This conference offers a platform for: Discussion relating to the current status of women, with a special focus on the following categories that constitute potential challenges to gender equality and women’s rights: the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the refugee crisis, rising levels of (and political legitimisation of) sexual violence and misogyny, cuts in child-care and services for disabled people, lack of access to paid parental leave, tax and welfare reforms, the gender pay gap, sexual harassment and the rise of zero-contract hours. International researchers and scientists from academia, industry and government to present their studies to a multi-disciplinary audience, exchange experiences, discuss proposals, and disseminate results on women’s and gender studies. Raising awareness and encouraging dialogue on the proposed topics, with the aim of creating lasting productive partnerships between the participants. All submitted papers will be published in the conference proceedings, edited under the Creative Commons Licence, which will also contain a report and catalogue of activities. We are very pleased to announce that the Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Equality and Diversity (IPED) International Journal, will publish a special issue with selected papers presented at the conference. The aim of this conference is to create an international forum for debate and exchange on the main challenges facing women in today’s society, and to reflect on the ways in which we can, individually and collectively, propose solutions to these problems. The conference begins on the 10th of October – Ada Lovelace day – which celebrates women of the present and the past, whose achievements have contributed so much to humanity. In the last year, there has been a growing awareness of the need to address the problems that women are experiencing, to speak and to take action. Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Booking: https://go.evvnt.com/115333-1 Price: Academics and Researchers (Full conference fee for those presenting papers): GBP 300 Academics and Researchers Full conference fee for those presenting papers (single day rate): GBP 175 Academics and Researchers (attending only, 2 days): GBP 150 Academics and Researchers (attending only, single day rate): GBP 80 Full conference fee for PG students presenting papers (two days): GBP 150 Single day rate for PG students presenting papers: GBP 80 Full conference fee for students attending only: GBP 80 Single day rate for students attending only: GBP 50 Charities and third sector Full conference fee (two days): GBP 120 Charities and third sector: Single day rate: GBP 70 Other Salaried Individuals, full conference fee (2 days): GBP 300 Other Salaried Individuals (single day rate): GBP 175 Other non-salaried individuals (full conference fee): GBP 80 Other non-salaried individuals (single day rate): GBP 50 Speakers: Dr. Skye Saunders, Dr. Kate Sang, Karen Harvey, Leticia Romeo, Sonali Mohapatra, Esperanza Jubera García, Jane Mansour Venue details: Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, Edinburgh, EH21 6UU, United Kingdom