Livestreaming – Floor language
Livestreaming – English interpretation
High-Level Conference on Women for the Mediterranean – Nicosia, Cyprus – 30,31 May 2024
Despite strides toward inclusivity in the MENA region, the disparities are stark, especially concerning women’s economic empowerment, the intersection of gender and climate change, and the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls (VAWG). In the MENA economic landscape, less than 5% of businesses in the region are women-led, a staggering contrast to the global average of 23-26%. This lack of representation translates into annual losses of $575 billion, a sum that underscores the untapped potential within the female workforce. Despite the willingness of nearly one in three women to start businesses, structural barriers persist, from financial constraints to entrenched gender norms.
By 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty and forced displacement, and may cause 232 million of them to face food insecurity, according to report made public at COP28 by UN Women. UN Environment states that 80% of the people displaced by climate change are women or girls facing heightened risks of poverty, violence or unintended pregnancies as they migrate to safer locations. It is clear that women have a pivotal role in the fight against climate change, which must be internationally recognised.
Moreover, VAWG remains a pervasive issue across the MENA region, perpetuated by systemic inequalities and gender stereotypes. According to the World Bank, at least 35 percent of women in MENA region have experienced some form of violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime – placing MENA second highest in the world. This figure could be even higher due to a lack of reporting.
Against this backdrop of challenges and obstacles, the Republic of Cyprus will host the High-Level Conference on Women for the Mediterranean on 30,31 May 2024, co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Commissioner for Gender Equality of the Republic of Cyprus. The event builds on the momentum generated during the last conference in Madrid, Spain, in October 2022, and aligns with the Republic of Cyprus’ commitment to societal change as the country prepares for the EU Council Presidency in 2026.
The 2024 conference serves as a platform to discuss and adopt the 2024-2025 Roadmap for Implementation, a strategic initiative aimed at operationalising the 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society approved in Madrid. The document stems from a comprehensive process initiated after the 2022 Ministerial Declaration and was shaped by the UfM Regional Platform on Women Empowerment meetings held online and in Barcelona throughout 2023. The UfM’s commitment to gender equality has been further highlighted by the launch of the Intergovernmental Monitoring Mechanism on Gender Equality in 2020. This mechanism provides policymakers with a comprehensive tool to measure and report progress on women’s rights. The conference will also follow up on this tool and assess its indicators.
The High-Level Conference on Women in Cyprus will facilitate discussions, the exchange of lessons learned, and the presentation of good practices and initiatives among country representatives across the Euro-Mediterranean region. With a focus on women’s economic empowerment, gender and climate change, violence against women and girls, and media narration on gender, the event aims to shape concrete recommendations for the Roadmap for Implementation to advance gender equality.
Main Highlights of the Agenda
- Roundtable on Media and Gender Equality: Journalists from EU and Non-EU countries gather to exchange challenges and good practices in Media narration on Gender Equality.
- Opening Ceremony: High level speakers will provide welcoming and remarks and institutional opening speeches on the Conference’s thematic.
- Roundtables on Women Economic Empowerment, Gender Equality and Climate Change, Violence Against Women and Girls: Discussions on Women in Leadership Position, Enabling conditions for Inclusive economies, Nexus on Gender Equality and Climate Change, Inclusive Food systems, and National good practices on VAWG, with country representatives.
- Sessions on Women Economic Empowerment in the Regional Crisis Context, Female Entrepreneurship, Gender-just Response to the Climate Crisis, and Violence Against Women and Girls : Discussions on Inclusive labor market policies, Women in Leadership and Decision-making, Successful tools to promote female entrepreneurship and Gender-lens investment, Addressing Gender Equality and Climate Change, Gender-responsive Climate Finance, and cooperation with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to support VAWG’s survivors, with regional experts, stakeholders, and CSOs representatives.
- Presentation of UfM-IEMed MedWE policies studies publications
- MedWE programme Policy Study – Towards inclusive Mediterranean economies
As the conference unfolds, it is committed to translate willingness into tangible initiatives, amplifying the contributions of UfM countries and fostering collaborative efforts for lasting gender equality in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
The High-Level Conference on Women for Mediterranean will take place in Nicosia, Cyprus on 30-31 May 2024, and the participation is by invitation only. However, the event will be also livestreamed; please fill in the form if you wish to receive the link follow it online: https://forms.office.com/e/ycWwaPJNUH
Media Contact
Media are invited to attend the event. Interviews during and after the Forum with key speakers, experts and decision-makers are possible.
If you need additional information please contact the UfM Secretariat upstream: media@ufmsecretariat.org
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