The next Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Dialogue meeting on Women’s Empowerment will take place in Barcelona on October 10th, 2016, within the framework of the 3rd High level UfM Conference “Women for the Mediterranean, Driving force for development and stability”. The Regional Dialogue includes 4 working groups in order to prepare the next UfM Ministerial Conference on strengthening the role of women in society, expected to take place in 2017.

The first two working groups on “Access of women to leadership and decision-making positions” and on “Raising women’s participation in economic life” have gathered in Paris and Amman in July to review progress achieved on these issues and prepare recommendations for action.

The third working group on “Combating violence against women and gender-based-violence” co-chaired by the Egyptian authorities and UN women and the fourth working group on “Changing of gender stereotypes through education and culture” co-chaired by the Moroccan authorities and the Anna Lindh Foundation have met in Skhirat, Morocco on September 20th and 21th.

In Morocco, the participants stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to tackle violence against women and gender stereotypes and the necessity to improve the coordination and partnership between the key actors concerned, including media and civil society. They identified social and cultural norms, the challenge of impunity and the enforcement of laws among the main and urgent issues to be addressed. 

The Foundation is involved in these working groups according to its mandate of strengthening women’s leadership in the region and analysing women’s realities and public policies. The Foundation will pursue its work with UfM government representatives and key stakeholders involved in gender equality in order to produce recommendaitons and proposals of actions for the upcoming Ministerial Conference on strengthening the role of women in Society which will be held in 2017.