Under the exhibition titled «New Perspectives», the Women’s Pavilion invites visitors to celebrate and recognize the central role women have played throughout history, leading up to the present day.
By showcasing these contributions, as well as the challenges that women around the word still face, the Pavilion seeks to highlight an important principle: when women thrive, humanity thrives.
Created by Expo 2020 Dubai in collaboration with Cartier, the Women’s Pavilion takes visitors on a compelling and immersive journey from start to finish.
FACADE
Upon arriving, visitors can expect to be taken away by the façade – a truly unique piece of art designed by a diverse community of creatorsand artists. Interior architect Laura Gonzalez contributed to the design of the upper part of the façade, together with Dubai-born artist Kholoud Sharafi and French light designer Pauline David. eL Seed’s unique artwork takes over the lower part of the façade. His calligraphy is a poem that pays tribute to a female activist from the 1950s, who advocated for women’s rights in Nepal. Upon entering on the ground floor, visitors will walk through five structures, each with a different narrative.
GROUND FLOOR
INTRODUCTION ROOM
This opening section expresses the purpose of the Pavilion through the eyes of children in a film directed by Nadine Labaki, the first female Arab director to be nominated for an Oscar in the category for Best Foreign Language Film. The film showcases how enabling young women and girls to fulfil their dreams and chart their own destinies can drive social progress and help to create a more inclusive society.
Having experienced the film, visitors are asked to question their own perceptions around women’s contributions and will begin their journey through the Pavilion to learn more about changemakers who have contributed to making the world a better and more equitable place.
ACHIEVEMENTS ROOM
This section shines a light on women’s positive impact on the world. Visitors are immersed in a cosmic universe, where they can see female figures as stars. Each constellation focuses on a woman’s achievement, intended to show that a more equal, safer, openminded world is key to empowerment.
The four chapters in this section outline women’s contributions to shaping a better world in the following ways:
Leading nations
By challenging inequality, redefining diplomacy, changing the status quo, and being bold in a male-oriented world.
Equality
By championing women’s rights in different fields, from work, to access to education and securing the right to vote.
Inspiring the world
By breaking barriers in fields that women have been excluded from in the past (e.g. sports, art, culture).
Driving progress
By devoting their lives to science, humanity and protecting the planet.
Nevertheless, while we have seen major progress for women in recent decades, the road to gender equality remains long.
CHALLENGES ROOM
In this section, visitors will be shown the factors that are still holding women back in the following areas:
Education
While access to education has improved in the last 20 years, millions of girls worldwide still do not attend school and are unable to access opportunities for education.
• In the past 25 years, access to education has dramatically improved.
Today, 180 million more girls are in school. Yet, 132 million girls worldwide still do not attend school. In rural areas across the globe, 61% of girls don’t go to secondary school.
Politics & Peacebuilding
Very few women lead countries or are currently heads of state, and even fewer have negotiated and signed peace agreements.
• In the past 25 years, the number of women in parliaments has more than doubled, reaching 25% today.
Yet, out of 193 countries, just 22 are led by women.
• In the past 30 years, only one woman has negotiated and signed a peace agreement.
Economic Independence
Despite representing almost half of the global workforce, many women have significantly less financial security than men and bear more domestic responsibility.
• In the past three decades, global poverty has fallen 75%. Still, women aged 25-34 have 25% more likelihood than men to live in extreme poverty.
• Today, women account for more than 47% of workers worldwide. Yet, on average, women are paid 16% less than their male colleagues. Just 1 in 3 businesses are owned by women.
Women spend three times longer on unpaid care and domestic work than men - 4.1 hours a day.
Safety & well-being
Physical violence, human trafficking and harassment remain widespread issues experienced by women and girls around the world.
• 155 countries have passed laws on domestic violence.
• Yet 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.
65% of human trafficking victims are women and girls. 58% of young women report online harassment or abuse. 40% of them have been body-shamed.
Basic needs
Millions still lack vital resources including food and water, adequate means to manage health, are subjected to female genital mutilation and are forced into child marriages.
• Nearly 690 million people in the world suffer from chronic hunger. 60% of them are women.
• Access to clean water has greatly increased. But where there is none, women and girls spend 200 million hours a day collecting this vital resource.
• 1 in 5 women aged 20 to 24 today were married in childhood.
• 500 million girls and women lack adequate facilities to manage their menstrual hygiene.
• At least 200 million girls and women have been subjected to female genital mutilation.
• Since 2000, maternal mortality has been reduced by 38%. Yet, every day, 810 women die from pregnancy complications or childbirth.
Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women
Millions of livelihoods have been compromised – many women in the service sector are at risk of infection or job loss, most domestic workers are women and lack social security, the burden of unpaid work has fallen most heavily on women, and domestic abuse has increased during lockdowns.
To address these challenges, concrete solutions and initiatives are being developed to empower women and girls, thus creating a positive ripple effect across society.
