During the second session of this conference, held under the theme “Supporting the role of women in the Mediterranean society”, the participants stressed the need to promote the economic empowerment of women and their access to decision-making positions, as well as to encourage their participation in the development of economic and social policies.
Speaking on this occasion, Rahima Ouazzani, former governor of Lions District 416 Morocco, stressed that women are half of society and therefore need to be valued, through the promotion of their social, economic and political empowerment, noting that women need a good education, in order to fight early marriage and school dropout among girls.
“On the economic front, we need to open more opportunities for women and promote their access to jobs suitable for their situation,” she said, noting that investment in women’s economic empowerment will promote equal opportunities, eradicate poverty and achieve inclusive economic growth.
For her part, the expert Sabah Chraibi made a presentation under the theme “Women of the Mediterranean, the challenges of gender equality”, in which she explained that the gender approach is the integration of the specificities of men and women in development programs and policies, involving their participation in decision-making and generating a dynamic of progress and renewal, while highlighting the weak integration of women in the economic sphere in the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
Alessandro Mastorilli, from Lions District 108 Italy, stressed the imperative of opening a socio-cultural dialogue in order to allow women to enjoy their rights on an equal footing with men and to fight against violence and all abusive practices against them, as well as to strengthen the leadership of women in political life.
He called for supporting women’s leadership in Lions clubs, empowering women in the Mediterranean and fighting all forms of gender discrimination.
