The First Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on“Strengthening the Role of Women in Society 14-15 November 2006 – Istanbul, Turkey

Conference Overview

On November 15th in Istanbul, Turkey, the first Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on “Strengthening the Role of Women in Society concluded with an agreement among Euro-Mediterranean Ministers that equal participation of women and men in all spheres of life is a crucial element of democracy. The Ministers confirmed that only by the inclusion of all people and determined action will the region’s women be able to fulfil their ambitions and aspirations and, by extension contribute towards the realisation of the underlying objectives of the Barcelona Declaration: the attainment of a common area of peace, stability and shared prosperity in the Mediterranean region. This goal, based inter alia on democracy, respect for human rights and sustainable development, can only be achieved by guaranteeing all women full enjoyment of rights.

In the Commission’s Communication to the Council and the Parliament of 12 April 2005 the idea of holding a Ministerial Conference on “Strengthening the Role of Women in Society” at Euro-Mediterranean Level was launched. Coinciding with the momentum reached in the region concerning the ongoing reform processes as well as the international political context, an opportunity was provided to establish an appropriate framework to help advance the implementation of the provisions stated in the 1995 Barcelona Declaration regarding gender issues.

The Euro-Mediterranean partners commit to work towards the objectives contained in the Ministerial declaration over the next five years. In this respect they invite the Euromed Committee to convene, at least once a year, a Euromed ad hoc meeting at expert senior officials level to review the implementation of the present measures contained in these conclusions and to inform the annual Euromed Foreign Affairs Ministers Conference. A follow-up Euromed Ministerial Conference to discuss issues related to the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and the progress made in the implementation of these measures will take place in 2009.

Downloads

		The conference conclusions English - French - Arabic
		Ministerial Conference Agenda

Related Conferences

Agenda of Regional Preparatory Conference, Rabat 14-16 June 2006

Arab International Women's Forum-March 2007

Press releases

http://www.stm.fi/Resource.phx/publishing/documents/9167/index.htx

http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/press_releases/vko45/en_GB/173736/

EMHRN Position on Ministerial Conclusions

Speaches

Speech by Agn van Ardenne - Minister for Development Cooperation - Netherlands

http://www.minbuza.nl/en/news/speeches_and_articles,2006/11/Speech-Istanbul.html

Related publications

Gender Equality in EC Development Cooperation – Quarterly Newsletter – July 2006

Euromed Partnership : Acting for Gender Equality