Brussels, 26/09/2012 (Agence Europe) -. On Monday 24 September, within the framework of the UN General Assembly, the European Union organised a conference on political participation and economic empowerment for women (see other article). At the event Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, underlined the position of women's rights as both a domestic priority for EU member states and the focus of the EU's external action in its relations with third countries, most notably those in political transition - through campaigns promoting greater inclusion of women in economic and political activities. This also involves addressing violence against women as a barrier to such participation and promoting the representation of women in peace negotiations and mediation processes. In her speech to an audience that included the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim and the Executive Director of UN-Women, Michelle Bachelet, Ashton declared, “We know that anywhere in the world, where women prosper, societies prosper. In the interest of everyone is to include women in every part of society”. Bachelet also noted that, “Political participation goes hand in hand with economic empowerment. Removing barriers and unleashing women's potential raises economic growth and makes economic recovery faster, fairer and more sustainable”. (MD/trans.fl)