AFAEMME at the International Congress of Female Directors "She Leader 2.0"

II MEDA Women Entrepreneurs Forum, Beirut (Lebanon)

Mrs. Eva-Britt Svensson, President of the European Parliament Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, at the V meeting of the European Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy

President of the Global Summit of Women and Chair of Corporate Women Directors International, Mrs. Irene Natividad, in the European Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy

1st MEDA Women Entrepreneurs Forum held in Barcelona last November 5th and 6th

AFAEMME’s General Assembly and Elections and the 1st MEDA Women Entrepreneurs Forum will be held in Barcelona in November

AFAEMME launches the project “Nosaltres Empresàries” directed to the consolidation of companies created and headed by women

AFAEMME held in Madrid the 2nd Seminar-Workshop "Adding Value, Breaking Stereotypes"

Last May 13th, AFAEMME held the 2nd seminar-workshop of the project "Adding Value, Breaking Stereotypes". The data presented in the event confirmed that the implementation of gender equality plans is a viable option for SMEs in times of economic crisis.

AFAEMME organized the event with the collaboration of the Spanish Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Madrid (ASEME-Madrid) and the Organization of Women Entrepreneurs and Active Management (OMEGA) this workshop which had the support of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Social Policy and Sports.

The inauguration and opening of the seminar-workshop was made by Mrs. María José Pérez-Cejuela, the General Director for Women of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, that reminded that the achievement of gender equality in the workplace is one of the main objectives of the European Commission, which invests in projects that serve as a roadmap so that "national and local governments can implement new policies to improve the situation of men and women in business, promote women's access to leadership positions and to establish the reconciliation of working life and staff."

Ms. Perez-Cejuela also spoke of the need for local governments to assist SMEs in their autonomous region in the implementation of equality plans, as there is a legal obligation, "to be set aside by a culture of equality in the workplace and secondly, to make them more competitive”. Furthermore, Ms. Perez-Cejuela stressed the role of business associations as AFAEMME, OMEGA and ASEMME as "fundamental to the government" because "through its efforts and fight the Governments have the projects more clear" because they serve as a source of information to diagnose what the industry needs of the society that they took them and, secondly, help the development and implementation of new laws such as the Gender Equality Act.

The launching and presentation of the event was made by Mrs. M ª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME and Mrs. Inmaculada Álvarez Morillas, President of ASEME Madrid and OMEGA. Ms. de Felipe talked about that in the last 50 years there has been many achievements on gender equality at the social level and especially at work but stressed that there are still two inequalities which need to be overcome. These include the pay gap between men and women and the other is the low representation of women in decision-making processes and economic policies. Mrs. de Felipe Lehtonen also spoke of the importance of "networking", "to create social networks among women to work issues and even personal issues such as family, health, leisure, etc.. Men do what they have done for years, to diagnose what the needs of women and see how we can help and support between us." She also emphasized the need for women to learn to interact in the labour and political power to make their needs or solutions and also to position itself.

Apart from this, Ms. Elizabeth Villagomez Morales, AFAEMME’s Expert on Gender and Enterprise, presented to the audience the results of research on the benefits of gender equality and other issues, and economic information from sources such as the Financial Times, which provided information that shows that firms ran by women are better positioned in the market compared to those ran by men and more in this year's crisis, since women stopped the buying spree.

Finally Ms. Villagomez Morales, gave a series of practical tools to enhance the capabilities of companies in their struggle to eliminate gender discrimination in the workplace what the guide so that attendees can teach this workshop in their respective associations or companies.

In the picture above we can find: from left to right: Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME; Mrs. María José Pérez-Cejuela, the General Director for Women of the Autonomous Community of Madrid; Mrs. Inmaculada Álvarez Morillas, President of ASEME Madrid and OMEGA and Ms. Elizabeth Villagomez Morales, AFAEMME’s Expert on Gender and Enterprise.

Third Meeting of the EC’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy

Last April, 3rd the European Commission’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy held its third meeting in Brussels, and Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME, participated in the event as a member of the network.

At the beginning of the meeting Mrs. Belinda Pyke, Director of the DG for Employment, Social Policy and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission introduced to the group the new Head of Unit of the Department of Equality between Women and Men, Mrs. Daniela Bankier, who will be replacing Ms. Fay Devonic in this position.

