Don’t Stop Them Now: Education Without Barriers

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–11:15 a.m. (EST) 

405 East 42nd Street, New York City
United Nations General Assembly Building, Conference Room E

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 programs, both universally and specifically targeting boys at risk for developing unhealthy gender norms and aggressive behavior.

Speakers

• H.E. Mr. Jakub Kulhánek, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN, Czechia
• Mr. Radan Šafařík, Director of the Gender Equality Department, Government Office of the Czech Republic, Czechia
• Ms. Irena Hůlová, Advocacy Specialist, Sola Pomáhá, and Human Rights and Equality Advisor, Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
• Mr. Paul Smoke, Acting Director, New York University’s Center on International Cooperation
• Ms. Barbora Jakobsen, clinical psychologist, Norwegian NGO Alternative to Violence
• Ms. Veronika Novotná, EU Youth Delegate to the UN

The side-event is organized by the Government of the Czech Republic.