In collaboration with the University of Westminster, GENDRO president, Dr Shirin Heidari, delivered a lecture on gender mainstreaming in international organizations to students in the International Relations Program at the University of Westminster in London, United Kingdom.
The Global Launch of the Commission report on Women, Power, and Cancer, was co-hosted by GENDRO, alongside other partners, at the Geneva Graduate Institute. The report investigates the intersection of women, power, and cancer, beyond the scope of “women’s cancers” and explores various aspects of cancer experiences among women, considering factors such as gender bias and discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The Lancet Commission’s approach is firmly grounded in intersectional feminism. This framework places women’s concerns, voices, and needs at the core of its work. Importantly, this approach doesn’t exclude men but aims to generate evidence that truly reflects the complexity and diversity of women’s experiences.
The launch event featured presentations of key findings and recommendations, by Dr Ophira Ginsburg, NICC, Lead Commissioner, aimed at inspiring real-world action for transformational change. Following her, Dr Shirin Heidari, president of GENDRO and a commissioner to the report, offered remarks on the critical contribution of the intersectional feminist approach to advancing cancer research, prevention, diagnosis and care. She emphasized the need to bring feminism back into conversations about health, especially cancer. Feminism can serve as a powerful lens through which to examine health disparities, and strive for social change and justice.
Distinguished speakers joining the panels, included Ophira Ginsburg, Shirin Heidari, Isabelle Soerjomataram, Verna Vanderpuye, Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy, Somesh Kumar, Jennifer Moodley, Karla Unger-Saldaña, Jérôme Salomon, Monica Bertagnolli, Kalipso Chalkidou, Lynette Denny, Bente Mikkelsen, and Micaela Serafini facilitated by Vania Coelho Wisdom and Richard Horton, The Lancet.
Event website: here.
Recording: (Embed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QFGdyGJD_0
Commission Report: here.
The Commission website: https://womenandcancercommission.org
As part of an effort through the Lancet Commission on Women, Power and Cancer, an analysis was carried out to examine the extent to which the top-ranking oncology journals incorporated their SAGER guidelines or other languages regarding the inclusion of sex and gender considerations in the instructions to authors of the journals. The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), one of the largest conferences centered around conquering cancer through a threefold approach involving research, education, and the promotion of the highest quality and equitable patient care. ASCO focuses on promoting lifelong learning for oncology professionals, supporting cancer research, enhancing the environment for oncology practice, ensuring access to quality cancer care, fostering a global network of oncology expertise, and educating patients with cancer.
Event website: ASCO Conference 2023
On the occasion of World Health Day on 7 April 2023, the International Gender Champions Secretariat sat down with Dr. Shirin Heidari, founder and president of GENDRO, to discuss about GENDRO’s work in advancing sex and gender equity in research, and the consequences of gender biases in research and gender-related discrimination in healthcarefor women’s and girls’ lived realities.
More details here: https://genderchampions.com/news/world-health-day-2023-gendered-dimensions-of-global-health-with-dr-shirin-heidari
Genève Internationale interviewed Dr. Shirin Heidari, founding president of GENDRO about her work. They asked her about GENDRO’s work, vision, and goals for the future.
Interview recording : Interview with Dr. Shirin Heidari by Genève International