The Meeting’s main objective was to discuss how the use of female role models can increase the number of women actively participating in decision-making posts. Apart from this debate, it was also discussed the importance of promoting participation – between the members of women organisations – in the upcoming Elections to the European Parliament, which will be held between 4th and 7th June 2009. The European Commission is fully committed to supporting the information campaign launched by the European Parliament, facing the challenge to inform all the citizens of their right to vote and stand as candidates, promoting particularly, the participation of women across the European Union.

The next meeting of the EC’s Network will also take place in Brussels, on June 15th and 16th, within the framework of a large scale Conference which will examine the positioning of women in decision-making posts in Politics and the Economy.

In the picture above, standing from left to right: Mrs. Sophia Economacos, President of Eurochambers’ Women’s Commission; Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME; Mrs. Daniela Bankier, Head of Unit of the Department of Equality between Women and Men; Mrs. Bola Olabisi, Director, European Women Inventors and Innovators Network; Mrs. Myriam Schevernals, from Femanet Eurocadres

AFAEMME organizes in Barcelona the Seminar-Workshop "Adding Value, Breaking Stereotypes"

On February 19th AFAEMME held the Seminar-Workshop "Adding Value, Breaking Stereotypes" in Barcelona. Two base lines were targeted in this event: gender equality related to business profits and gender equality as a competitive advantage in Europe.

The event was inaugurated by AFAEMME’s President, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, who animated the assistants to rely on the Association of Mediterranean Businesswomen as their spokesperson and as a representative of gender equality projects in the labour market. AFAEMME works as a platform for gender projects where its member associations can find an effective way to invigorate their enterprise organizations and can thus transmit good business practices taken under the gender perspective.

The President of FEPIME Catalunya (the Federation of Employers of the Small and Medium Enterprise of Catalonia), Mr. Eusebi Cima i Mollet, made an introduction of the event and declared that “nowadays it is no longer so necessary to convince company managers that gender equality is economically profitable for their business, as the dynamic and evolution of the labour market has shown them - in a very obvious way mainly in the SMEs of Catalonia - that the incorporation of women in the labour market has been very positive and that the application of equality policies leads to employees producing in a much more profitable way for the company”.

Mrs. Carme Sanchez Martín, Director of the Unit of Promotion and Development of the Directorate of Equality of Opportunities at Work of the Government of Catalonia, commented that even though at present much has been achieved in this area, it is necessary to continue working because there are still male directives that are sceptics of data that reveal that gender equality is economically beneficial. “At present one only needs to pay attention to companies that are above others in terms of competitiveness and benefits; those are the companies that are applying gender and diversity policies. This is important because there are women who, in addition to gender discrimination, also suffer because they have some sort of handicap“.

The Seminar-Workshop counted, in addition, with a presentation given by Mrs. Beatriz Fdez-Tubau Rodés, Legal Adviser of AFAEMME, who spoke about the “Legal Environment of Gender Equality”. Apart form this, Mrs. Elizabeth Villagómez Morals, Gender and Business Expert of AFAEMME, spoke about the economic arguments in favour of gender equality, presented a series of business tools to work towards equality and conciliation of family and work life and organised a group dynamic to understand how gender stereotypes work. During the exercises that Mrs. Villagómez developed, the assistants were able to make a diagnosis on the main stereotypes that exist in the labour world, which prevent company managers from obtaining the maximum advantages of their group.

AFAEMME provided the assistants with the necessary tools and materials so that they replicate this seminar in their own companies, institutions or associations and thus contribute to the diffusion of the tools presented to them, tools which help SMEs detect the special talents of each one of their employees, regardless of their gender, and take the most advantage of its working group.

The next Seminar-Workshop “Adding Value, Breaking Stereotypes” will take place in Madrid in the month of May (date and place to confirm).

New Dissemination Project on Gender Stereotypes in Spanish SMEs

AFAEMME has recently launched in Spain the information campaign for its project “Agregando Valor, Rompiendo Estereotipos (Add Value, Break Stereotypes)”, which will be executed until August 2009.

