E/2010/27 E/CN.6/2010/11 The interactive high-level round table focused on the sharing of national experiences, lessons learned and good practices. A discussion guide submitted by the Bureau (E/CN.6/2010/3) provided the framework for the interactive dialogue. 2. The high-level round table was organized in two parallel sessions to allow for interaction among the large number of participants. The sessions were chaired, respectively, by the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, Garen Nazarian, and the Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, Cesare Maria Ragaglini. Two keynote speakers opened the discussion: Caren Grown, Economist-in-Residence, American University, Washington, D.C., and Lydia Alpízar Durán, Executive Director, Association for Women’s Rights in Development. Representatives of Member States exchanged information on the progress made in the implementation of the Platform for Action in their countries and made proposals for future action. Invited representatives of United Nations entities (United Nations Population Fund and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and non-governmental organizations (Isis-Women’s International CrossCultural Exchange and International Indigenous Women’s Forum) responded and contributed to the interactive dialogue. 3. The full and effective implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Gender equality and empowerment of women is both a key development goal and an important means for achieving all of the Millennium Development Goals. While Goal 3 and Goal 5 are gender-specific, there are clear gender equality dimensions in all of the Goals. Progress has been made, but it has been slow and uneven. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the full implementation of the Platform for Action and achievement of all of the Millennium Development Goals. Attention was drawn to the need to further strengthen linkages between the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Gender perspectives need to be more clearly articulated and addressed in strategies to achieve all of the Goals at the national and local levels. There is a need to develop better mechanisms and tools for ensuring the accountability of States and other stakeholders for the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women in all sectors. 4. The annual ministerial review held by the Economic and Social Council and the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to review the progress made in the achievement of all of the Millennium Development Goals, to be convened in September 2010, provide an important opportunity to reaffirm the centrality of gender equality and the empowerment of women for the achievement of all internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. 5. Education plays a critical role in the empowerment of women and girls. Good practices, such as the abolishment of school fees, have resulted in steady advances towards meeting international targets for improving girls’ access to education, particularly at the primary level. However, progress remains uneven between and within regions and countries. Secondary and university education remains crucial for expanding opportunities for women and girls. Non-formal 38 10-30576