Women's Economic Participation in the Southern Mediterranean: An Agenda for Change

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 25, 2008 – Cairo,24.06.2008
Despite significant strides made in education among young women in the Southern Mediterranean region, women's employment and entrepreneurship trends leave much to be desired. A Regional Seminar on Women's Economic Participation is organized by the EUROMED Role of Women in Economic Life Programme, in cooperation with Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women (JFBPW) on30June-1stJuly in Jordan.
The Seminar provides a regional forum for debate on key constraints facing women's economic participation in the South Mediterranean region. Particular emphasis will be given to the challenges of paid work, access to resources, social security and, protection, formalization of entitlements and ownership rights.
The two day proceedings provide ample opportunity for the presentation and sharing of good practice examples among representatives of Mediterranean Partner Countries. Good practices include the experience of gender budgeting in several countries, reform of social security legislation and collective action among women workers. A key objective is to set a forward-looking agenda for policy advocacy, and discuss how key institutional actors can best translate into action-oriented strategies, programmes and action plans.
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This regional seminar builds on the conclusions of an initial Consultative Meeting held in Cairo on 26-27May2008, providing an opportunity to present the outcomes of research commissioned by the Programme to examine women's economic situation in Mediterranean Partner Countries.
The event is held under the patronage of H.E. Jordan's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Suheir AI Ali who will deliver the inaugural speech at the opening session. Key note speakers include Senator Wijdan Talhouni AI Saket,Board President of JFBPW and Olbrechts Francis, Acting Head of the European Commission Delegation to Jordan.
The EUROMED Role of Women in Economic Life is a three-year regional Programme (2006-2008) funded by the European Union as part of the MEDA programme to foster partnership in social, cultural and human affairs; one of the three main chapters of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The Programme is implemented by the British Council.