UfM Technical Meeting on Women’s Empowerment: Advancing the 5th Ministerial Declaration and Med4Women +30 Roadmap

12 November 2025, Barcelona. Representatives from UfM Member States, gender equality institutions, civil society organisations, experts, and regional partners convened in Barcelona for the in-person UfM Technical Meeting on Women Empowerment. The gathering marked a key milestone in advancing the implementation of the 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society (Madrid, 2022) and in shaping the region’s future gender equality agenda.

Hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) the meeting took place at a pivotal moment: 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the launching of the new Pact for the Mediterranean and of the new UfM Strategic Vision  offering a unique opportunity to take stock of progress, identify remaining gaps, and reflect on strategic priorities of the Roadmap for implementation of the ministerial Declaration on women 2022.

This year’s Technical Meeting was part of “Med4Women +30”, a cycle of activities led by the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the Euro-Mediterranean Women’s Foundation (FFEM), to commemorate three decades of regional collaboration on women’s rights and gender equality. Within this framework, FFEM presented the conclusions of its latest report, “Women of the Mediterranean: Between Resistance and Power Strategies,” which compiles good practices, field experiences, and policy recommendations collected throughout 2025.

Discussions in Barcelona centred on three core objectives:

• Advancing the Roadmap for Implementation, ensuring that political commitments translate into concrete, measurable action across the region. The EU and Jordanian Co-presidency share the latest updated on the regional and national initiatives focused on women’s empowerment followed by the overview of the current and upcoming activities of the UfMS such as the CoP on Gender Environment and Climate and the Regional Network on Climate & WPS
• Facilitating open dialogue among National Focal Points on Gender Equality, institutional partners, and civil society actors to identify common priorities and emerging challenges.
• Data gathering the 2nd Gender Equality Monitoring Mechanism Report, designed to measure gender gaps, assess progress across UfM Member States, and track implementation of the Ministerial Declaration.

The workshop placed particular emphasis on women’s social and financial inclusion, recognising their critical importance for sustainable development, resilience, and prosperity in the Euro-Mediterranean. Government representatives and civil society organisations exchanged perspectives on innovative policies, grassroots initiatives, and practical tools to strengthen women’s access to resources, economic opportunities, and decision-making spaces.

Participants reiterated the importance of coordinated regional action to overcome persistent barriers – including limited access to finance, labour market inequalities, gender-based violence, and restricted participation in public life. They also acknowledged the transformative potential of emerging sectors such as green economy and digital technologies, calling for inclusive strategies that position women at the forefront of innovation and social change.