Katarzyna Bekasiak BPW Poland Edda Neumann BPW Germany

Katarzyna Bekasiak BPW - Poland Edda Neumann BPW - Germany

Project Background • Funded by European Union – DG’s Employment and Social Affairs • Duration: Nov 2004 - Nov 2005 • Goal: Contribute to the achievement of the aims of the Community’s Gender Equality Programme

Project Partners • Cyprus National Machinery for Women’s Rights - BPW Cyprus (leader) • BPW Germany • BPW Poland • KETHI Greece

Project Objectives • Create Awareness among Women, Young People and Decision Makers – Regarding inequality, potential for change, benefits of full inclusion of women in the business world • Educate – women to believe in themselves – Young people to consider women as equal players in the social arena

Project Objectives cont. • Inform women about policies they can benefit from • Gather information on women’s needs and on good practices • Suggest new measures and policies at national and EU level

Target Groups • Adult women • Young people (students) • Relevant decision making bodies

Activities • Local Conferences and Seminars • Information Materials • Survey Among High School Students

The Beginning… 15 Nov 2004 • Signature of Letter of Agreement • Hilton Hotel, Nikosia Cyprus 16 Nov 2004 • Opening Press Conference led by Artemis Toumazi

Conferences

22 March 2005 - Nikosia Hilton Hotel Guest: Minister Doros Theodorou Ministry of Justice and Public Order

16 May 2005 - Puszczykowo Atrium Hotel Guest: Minister Magdalena Sroda Polish Government Proxy for the Equal Status of Men and Women

6 June 2005 - Athens Ledra Marriot Hotel Guest: Eugenia Tsoumani Greek Secretary General for Equality, Ministry of Interior

23 Sept. 2005 - Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Guest: Minister Renate Schmidt German Minister of Families, Seniors, Women and Youth

• Seminars – One per country – In rural and problematic areas – Involving local government – Theme: Female Entrepeneurship and how this contributes to family income • Final Conference – 2 Nov 2005, Nikosia Hilton Hotel – Dissemination of project results

Information Materials and Survey

Flyer • Translated into 4 languages • Over 1000 distributed in each country • Target Audience were High School children

Results & Conclusions: • Commitment to promote gender equality • Need for better education • Unexploited entrepreneurial potential • Need for support to start a business

Suggestions: • Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality • Utilisation of European funds at national level • Gender Mainstreaming - actions • Gender Budgeting - actions • Female Entrepreneurship • Educational System Reform • Reconciliation of work & private life

Suggestions - cont. • Reconciliation of work & private life • Employers Accreditation for Gender Equality Practises • Strengthening of NGO’s

THANK YOU !!!! KATE & EDDA