SOLUTIONS ROOM
This section highlights the initiatives that enable women to thrive so that humanity can thrive. Each wall outlines how various individuals are helping to develop solutions to specific challenges for women and the world:
Equal access to resources and innovation
Giving vulnerable communities access to food, water and sanitation can help to facilitate economic empowerment.
Equal representation
Improving gender diversity and facilitating equal opportunity can increase women’s contributions in the workplace, in politics, and in society.
Build back better
Women will play an invaluable role in helping to build a more inclusive world post-pandemic.
Changing the mindset
Challenging stereotypical views regarding the roles of men and women can foster a more inclusive society for all.
At the end of their journeys, visitors are encouraged to be part of this positive change, and to champion gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Change is within our reach.
INVITING THE VISITORS TO CHAMPION GENDER EQUALITY
Visitors will be invited to join forces and use their voices to share pledges for a better and more equitable world. List of pledges:
- I will use my voice to drive change
- I will share the care
- I will respect her choices
- I will teach girls their worth
- I will educate girls for the future
- I will demand equal work culture
Supporting the UN Women #ActforEqual campaign, visitors can take selfies with their selected pledge.
FIRST FLOOR
On the upper floor is another immersive exhibition curated by Mélanie Laurent, French actress, screenwriter and director, showcasing stories of women from all over the world as they navigate through their experiences The first section highlights the universal link between women and their environments through a sculpture and a series of exclusive photographs shot and selected by Mélanie. The second section invites visitors to discover a virtual reality film, showcasing stories of women, known and unknown, as they navigate through their experiences. The third and final section brings an exclusive audio-visual art piece to life reflecting women’s voices across the globe.
A second smaller exhibition section houses rotating exhibitions curated by various Emirati artists.
The Pavilion is much more than an exhibition; it is a vibrant and inclusive space for everyone to engage in constructive and solutionoriented conversations on women’sempowerment. These will be hosted in the Majlis, where more than 150 sessions will take place between October 2021 and March 2022. Be prepared for a diverse and inspiring line up of speakers.
All in all, the Pavilion will offer new perspectives on women’s key contributions to society and the impact they have made to date. There will be over 100 profiles of women across the whole exhibition, spanning the entire world from ancient history to more recent times, as well as profiles of men who have played an important role in furthering the cause. These will be changemakers who have marked history and contributed to making the world a better and more equitable place.
PROGRAMMING
Across the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai, the Women’s Pavilion will host a variety of meaningful dialogues, inspirational talks and fire-side discussions that will enhance knowledge and understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment and drive tangible, collaborative action that can be shared with the world.
THE VISIONS & JOURNEYS SERIES
The Visions & Journeys series is an intimate set of bespoke speeches, inspirational talks and fireside chats. Speakers will discuss and promote thoughtful visions, strategies and policies for a more gender equal future. They will share their experiences, learnings and aspirations on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment on the quest for a fairer future for all. These changemakers include public figures, grass roots leaders, academics, artists and business pioneers.
WOMEN’S WORLD MAJLIS & WOMEN IN ARABIA AND ISLAM SERIES
The Women’s World Majlis addresses the role of women in creating a cleaner, safer, healthier world.
The Women in Arabia and Islam series highlights real-life stories and the catalytic role of women who have led the way throughout history, inspiring other women from across the world to reach new heights.
OUTLIER SERIES
A co-curation with external partners, the Outlier Series features panel discussions addressing issues outside the box and topics outside of Expo’s thematic weeks. The series will tackle issues that are not commonly addressed in existing normative frameworks governing the agenda of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The discussions will bring together stakeholders from a wide range of sectors and geographic areas to discuss critical topics and intersectional issues. They will cover topics such as un-stereotyping women in sports to women in construction.
The Cartier Outlier Series of discussions will address issues around four key themes:
-Women in Arts & Culture
-Women in Societies & Policy
-Women in Business & Innovation
-Women & Peace
Expo 2020 Dubai and Cartier will celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March 2022 by hosting a global forum under the theme of “Creating New Perspectives”
VISITING THE WOMEN’S PAVILION
WHERE TO FIND US
The Women’s Pavilion is located in the Sustainability District on Ghaf Avenue at Expo 2020 Dubai.
OPENING HOURS
Pavilion opening hours:
10:00 am - 12:00 am Saturday to Wednesday
10:00 am - 2:00 am Thursday and Friday
EXHIBITION HOURS:
10:00 am - 10:00 pm every day
Last entry to the Women’s Pavilion is at 9:30 pm.
We recommend spending around 45 minutes at the Women’s Pavilion to get the full experience of the exhibition.
BOOK YOUR VISIT
You can book your visit on the Smart Queue system via the Expo App, but we welcome walk-in visitors as well.
ACCESSIBILITY
The visitors’ experience at the Women’s Pavilion is designed to be accessible for all, including people of determination. The exhibition space is on the ground and first floor and can be accessed via two elevators.
Children are always welcome in the Women’s Pavilion so long as they are accompanied by an adult.