The project, which is financed by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Social Policies and Sport, will disseminate data regarding the situation of women in the labour market and the existence of gender stereotypes in Spanish Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the economic impact that these stereotypes have in different economic sectors.

Apart from this, the project plans to execute two workshops in Barcelona and Madrid to inform its target audience about the European and Spanish legislation regarding equality in the labour market, the economic benefits that SMEs can obtain when fighting gender stereotypes and will present, as well, a set of tools to help companies improve their capacity to gender discrimination in the labour scope.

The workshops will be imparted by AFAEMME experts, including Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME; Dr. Elizabeth Villagómez, AFAEMME’s Gender and Business Expert and by Mrs. Beatriz Fdz.-Tubáu Rodés, AFAEMME’s Legal Advisor.

The information disseminated by this project is based on the reports generated by EU commissioned project “Break gender stereotypes, give talent a chance”, which held its closing conference in Brussels, on November 2008. Information on this project can be found here.

For more information on the project “Agregando Valor, Rompiendo Estereotipos” please visit this link.

AFAEMME signs Cooperation Agreement with ASCAME

On November 12th AFAEMME signed a cooperation agreement with ASCAME, the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry, within the framework of ASCAME’s XIX General Assembly and the celebration of the organisation’s 25th Anniversary, events which were held in Barcelona, Spain.

The agreement, which was signed by Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME and MR. Murat Yalçintas, President of ASCAME, ensures a platform from which both organisations will be able to develop projects of common interest. The ASCAME believes that economic growth in the Mediterranean region will contribute to creating an area of peace, tolerance, security and prosperity and in the words of Mr. Yalçintas their goal is ”…commerce for peace; commerce for mutual understanding; commerce for cooperation between civilisations”.

ASCAME’s General Assembly was chaired by H.R.H. Felipe de Borbón and H.R.H. Leticia Ortiz, Prince and Princess of Asturias and Girona.

AFAEMME takes part in ASCAME’s Women Entrepreneurs Commission

AFAEMME, represented by Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, has begun working in the Commission on Women Entrepreneurs of ASCAEME, the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The Commission, which is presided by Mrs. Najoua Attia, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cap Bon, held its first meeting on November 11th within the framework of ASCAME’s XIX General Assembly and the celebration of the organisation’s 25th Anniversary. The Commission’s main objective is to prepare different action plans that will favour Mediterranean Women Entrepreneurs that are expected to be launched in 2009.

ASCAME is an Organisation with a membership of more than 200 Chambers of Commerce, and other associated entities, from 22 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It was created with the primary goal of furthering economic cooperation throughout the Mediterranean region, expressing a strategic vision of North-South cooperation and integration. This vision was confirmed by the creayion of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in 1995 through the “Barcelona Process” and has been validated today by the “Union for the Mediterranean”.

AFAEMME Supports the Creation of the CREMed – the Research Institute of Euro-Mediterranean Economics

On November 7th the Counsellor of Universities, Innovation and Enterprise of Catalonia, Mr. Josep Huguet, presided the presentation of the CREMed, an institute of upper studies on the economy of the Euro-Mediterranean region. The CREMed, which will work as a training centre, was created as an initiative of the IEMed – the Institut Europeu de la Mediterranía – and the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and was supported by AFAEMME.

The inauguration of the Centre was celebrated with a Conference given by Mr. Mustapha Nabli, Chief Economist of the World Bank for the region.

III Hispanic Moroccan Forum of Businesswomen

On October 28th and 29th the Association of Businesswomen and Women Professionals of Cadiz (AMEP) hosted the III Hispanic Moroccan Forum of Businesswomen in Cadiz, Spain. The event counted with presence of more than one hundred businesswomen from both sides of the Mediterranean and of several distinguished speakers who contributed with their knowledge and experience in the attainment of the event's main objective, the reinforcement of the cooperation between Spain and Morocco.

The opening Conference was given by Mr. José Miguel Zaldo, President of the Hispanic-Moroccan Business Committee of the CEOE, the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations. On the following day representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of Cadiz, Tetuan, Tanger, as well as several business investors shared their experiences on investing in Morocco.

