MIGS, represented by Christina Kaili, Project Administrator, recently attended the 2nd Annual Gender Working Group meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), and the Conference Gender Equality in the Euro-Med Region: From Plan of Action to Action? Organized by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Euro-Med NGO Platform, in Istanbul, 24-25 October 2009.

The conference in Istanbul aimed at preparing recommendations for the Euro-Med Ministerial Conference on “Strengthening the Role of Women in Society”, which took place in Morocco, 11-12 November 2009.Within this framework the objectives of the conference were 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;
• 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 reviewed obstacles and shortcomings of the IPA and delivered recommendations on promoting gender equality and civil society participation in this regard.

To read the EMHRN ‘Shadow Report on the Implementation of the Istanbul Plan of Action: Gender Equality in the Euro-Mediterranean Region: From Plan of Action to Action?’ please click here.

To read the statement of recommendations adopted by the conference please click here.