The Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS) organized a Symposium entitled Reclaiming Gender: Understanding Equality Policies in the EU and Cyprus on the 9 October 2009 at the University of Nicosia.

The aim of the symposium was the presentation and discussion of current developments in relation to gender equality policies and anti-discrimination in Europe, with particular emphasis on the cases of Cyprus and Greece.  The symposium comprised of a policy seminar, which aimed to provide a comparative analysis of the content and scope of gender equality policies in the EU followed by a workshop focusing on theoretical and methodological frameworks in relation to gender equality. 

The symposium was supported by the UNESCO Participation Programme and the National Machinery for Women’s Rights.

The opening address was given by Iliana Nicolaou, Commissioner of Administration. Guest speakers included Mieke Verloo, Professor at Radboud University Nijmegen and IWM Vienna, Myria Vassiliadou, Secretary General of the European Women’s Lobby and Chair of the MIGS Board, Manina Kakepaki of the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE), Zelia Gregoriou, Assistant Professor at the University of Nicosia and Board member of MIGS, and Alexia Panayiotou, Lecturer at the University of Cyprus.  Susana Pavlou, Director MIGS, facilitated the seminar. 

Over 50 participants attended the seminar and 30 participated in the afternoon workshop.  The discussions were lively and informative, and the feedback received was very positive.  The seminar provided a forum for much needed dialogue, analysis, and understanding among all relevant stakeholders on gender equality policy in Cyprus.  As a result, MIGS intends to closely monitor the implementation of EU Directives on anti-discrimination and gender equality in Cyprus and make policy interventions as needed and a follow-up seminar is being planned for November 2010 to discuss progress and identify gaps and challenges.  The afternoon workshop was mainly addressed to students, researchers, and scholars interested in equality policy providing an analysis of theoretical and methodological frameworks in relation to gender equality.