The Forum had a special significance to AFAEMME as it presented a chance to strengthen the bonds between its Spanish and Moroccan members through a collaboration agreement signed by Mrs. Ana Alonso, President of AMEP and of the Andalucian Federation of Businesswomen – FAME, organisation member of AFAEMME; and Mrs. Fouzia Tarik, Regional President of the Association of Businesswomen of Morocco - AFEM, also member of AFAEMME.

Mrs. Fouzia Tarik, Regional President of the Association of Businesswomen of Morocco – AFEM and Mrs. Ana Alonso, President of AMEP and of the Andalucian Federation of Businesswomen – FAME.

AFAEMME Becomes Member of the ANIMA Investment Network

Last June 30th AFAEMME become a member of ANIMA Investment Network.

ANIMA is a multi-country platform supporting the economic development of the Mediterranean. The network gathers around 40 governmental agencies and international networks and aims to contribute to a better investment and business climate and to the growth of capital flows into the Mediterranean region.

AFAEMME participates in the European Parliament’s Citizen’s AGORA on Climate Change

AFAEMME was invited; once again, to the European Parliament’s Citizen’s AGORA held in Brussels on June 12th and 13th. This year’s Agora was centred on climate change, one of the major challenges facing our societies.

The event gathered 500 representatives from the European civil society who discussed, in 5 separate workshops, different facets of this challenge, including the resources needed and the possible techniques that should be used to cope with this issue, as well as the economic impact of climate change. After the two work days, five papers were generated, one for each workshop, which summarized the debates and presented the range of options that emerged from the discussions. The papers were presented during the plenary and the last press conference of this year’s Agora.

AFAEMME was represented in the event by Paola Horvath, AFAEMME’s Project Coordinator, and was also attended by Mrs. Flutura Xhabija, AFAEMME’s Treasurer.

For more information on the topics discussed in the Agora, please click here.

Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
in the European Parliament’s Citizen’s AGORA

Mª Helena de Felipe is Elected Vice-President of OMEGA

OMEGA, Spain’s Organisation of Businesswomen and Active Management, held its Ordinary General Assembly last June 4th. As a member of OMEGA, AFAEMME was represented in the event by Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, who was elected Vice-President of OMEGA for a period of four years.

OMEGA, which was founded on December 1989 as non profit organisation, is an intersectorial national business confederation that brings together more than 6.000 associates from all Spain, including Associations, Federations and Business Organisations.

AFAEMME participates in the First Meeting of the EC’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy

On June 2nd Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe participated in the first meeting of the European Commission’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy. The network is an initiative of the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Vladimir Spidla and it involves 15 other European organizations belonging to the EU27. It is expected that the work experience and the reputation of the organisations participating in this project will contribute to achieving gender balance in decision-making, breaking down the existing barriers to women’s career progress and giving them a higher visibility and profile.

Mr. Vladimir Spidla

AFAEMME Signs Agreement with Banc Sabadell

Last March AFAEMME signed a collaboration agreement with Banc Sabadell of Spain which offers important benefits for all its member organisations and their own members.

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, Mrs. Gemma Amat (Director of Colectives of Banc Sabadell) and Mrs. Beatriz Fdez-Tubau Rodés

The EC Launches the Enterprise Europe Network

Last February, the European Commission’s Vice President Mr. Günter Verheugen launched Enterprise Europe Network, a new and powerful European support network for enterprises. All major players of the business support community in Europe have united to offer a one-stop service to assist especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their full potential and innovative capacity. The Enterprise Europe Network includes more than 500 contact points for entrepreneurs in Europe. They provide a full range of support services in close proximity to SMEs covering the whole EU territory and going even beyond. Participants at the launch event included Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research, Slovenian Minister of Economy Andrej Vizjak, the President of the Committee of Regions Luc Van den Brande and the President of the Group of Employers of the EESC Henri Malosse, Presidents of business organisations and representatives of SMEs.

Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen responsible for enterprise and industry policy said: “The new Enterprise Europe Network is a milestone in the Commission's integrated policy for promoting entrepreneurship and growth of enterprises in Europe. I call on all entrepreneurs in the EU and beyond to use it to the best of their needs".

Committee of Regions President Luc Van den Brande said: “The Committee of the Regions fully supports the initiative because it is an example of Europe working in partnership. Regions and cities are Europe's engines of growth and jobs and real engagement with SMEs has to take place on their doorstep to be effective.”

