• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     Mediterranean Day
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 16 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2021 Regional Integration
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Human development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
      • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
    • UfM in the Media

      23 November – mena.org.eg – السفير ناصر كامل لـ(أ ش أ): اختيار عاصمة ثقافية من شمال المتوسط وأخرى من الجنوب
      View article
      24 November – La Presse – 7e Forum Régional de l’Union Pour la Méditerranée : Les capitales culturelles et la jeunesse de la Méditerranée au menu
      View article
      24 November – DW – An Inside Europe special celebrating the Day of the Mediterranean
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

250 experts gathered in the UfM Conference to foster women’s participation in the economic life

Social & Civil Affairs

Barcelona, 21 May 2015 – The Union for the Mediterranean organized in Barcelona the second international Conference on Women’s Participation in Economic life. Opened by the Minister of Women and Family Affairs of Tunisia, Ms. Samira Merai Friia, and  closed by the President of the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures, Ms. Elisabeth Guigou, together with M. Fathallah Sijilmassi, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, the conference brought together more than 250 experts and policymakers, international and national organizations, donors and banks, civil society and project promoters, to discuss and explore the best ways to promote women empowerment and reduce the gender gap in economic participation of women in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Over the 3 days, participants debated on how to overcome the main obstacles that hinder the full economic participation of women, and the solutions to reinforce synergies and coordination between actors across the region. They shared experiences and best practices and made recommendations on how to concretely promote inclusive growth and gender equality in the region. These include relevant public policies, regulatory mechanisms and an enabling environment to fully implement all women rights, combat violence and discriminations and foster equal economic participation. Some tools and mechanisms were identified by participants such as the “Gender sensitive budgeting”, improved access to finance, education and training programmes, increased availability of gender sensitive data and indicators.

Three thematic workshops allowed participants to elaborate recommendations for increasing employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women in innovative sectors such as social and solidarity economy; “green economy” and ICT. A fourth workshop highlighted the key role that can be played by Media to improve the image of women’s role in economy.

The Secretary General Mr. Fathallah Sijilmassi confirmed “the Union for the Mediterranean’s commitment to maintain gender equality as a priority going forward”. “Gender equality is a regional matter, and calls for a regional response. We all have the duty to act, and to act efficiently”.

“Increasing the role of women in the society is a question of human rights, a question of social and economic inclusive development, and a question of stability and security” said Delphine Borione, Deputy Secretary General Social Affairs and Civil Protection in the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

The Conference was the occasion to launch the first “Regional Dialogue on women empowerment” involving UfM countries and regional and international stakeholders, including civil society organisations of the region to concretely work on the implementation of the Paris Ministerial commitments, in the field of participation of women in economic life, combat against violence, women leadership and change of stereotypes.

During the Conference, the UfM presented several concrete projects and initiatives. Two projects were officially launched: “Developing Women Empowerment” promoted by the “Euro Mediterranean Women Fondation” and “ Forming Responsible citizen” promoted by Ideaborn.

Up to May 2015, the Secretariat is mobilizing over 1,000 key stakeholders through the UfM regional platform. It has developed 10 projects exclusively focusing on women empowerment or integrating a strong gender component, reaching  50,000 beneficiaries from 20 countries. One of the beneficiary of a UFM project “Young women as job creators”, Ms. Soukeina El Bouj, highlighted : “This project gave us the chance to think as a professional business developer, not as a university student. We put our first step on the right track thanks to the opportunity of being in touch with professional women who have their own companies now” she said.

FURTHER INFO

OFFICIAL SUMMARY REPORT (EN/ FR/ AR)

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO GALLERY

EVENT WEBSITE

PRESS REVIEW

RFI (France), Program Orient Hebdo, 05/30/15: Renforcer la participation des femmes à la vie économique

CATALUNYA RADIO (Spain), Program Mapamundi, 05/26/15

LIBÉRATION (France), 05/25/15 : Conférence à Barcelone sur la participation des femmes à la vie économique

FRANCE 24 (France), Program Actu Elles, 05/22/15

ECONOSTRUM (France), 05/22/15: “Il faut un égal accès entre hommes et femmes à la vie politique, économique et sociale”

EL PAIS (Spain), 05/20/15: El alto valor de la mujer mediterránea

Share this:

Latest news

UfM joints first Steering Committee of the Plan of Action for a Model Mediterranean Sea by 2030 (PAMEx)
24 / 01 / 2023
UfM and EMUNI deliver a series of webinars on Science Diplomacy and Sustainability
22 / 12 / 2022
See more

Agenda

Research and Innovation for Mediterranean Resilience: Launch of Mediterranean Initiative, Horizon Europe WP 2023-2024
30 / 01 / 2023
UfM Webinar on Financing Innovation Ecosystems for the Mediterranean Sustainable Blue Economy
30 / 01 / 2023
See more

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-financé par l'Union européenne  -  Cookie Privacy  |  Privacy Privacy  |  Legal notice
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */

 

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.


3rd Party Cookies

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Cookies Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Read more

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!