UfM Member States endorse two new projects to fight violence against women and to enhance the conservation of wetlands in the Mediterranean
5 November 2020. In the framework of the 25 year anniversary of Barcelona Process, the Senior Officials of the UfM Member States met to endorse two new projects and to discuss preparations of the 5th UfM Regional Forum, which will be held at the end of the month.
The meeting took place virtually and provided the occasion to join forces with the World Health Organisation to improve countries capacities in preventing and responding to violence against women as a key public health issue. They also endorsed a new climate-related project on the conservation of coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean basin.
Senior officials also discussed preparations for the fifth edition of the UM Regional Forum. The event will be co-chaired by Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Ayman Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, and hosted by Arancha González Laya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, as well as UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel. Ministers of foreign affairs of the 42 UfM states will gather to take stock of the past 25 years, as well as to set the path for new actions to build inclusive and sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
Finally, Senior Officials also addressed today the final preparations of two main regional events: the upcoming 11th UfM Ministerial on Trade, to be held next week with the objective of pushing forward the trade process in the Euro-Mediterranean region; and the UfM Women for the Mediterranean Conference, set to take place online on 16-20 November, gathering stakeholders from all sectors involved in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
More information on UfM supported projects
Enhancing the conservation of coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean Basin
The project “Enhancing the conservation of coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean Basin” will run until 2022 with the financial support of the MAVA Foundation and will seek to restore coastal wetlands, encourage sustainable water and reduce threats that affect coastal wetlands and related marine habitats. The project brings together more than 30 partners in 10 countries
Strengthening capacity for a public health approach to preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in the Euro-Mediterranean region
The project will contribute to improve countries capacities in preventing and responding to violence against women as a key public health, gender equality and development issue, and supporting progress under the Agenda 2030. Promoted by the World Health Organisation, it seeks to provide evidence and advocacy tools to governments and other stakeholders in the selected countries on the public health impact of violence against women, as well as concrete guidance on how health sector capacities can be strengthened to address violence against women and girls.