European Social and Economic Committee President, Dimitris Dimitriadis said: “Entrepreneurship is the key for Europe to facing the challenges of globalisation, creating new jobs and innovation. Therefore is the launch of this Enterprise Europe Network an important step in the right direction."

Enterprise Europe Network combines the strengths of the previous Euro Info Centre with the Innovation Relay Centre networks. With the new network, business receives ‘Business Support on Your Doorstep’, as the slogan suggests. The ‘No wrong door’ principle will apply for the whole network and for each network partner. All SMEs will receive information and a personalised service tailored to their needs, making best use of modern technologies and from every organisation in the new network.

The new Enterprise Europe Network is part of the Commission's integrated policy for promoting entrepreneurship and growth of enterprises in Europe. It will support SMEs from all sectors to take greater advantage of the opportunities of the Single Market.

Mr. Gunter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission

AFAEMME becomes member of the EC’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy

AFAEMME has been chosen, with 15 other European organizations belonging to the EU27, to work in the European Commission's “Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy”, which forms part of the Institute for Gender Equality, due to our organisation’s vast experience and reputation. The invitation was extended by Mr. Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, by Ms. Fay Devonic, Head of Unit "Equality between Women and Men" and by Mrs. Fátima Ribeiro, also from this Directorate General.

During the following two years, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, will participate in several meetings that will discuss the advances made in gender equality in the economic area and to make proposals about solutions that could help increase equality in decision-making levels in companies.

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Letonen, President of AFAEMME

Meeting in Madrid of the Spanish Members of AFAEMME

The Spanish Members of AFAEMME met last March 11th in Madrid during a meeting held by OMEGA, the National Organization of Businesswomen and Active Management of Spain, to discuss the different activities being done by each organisation.

The meeting was attended by Mrs. Joana Pons, President of ASEME - Balearic Islands; Mrs. Mercedes Delgado, President of the Association of Businesswomen of Valencia; Mrs. Cristina Claveria, President of the Association of Catalan Businesswomen and Executives; Mrs. Inmaculada Alvarez, President of OMEGA and the President of AFAEMME Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen among other representatives of OMEGA.

From left to right: Mrs. Pons (ASEME-Baleares), Mrs. De Felipe (AFAEMME) and Mrs. Alvarez (OMEGA).

Meeting with the International Relations Commission of CEOE in Madrid

On March 11th, 2008 Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME, met Mr. Lacasa, President of the International Relations Commission of CEOE (the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations) and with the members of this Commission Mr. Bocos and Mrs. Rivera, with the purpose of interchanging experiences and future forms of collaboration.

Mr. Bocos, Mr. Lacasa, Mrs. De Felipe and Mrs. Rivera

AFAEMME sets up a Web page on the work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector

During the Closing Conference of the Project “Women and Job Mobility: Obstacles and Solutions for Women in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector”, AFAEMME presented a new section of its Web page www.womemobility.org on work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector. The Conference, organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO, took place in Turin, Italy and counted with the presence of Mrs. Nancy Pascall, Gender Policy Officer of the Directorate of Components and Systems of the European Commission, Mrs. Brito-Marie Södenberg, representative of Winnet Europe; Mrs. Paola Mastromarino of the Department of Gender of Telecomitalia Media; Mrs. Giovanna Boschis, representative of APID (Associazione delle Piccole Imprese Donna), Mrs. Clara Collarile, Former General Director of the Office for Intervention in Economic and Social Matters of the Ministry for Equal Opportunities of Italy; Mrs. Marina Larios, representative of Witec and Mrs. Benedetta Magri, Coordinator of the Gender Unit of the ITC-ILO, between other important figures.

In the event, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, made a brief presentation of AFAEMME’s role as a European project platform on gender equality and Mrs. Elizabeth Villagómez, AFAEMME’s Gender Expert, explained how to use the new section of the ww.womemobility.org Webpage where one can make inquiries on work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector, on the qualities necessary to develop a career in the ICT sector TIC and on the present situation of the sector in Spain, Italy and Ireland.

