The Ministers in charge of gender equality from the 42 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) endorsed today in Madrid a Ministerial Declaration to accelerate the strengthening of women’s role in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The Ministers agreed to enhance legal frameworks, improve women’s access to leadership in public life and decision-making, raise women´s participation in economic life and combat and prevent violence against women and girls. The regional High-Level Conference on Women for the Mediterranean, held every two years, will kick-off this afternoon in Madrid. It will gather over 100 high-level representatives and international experts to discuss operational… read more
The UfM and UNIDO join forces for the Women Business Forum, a two-day hybrid event in Barcelona and livestreamed online 20 July 2022, Barcelona. The MENA region has the world’s largest entrepreneurial disparity between men and women – 5% of women-led business compared to a global average of 23%-26% – and one of the weakest female labour participation rates. Under the title “Gender-smart financing to unlock Women’s entrepreneurial potential in the MENA region”, the Women Business Forum 2022 kicked off in Barcelona, jointly co-organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and supported by… read more
The UfM, in partnership with the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa of FAO and the International Center for advanced Mediterranean agronomic studies (CIHEAM), organized the online event “Agri-food systems facing climate change in the MENA region: gender equality for better resilience”. 7 March 2022. In the context of the 2022 International Women’s Day, recognizing this year the contribution of women and girls to build a more sustainable future, the UfM organised, in partnership with the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa of FAO and the CIHEAM , the online event on “Agri-food systems… read more
The rate of female entrepreneurship in the Euro-Mediterranean region below the world average The first report of the Intergovernmental Monitoring Mechanism on Gender Equality in the UfM Member States is now available. Europe and the MENA region are below the 6.2% global percentage of women entrepreneurs who own established businesses (5.3% and 4.5% respectively). In the EU, women represent 57.7% of tertiary graduates, yet for now they represent only 2 out of 5 scientists and engineers INFOGRAPHIC – LINK REPORT – LINK March 7th, 2022. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) has published the results of the first Report on… read more
International Women’s Day 2022 UfM to shed light on women’s economic participation in the Euro-Mediterranean region The first publication of the UfM Intergovernmental Monitoring Mechanism on Gender Equality will be published on the 4th of March, sharing the latest information on women’s economic participation, entrepreneurship and leadership in the Euro-Mediterranean region. This regular reporting exercise allows to measure and report the evolution of women’s rights and provide policy recommendations to close the gender gap in the region. The first exercise was conducted during the pandemic and the figures show the impact this crisis had on women. To face some of… read more
The call for applications launched in November led to the selection and sponsorship of 136 women entrepreneurs and female executives from the MENA region looking to expand their network and grow their business within the region. 3 February 2022. Today, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), in partnership with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), have joined forces with Business Club Africa, to create and launch the first MENA Women Business Club. The 136 selected women entrepreneurs met with other members, exchanged views and attended the first masterclass on digital marketing. Women entrepreneurs in the MENA region who own or… read more
Over 1 in 7 persons are experiencing some form of disability globally (WHO, 2021), and they face many barriers to inclusion in some key aspects of society, even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Women with disabilities are at least two to three times more likely than other women to suffer violence. Only in the EU, accessible tourism has a potential economic market of 130 million people 26-27 January 2022. This 1st Conference on Disability and Social Inclusion in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, hosted in partnership between the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Spanish ONCE Social… read more
Tuesday 18 January 2022. The Commissioner General for Italy, Paolo Glisent, and the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, announce the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding for the European Commission’s “No Women No Panel” campaign, taken up a year ago by Rai Radio1 . The Union for the Mediterranean announced its participation in March 2021 in the campaign seeking to improve gender representation and equality in the public debates in the Euro-Mediterranean Region. The UfM Secretary General highlighted: “The UfM is very proud to formally support and sign the MoU for the initiative No Women No… read more
Sharm el Cheikh, 10-13 January 2022 – The Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Nasser Kamel, participated at the 4th edition of the World Youth Forum (WYF) held in Sharm el Cheikh under the auspices of Egyptian President Abdelfattah El Sisi. This year’s edition was titled “Back together” and discussed Post-COVID effects, climate change, and human rights among other topics. The World Youth Forum is a platform built by promising youth engaging young people from around the world and allowing them to exchange views and recommend initiatives to decision-makers and influential figures. It is a chance for youth… read more
Barcelona, 9 December 2021. During the last meeting of the UfM Senior Officials for 2021, and just ahead of the 2022 European Year of Youth, the 42 member states adopted unanimously the UfM Youth Strategy 2030 – Euro-Mediterranean Youth towards a common goal. The Euro-Mediterranean region has one of the youngest populations in the world, with one in every three people being younger than 25 years old, and with this number reaching almost half of the population for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. Moreover, youth are among the most vulnerable groups in the face of the pressing challenges our… read more
