The event, which took place in AFAEMME’s Headquarters, was the occasion to bring together representatives from member organisations of Albania, Croatia, Egypt, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Spain and Turkey. In addition to this, AFAEMME welcomed new countries to its network which now includes members in Slovenia and Tunisia, who were also present in the General Assembly, and Palestine.

During the meeting different topics we discussed, including the activities developed during 2008 and the activities planned for the current year, AFAEMME’s projects for 2010 and the expansion of the network, both into new countries and by adjoining new members in countries already hosting AFAEMME member organisations. Apart from this, the Assembly discussed the need of some countries to develop specific projects, such as the conduction of statistical research on the situation of women in the labour market or the positioning of women in decision-making posts. In this frame, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, presented the report on the study carried out in Catalonia, Spain called “Promotion of Women in Decision-making Positions in the SMEs of Catalonia”, that has as main goal to sensitize Catalan companies about the economic and social benefits that exist when promoting a larger number of women in places of decision making in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This project is subsidized by the Service of Occupation of Catalonia, by the Innovative Projects Program and co-financed by the European Social Fund.

Finally, and to close the sessions, AFAEMME’s elections to the Board of Directors were held, resulting elected as President of the organisation Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen.