Action to have legislation promoting gender equality, campaigns to raise awareness through media and social networks, and the need for a systematic approach at a legislative, cultural and grassroots level so women and men are considered equal in 2021 were the main recommendations that emerged from the online debate "Fighting gender stereotypes: EuroMed Women for Dialogue". It was the sixth public dialogue of the virtual Marathon for Dialogue in the EuroMed region brought forward by the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF). The meeting, held on June 23 on the Zoom platform and livestreamed on Facebook, sought to promote multiple and renewed images of women as agents for the promotion of intercultural dialogue in the region, and to fight stereotypes that hinder full participation and the potential of women in their societies.
The debate was attended by 2015 Nobel peace prize winner Ouided Bouchamaoui, Eleonora Insalaco of the Anna Lindh Foundation, Noor N. Swirki, journalist and human rights activist in Palestine, Aziza Nait Sibaha, managing editor at France 24, Josie Christofoulou, a gender consultant for the foreign ministry of Cyprus, Gabriel Berzoiu, president of the organization Geyc in Romania, Latifa El Bouhsini, history professor and feminist activist in Morocco, Esther Fouchier, founder of the Forum Femmes Mediterranee and head of the French network of ALF, and Emad Karim of UN Women. The meeting was moderated by Aissam Benaissa of Connect NordAfrika.
At the Anna Lindh Foundation "we believe that by providing more narratives and images possible on the roles of women and men, we can break cultural paradigms that we have in societies", stressed Eleonora Insalaco, reporting data gathered in an ALF research that showed conflicting results. While the majority of those interviewed both in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries (SEM) reported the need for a bigger role for women in science, technology and business, only 39% of those interviewed from SEM countries signaled the need for a greater role for women in government and politics (53% in European countries).
In his speech, Ouided Bouchamaoui stressed the role of education, family and the media in fighting stereotypes, but especially "the need for a juridical framework, without which we could never get close to gender equality".
"Gender equality is a priority of the foreign ministry of Cyprus", stressed Josie Christofoulou, illustrating some projects to fight inequality which were also brought forward by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Jordan and Palestine.
Gabriel Berzoiu recalled the initiative of "GenderIdTalks", a series of webinars organized by Geyc in the framework of the ALF Marathon on the fight against gender stereotypes.
"The change in stereotypes can be reached with the work of youths, in particular young women", said Noor Swirki, stressing the role of female journalists in raising awareness on women's rights. The connection between women and sport to fight inequality was discussed by Aziza Nait Sibaha, who spoke about the experience of online newspaper Taja Sport, which was launched in March to promote women's sports in the MENA region, while Latifa El Bouhsini stressed the importance of the role of male activists in the fight against stereotypes.
"I believe a lot needs to be done" on gender equality and "we should have more women in decision-making processes, this is not acceptable", said Emad Karim. Finally, to fight stereotypes, "laws are essential, but not sufficient, because if the mentality doesn't change, it won't be possible to implement rights, and we will not have equal roles for men and women", said Esther Fouchier.
In collaborazione con:
Pomilio Blumm