Brussels, 09/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) calls for a strengthening of the social and economic role of women in the Mediterranean region. Along with youth employability, this topic is at the heart of regional initiatives, explained UfM on International Women's Rights Day on 8 March.
The statement explains that women make a large contribution to human development and stability in the region and make up to 63% of university students in some countries, but are only 28% of the workforce and only 12% of entrepreneurs and 16% of the political classes.
UfM says the region could increase its per-inhabitant GDP by 25% by boosting equal participation of women in public life, recalling the last ministerial statement on reinforcing of the role of women in society from Paris in 2013. The 43 countries pledged to promote the equal participation of women and men in political, economic, civil and social life, boosting women's participation in economic and political decision-making processes and fighting any form of violence or discrimination against women and girls. It was decided to set up a monitoring mechanism to examine progress in implementing the commitments made at high level, in liaison with civil society. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)