The Social and Civil Affairs Division attends the Spanish civil society platform for the cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean meeting

The Social and Civil Affairs Division participated in the Spanish civil society platform meeting for cooperation in the Mediterranean ECEM (Encuentro Civil EuroMed) entitled “Youth as an Agent of Change in the Mediterranean”, held between 6 and 8 March 2012 in Murcia, Spain. Following the recent change of events in the Southern Mediterranean and taking into account the crucial part played by the young, this meeting called for a more prominent role of the youth in both the political and social life of the Euro-Mediterranean region. In an attempt to support the developing non-governmental sector in the South, the Spanish civil society organizations active in the region offered their knowledge and experience in the process of the transition of the Southern Mediterranean.
The Social and Civil Affairs Division, on behalf of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean, extended its full support to the efforts of the Spanish civil society in promoting the full involvement of the young in the political, social, cultural and economic development of the region. The participants were presented with the mandate and the structure of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean, including an overview of current activities and projects in the field of social cohesion, education and training of disadvantaged groups in society. Further strengthening the role of women as a means of achieving gender equality in the region was considered one of the current needs of the local population in order to build sustainable and democratic societies. By participating in the meeting, the Social and Civil Affairs Division seized the valuable opportunity to further extend our contacts with the prominent Spanish civil society organizations and open new channels for future joint project cooperation.