Mrs. De Felipe will participate in the first Citizens´ Agora which will take place in the European Parliament

Mrs. De Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, has been invited by Mr. Gert - Pöttering, President of the European Parliament to participate in the first Citizens´ Agora which will take place on 8 and 9 November 2007 in the European Parliament in Brussels. Following immediately after Lisbon European Summit, this event, focused on the Future of Europe, is designed as an occasion for civil society to make itself heard.

The activities of this Agora will centre around two plenary sessions and two meetings of five workshops (Tasks-Rights-Tools-Borders-Horizons). All the European public will of course be able to follow all the debates during the Agora live on Parliament´s internet site: www.europarl.europa.eu

AFAEMME’s Annual Assembly

On September 18th AFAEMME celebrated its General Annual Assembly in Barcelona, Spain.

After holding the Assembly, the participants discussed some of the different topics that affect Small and Medium Enterprises, such as the current global economic crisis, the possible solutions that can be found to confront its challenges and new forms of entrepreneurial development that can be approached.

Apart from the above, the members present in this meeting supported the proposal that each member Organization informs the President about ideas, possible measures and projects oriented to increase the participation of women in decision-making positions in the economy.

AFAEMME’s next Annual Assembly will be hosted by the Lebanese Business Women Association (LBWA) in Beirut, Lebanon on May 2009, expecting that certain conditions are met to organize the event there.

First Meeting of the EC’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy

The European Commission’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy, which is an initiative of the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Vladimir Spidla, comprise the Chairs of existing European-level networks active in promoting the advancement of women and, in particular, the promotion of women in decision-making positions.

AFAEMME, as a member of the network, was represented by its President, Mrs. Maria Helena de Felipe, in the first meeting of the Network held in Brussels on June 2nd, 2008. Charing the meeting was Mr. Spidla; Mrs. Gurmai, Vice-Chairman for the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality; Mrs. Pyke, Director for Equality between Women and Men, Action against Discrimination, Civil Society; Mrs. Devonic, Head of Unit - DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit "Equality between Women and Men" and Mrs. Ribeiro, Policy Officer of the DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit "Equality between Women and Men".

The European Commission’s Network added-value lies in its potential to facilitate partnerships and synergies between existing European networks and all stakeholders, and in particular decision-makers. The work experience of the sixteen Organisations members and their reputation will contribute to achieving gender balance in decision-making, breaking down the existing barriers to women’s career progress and giving them a higher visibility and profile.

As a network of networks, the Commission's Network provides a platform for European-level cooperation, exchange of information and experience, debate, mutual learning, and sharing of good practice with a view to promoting gender balance in decision-making at all levels and overcoming obstacles to women’s career progress.

At present, women account only for 24% of members of national parliaments and governments in Europe. And in the private sector, men still represent 9 out 10 board members in Europe blue-chip companies. The discrepancy is widest at the very top: only 3% of these companies have a woman presiding over the highest decision-making body.

AFAEMME and the other members of the network will now have to reflect on the best strategies and practice to make progress on this issue, in particular in politics and the private sector.

The next meeting will be at the en d of the year in Brussels and the Network will present its first results in 2009, highlighting examples of best practice and summarising the exchanges and debates between the members of the Network.

List of members of the European Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy

• Jocelyne Bougeard, President, Committee of Women Elected Representatives of Local and Regional Authorities (Council of European Municipalities and Regions)
• Gabriella Canonica, Regional Coordinator, BPW Europe, Business and Professional Women – Europe
• Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President, Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Businesswomen
• Sophia Economacos, President, Eurochambres Women's Network
• Adelheid Ehmke, President, European Platform of Women Scientists
• Gisèle Gautier, Representative of the Network of Parliamentary Committees for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Union
• Marianne Karlberg, Co-ordinator, European Network to Promote Women's Entrepreneurship
• Kirsti Kolthoff, President, European Women's Lobby
• Leena Linnainmaa, President, European Women's Lawyers Association
• Sonja Lokar, Coordinator for the South East Europe Office, CEE Network for Gender Issues
• Bola Olabisi, Director, European Women Inventors and Innovators Network
• Tina Reisenbichler, President, European Women's Management Development International Network
• Slavica Uzelac, Project Coordinator, Femanet - Eurocadres
• Mirella Visser, President, European Professional Women's Network
• Aude Zieseniss de Thuin, President, Women's Forum for the Economy and the Society

To see more pictures of the event please click here.

