Conference on Gender Equality in the Euro-Med Region, Istanbul 24-25 October 2009

The conference will gather around one hundred participants in Istanbul

The conference aims at preparing recommendations for the Euro-Med Ministerial meeting on “strengthening the role of women in society”, which will take place in Morocco, 11-12 November 2009.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Euro-Med NGO Platform organize the conference:

 Gender Equality in the Euro-Med Region:

From Plan of Action to Action?

Istanbul, 24-25 2009

Background information

Within this framework the objectives of the conference will include to:

Increase awareness of the Istanbul Plan of Action (IPA) and explore opportunities for using it as an advocacy tool for social and legal change

Explore synergies between the national, regional and international frameworks for the promotion and protection of gender equality (IPA, CEDAW, other UN mechanisms, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP), the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM))

Strengthen civil society cooperation and coalition building in the Euro-Med region on gender equality and women’s rights

Based on the EMHRN Shadow Report on Follow–up, Monitoring and Evaluation of the IPA, participants will review obstacles and shortcomings of the IPA and deliver recommendations on promoting gender equality and civil society participation in this regard.

The conference will gather around one hundred participants from main women’s and human rights organisation in the Euro-Med region as well as EU and government representatives.