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Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     25 Years Logo
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2019 25 Years
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Human development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
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      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
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    • How we work

      • Political Framework
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  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
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  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
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    • UfM in the Media

      29 November 2020, MCDoulyia. ناصر كامل: الاتحاد المتوسطي لا يعلب دورا مباشرا في الصراعات السياسية في حوض المتوسط
      View article
      25 November 2020, La Vanguardia. La UpM pone en valor el papel de la sociedad civil para el diálogo en región
      View article
      25 November 2020, Euractiv. Nasser Kamel: „Der Mittelmeerraum steht vor extremen Herausforderungen“
      View article
      See more
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Women on the frontline of Covid-19

Women are at the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, risking their lives to save others. Yet, this crisis has shown that the decision-making bodies, including those established specifically to manage the pandemic, do not reflect a gender balance between women and men. Today women account for 70% of the health and social care workforce and deliver care to around 5 billion people. Nevertheless, they remain largely segregated into lower-status and lower-paid jobs and are still under-represented in leadership and decision-making processes. 70% of executive directors of global health organizations are men and only 5% are women in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, women health workers are regularly subjected to discrimination, abuse and harassment, a situation that has worsened with COVID-19.

Women also play a key role at every level of the food industry, where there is a strong gendered vertical division of labour. Most women occupy low-revenue jobs while men work on higher paid management jobs.  And with shuttered schools, even with both parents working from home, it is the women who are dealing with their children’s care, education and house chores, in parallel with their other paid job.

However, it is these low paid and stigmatised unskilled jobs that succeed to glue together our societies during the pandemic.  If only one lesson should be learned from the COVID-19 crisis, it would be that women are crucial to quench the world’s population vital needs:  health, food security and caring. That is why women’s organizations on the frontline of the response should be represented in decision-making bodies.

Discussion points:

  • How can we ensure women’s leadership and equal representation in all COVID-19 response planning and decision-making, in health, care services and economy at large?
  • What can be done to bring about transformative change for equality to address issues of paid and unpaid care?
  • What policy actions are needed to better value the role and leadership of women in health, care and food and retail sectors?
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Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-funded by the European Union
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
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