luisa vinciguerra, women for europe, naples november 2008

Luisa Vinciguerra - WORKSHOPS COORDINATOR 2

NAPLES, 29th NOVEMBER 2008


EUROPE: A MARCH TOWARDS INTEGRATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT HISTORIES AND CULTURES FOR THE FAMILY, THE JOB AND THE SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION TO THE WORKSHOPS


OPENING ADDRESS


INTRODUCTION


An intervention of connection where, in presenting the workshops, I wish to anticipate and touch a series of points, which in the afternoon will be the object of reflection and broad treatment.


First point

An emblematic title. We focus attention on the key words such as: path, integration, histories, cultures.


Second point

Our International President Suzanne Hem Nielsen states that: ‘The needs, the problems and the life conditions in Europe are very different from those in the so called “third world” but still life conditions are not as good as we expect them to be in the European Union’.


Third point

The relationship of collaboration between the EU and UN


Women and Children, Human Rights, are always themes which are especially dear to us Inner Wheel members.


IMPROVING LIVES is the last annual report on the extensive cooperation between the European Commission and UN


Fourth point

Again on the Inner Wheel, in order to reflect on the extent and implications of the Theme chosen by the President of the International Inner Wheel, Suzanne Hem Nielsen: Realise your visions and make a difference.


President Nielsen spurs us, however, this year to realize our “visions”. We must note the plural of the term, almost as if to underline how the passage from communication to realization carries a responsible commitment and awareness in diverse environments of intervention to serve, experience friendship and international understanding.


Two quotes:Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with vision is making a positive difference. Vision with action can change the world (Joel Barker).


THE WORKSHOPS


AIM: promoting debate and participation by actively involving European IW Members in an ‘interactive’ knowledge of the following issues:

• Europe: Women’s contribution to the definition of new relational models in Family, Job, Culture and Society.

• Inner Wheel: the role played by Women’s NGOs, such as Inner Wheel, within this model definition.


A RECURRENT NUMBER: 3• 3 hours, the

length. The time reserved for workshops goes from 15.00 to 18.00

• 3 Macro-themes: FAMILY, JOB, CULTURE & SOCIETY.

• 3 sub-themes for each macro theme.

• 3 Inner Wheel Group Leaders

THE LEADERS• Workshop 1 FAMILY

• DIRECTOR: LIA GIORGINO

• Professor at the Department of Educational Science University of Bari

• Immediate Past Chairman – District No. 210

THE LEADERS

• Workshop 2 JOB

• DIRECTOR: HANNELE KARHUNEN

• Senior Lecturer, Quality Coordinator, M. Ed./ B. Econ.

• Laurea University of Applied Sciences

• National Representative


THE LEADERS• Workshop 3 CULTURE AND SOCIETY

• DIRECTOR: HILDEGUND SCHEIPERMEIER

• Doctor in Orthodontics

• Past National Representative and Past President of the German National Council


THE SUB-THEMES

1) FAMILY

• Family as an educating community;

• Family and gender relations: from equality to difference;

• Promotion of difference: reciprocity and care for the others.


THE SUB-THEMES

2) JOB

• Equal opportunities for Men and Women with regard to access to employment, professional training and career development;

• Equal participation in decision-making processes;

• Women’s role in science research.


THE SUB-THEMES

3) CULTURE & SOCIETY

• Female roles and ‘contemporary society’ in Europe;

• Women’s contribution to the cultural identity;

• Women, Culture, Society: the European Union commitment.


FAMILY


The chapter on the Family, subject of workshop no. 1 led by Lia Giorgino (Italy) is certainly a fundamental chapter, in which both the "value" themes linked to the traditional notion of family are dealt with, and also "role" themes linked to the profound changes of customs and society, which have put such notions in a state of crisis and have induced the European legislator, strong with new powers given to it by the birth of the EU, to intervene in a more systematic manner in the field of family rights, in order to make this institution as similar as possible within the EU.

IN EUROPE• The European debate on the different

family forms has influenced, and influences necessarily the family policies both in the context of the right of the family, and the modifications of the European models of welfare.• The Commission "Promote solidarity between generations", has welcomed favourably in May 2007 the initiative of a European Alliance for the Family (proposed by Germany), aimed at providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience on the policies favourable to families and on good practice of the member states, aimed at replying to the challenges raised by demographic changes.


