation in STEM, ensure access to free menstrual products, and address the needs of students facing intersecting forms of disadvantage. It will also address the importance of violence prevention programmes, both universally and specifically targeting boys at risk for developing unhealthy gender norms and aggressive behaviour.
Speakers
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H.E. Mr. Jakub Kulhánek
Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN, Czechia
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Mr. Radan Šafařík
Director of the Gender Equality Department, Government Office of the Czech Republic, Czechia
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Irena Hůlová
Advocacy Specialist, Sola Pomáhá, and Human Rights and Equality Advisor, Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
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Mr. Paul Smoke
Acting Director, New York University Center on International Cooperation
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Ms. Barbora Jakobsen
Clinical Psychologist, Norwegian NGO Alternative to Violence
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Ms. Veronika Novotná
EU Youth Delegate to the UN
