Brussels, 13/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Over 20 ministers from the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and various women's representatives, met in Paris on 12 September for a conference on strengthening the role of women in Euro-Mediterranean society. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton also attended.
In his welcome speech, France's President François Hollande expressed his desire to fight for the integration of women in all domains, to fight against violence and discrimination, and to support women's demand for “emancipation” in response to the promises of the Arab Spring. He expressed a special thought for Syrian women.
France's Minister for Women's Rights Najet Vallaud-Belkacem was pleased about the scale and timeliness of this meeting because it expresses the desire for solidarity with Arab women. It also offers the advantage of bringing Arabs and Israelis together under one roof. However, the Israelis left the conference room, believing that they had not had the opportunity to reply to the wide-ranging criticism that was made of them. The co-leader of the UfM, Reem Abu Hassan, Minister for Social Development in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, confirmed this incident in a statement on France24.arabe.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a statement that, on behalf of the participants, expresses support for the historic upheaval currently affecting the Middle East and North Africa, and the determination to cooperate with a view to taking concrete measures given the changes.
The participants believed that “the reforms that have started in several countries offer possibilities for progress by giving women and girls full enjoyment of their human rights and their fundamental freedoms, but full advantage still needs to be taken to obtain the improvements expected in gender equality”. The participants condemned the endemic sexual violence, which is “more frequent and accentuated in the context of the current turmoil”. They “reaffirm the importance of promoting equality between men and women de jure and de facto as part of their civil, political, economic and social rights”. Through this statement, the commitment was taken to fight for “the equal right for women and men to participation in political, economic, civil and social life”, and to fight against “all forms of violence and discrimination against women and children”. Commitment was also taken “to tackle prevention more effectively” of this phenomenon, and to promote education for women. Their commitment is also not to allow words to suffice - a change in attitude and behaviour is needed to achieve gender equality so as to support the emancipation of women, not only as regards rights but also in practice.
At the end of this long statement listing all the areas where real discrimination is exercised, on the ground, and the needs for support and assistance, the participants decided “to establish an effective follow-up mechanism in the form of a Euro-Mediterranean forum on strengthening the role of women in society”, which should meet “at least once a year”. The next ministerial meeting will be in 2016. (FB/transl.fl)