• On the occasion of the Third Demographic Forum planned for 2010, the Commission will present a report on the realization which as been completed in the context of the Alliance.

• The European Council of 13 and 14 March has among other things underlined that the European Alliance for the Family could contribute to the reaching of the objectives of conciliating professional life with private life for women and men, of reducing substantially the retributive differentials between the sexes and of activating the European pact for the equality of the sexes.

IN EUROPE


JOB


Also the chapter on JOB, the subject of workshop no. 2 led by Hannele Karhunen (Finland) is of great topical interest. The role of women is changing. Next to the traditional family duties their presence in the wold of work has grown and their weight in the decision-making processes has increased. This revolution has a world character: it reaches also the most traditional societies, as the United Nations witnesses in their last report on the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of global progress up to 2015. A change which influences the labour market, slow, but in a generalized way.

IN EUROPE• RAISE, EQUIP, INCLUDE:

Equality between women and men is a fundamental right, a common EU value and a necessary condition for the pursuit of community growth, employment and social cohesion objectives (article 2 of the Treaty which institutes the European Community).

• The "change of pace" is needed also to take into account current orientations in European policy: the EU considers of fundamental importance the affirmation and the development of gender and equal opportunity policies as essential instruments for the growth, prosperity and competitivity.


• THE ROADMAP: The roadmap defines some existing areas and proposes other completely new areas of action. A total of six priority areas have been selected:a.equal economic independence for

women and menb.reconciliation of private and

professional lifec.equal representation in decision-makingd.eradication of all forms of gender-based

violencee.elimination of gender stereotypesf. promotion of gender equality in external

and development policies.

IN EUROPE

32

IN EUROPE• WOMEN AND SCIENCE: The recent

RESOLUTION (in 30 points) of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT of 21 May specifically on WOMEN AND SCIENCE is important.

• In it is revealed how there is an excessively high percentage of women who abandon the scientific career over the years. Such a phenomenon, which has often been described with the model "leaking pipe", must be analyzed, according to the Resolution, on the basis of different models, amongst which that of "factors of attraction and expulsion".


CULTURE & SOCIETY


• 3 chapter, workshop no. 3 on Culture and Society, led by Hildegund Scheipermeier (Germany). This is a complex chapter, perhaps the most vast for contents and implications.

• "Forget asking what is the contribution of women to the European cultural identity.

• WOMEN ARE EUROPEAN CULTURAL IDENTITY!" affirmed the Danish journalist Janne Teller. Statement reported by journalist Paolo Casella in the article "The EU speaks in the feminine voice, and it is a river in flood", summary of the Convention "Europe Feminine Plural". (Rome, 6 march 2008).


IN EUROPE• The current Cultural programme of the EU,

which covers the period 2007 - 2008, has important specific objectives which are those of:1.Improving knowledge about diffusion of culture.

2. Protect and promote cultural and linguistic diversity.

3.Conserve and protect the cultural heritage, cultural exchanges and the artistic creation.

4.Sensitize citizens to the importance of cultural assets of European importance and promote their conservation.

5. Incentivate the transnational mobility of workers in the cultural sector.

6. Encourage the transnational circulation of works of art and cultural and artistic items.


IN EUROPE• 7.Stimulate

intercultural dialogue

• This year is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008.


IN EUROPE• In this sector we locate the NEW

SOCIAL AGENDA FOR EUROPE, because a winning Europe is one in which citizens enjoy not only liberty of movement, advantages of the inside market and a favourable competition for consumers. It is also a Europe made of social equality, solidarity and an adequate level of health. Its Parliament is aware that for some time we have been fighting for the affirmation of these principles.


CLOSING REMARKS

39

Thank you for your attention and goodbye to those who will participate in the workshops and in the final session tomorrow.


NAPLES, 29th NOVEMBER 2008

luisa vinciguerra, women for europe, naples november 2008

Education

cufor workshops

quality coordinator

family director

subthemes1 family family

society director

different family

job director

leaders workshop