Less than 20% of the world’s decision-makers are women and, despite the important positions they hold in many fields, much remains to be done in terms of equal pay and political participation. Women, increasingly leaders in socio-economic and political transition processes, are a resource that has not yet been fully tapped.
These are some of the central themes of the international conference “Women in Diplomacy – Building a Network for a Better World”, to be held at the foreign ministry in Rome on Monday 16 July at 9:30, and which takes its cue from the “Women in public service” project launched by Hillary Clinton and aimed at the assertion of gender equality in global governance and public service.
Promoted by Under-Secretary Marta Dassù, the event will be opened at 9:30 by Minister for Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi and closed in the afternoon at 17:15 by Prime Minister Mario Monti. Also present at the conference will be many successful women on the international stage, ranging from members of the government to prominent international organization, civil society and industry representatives. Speakers will include Vice-President of the Italian Senate Emma Bonino, Minister for Education, Universities and Research Francesco Profumo and President of RAI Anna Maria Tarantola. Speaking live on video will be Minister for Labour Elsa Fornero, and previously recorded interviews with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet will be shown.
The event (see attached programme) will consist of three panel discussions: “Gender and merit”, “Global awakening: women in societal change” and “Womenomics: why growth and innovation need women”.
Journalists and camera operators interested in covering the event are asked to apply for accreditation by completing the interactive form available at the link http://mae.accreditationsystem.info/ITA/Indice.asp to which all required documentation can be attached in digital format.
If in exceptional cases it is not possible to complete the online accreditation procedure, applications in writing on company letterhead and signed by the director of the organisation concerned—indicating name, surname, date and place of birth, number of a valid ID document and qualification—should be sent by fax to the Press Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (tel. 063691.3432 fax 06.3691.2122).
Accredited members of the press are asked to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs –Via Macchia della Farnesina entrance – beginning at 08:15.