For more information on the topic, please see the following documents:

• Report "Women and men in decision-making 2007 – analysis of the situation and trends"
• Database on women in decision-making:
• Commission's Roadmap for Equality between women and men (2006-2010)

Moroccan female entrepreneurs visited Barcelona

AFAEMME organises a networking agenda for Moroccan female entrepreneurs visiting Barcelona

From April 7th to April 10th nine female entrepreneurs from AFEM, the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Morocco, a member of AFAEMME, visited Barcelona to participate in a series of networking activities.

AFAEMME prepared a networking agenda thanks to which the entrepreneurs held meetings with businesswomen of Catalonia, interviews which resulted in some cases in successful businesses affaires.

We were very happy to assist them in their business endeavours and we hope that in the near future we can organise a trip of Spanish businesswomen to Morocco who will be able to profit from a similar experience.

To see more pictures of the event, please click here.

EUROPEAN PROJECT OF WOMEN AND JOB MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL CLOSING CONFERENCE

The International Training Centre of the ILO, AFAEMME and SIPTU are pleased to invite you to participate in the European Project of Women and Job Mobility International Closing Conference that will take place in Turin on 21 February 2008.

The conference deals with the mobility of women in the ITC sector. In particular, the purpose is twofold: to discuss the actual role of women in the ITC sector and to outline new job opportunities for women in the ICT sector.

AFAEMME has been working during all last year 2007 in a project focused on two clusters: women and Information and Communication Technologies. The idea was to address the female population in the European labour market in order to produce leverage on workers mobility. At the same time, focusing on women and on a specific subject of economic growth (Lisboan Strategy-Knowledge economy) a multiple effect on job mobility can be obtained.

The project propose refers to the increasing of the job mobility of women in the TICs at large, trying to combine a more dynamic labour market in the TIC sector and the empowerment of high skill component of the female European labour market.

For this project, AFAEMME has been developed a specific section on the website on www.womemobility.org of a promotional and informative type on job opportunities for young women in TIC and what can be done to overcome the obstacles they find.

European statistics on education show that women enter the labour market with higher education levels than men. Since this has been the case for 20 years, a parallel increase in women doing qualified jobs could be expected.

However, women remain a minority in highly qualified, well paid jobs. The statistics show that the situation is different in the ICT sector, where there are increasing numbers of women in management positions (far more than in the industrial sector). This strongly suggests that the ICT sector offers great professional opportunities for women.

The conference intends to deepen this analysis by looking at women’s role in the ICT sector, their mobility within it, and new ICT job opportunities that draw on women’s professionalism.

At the Conference AFAEMME also present the new projects for this year 2008 that will carry out in partnership with the ILO and EUROCHAMBRE. This new project called: “Raising the awareness of companies about combating gender stereotypes” is to help private sector companies, in particular SMEs and in all sectors, to better understand the benefits of combating gender stereotypes, and improve their ability to act.

AFAEMME sets up a Web page on the work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector

Closing Conference of the Project “Women and Job Mobility: Obstacles and Solutions for Women in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector”

On February 21st AFAEMME presented the new section that is being developed in its Web page www.womenmobility.org on work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector.

During the Closing Conference of the Project “Women and Job Mobility: Obstacles and Solutions for Women in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector” that took place in Turin (Italy) in the conference room of the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin (Italy), AFAEMME presented a new virtual tool that will help increase the number of existing women in the ICT sector.

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, made a brief presentation of AFAEMME’s role as a European project platform on gender equality and Mrs. Elizabeth Villagómez, AFAEMME’s Gender Expert, explained how to use the new section of the www.womenmobility.org Webpage where one can make inquiries on work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector, on the qualities necessary to develop a career in the ICT sector TIC and on the present situation of the sector in Spain, Italy and Ireland.

The event was divided in three blocks. In the first one, the objectives of the conference were exposed as well as analysing the role of women in the ICT sector; in the second block the new labour perspective for women in the ICT sector were presented, perspectives which were reflected in the Web page http://ict.womenmobility.org and in the third and last block the conclusions and recommendations reached in the project were exposed.

Mrs. Monica Rossi and Mr. Enrico Tezza, representatives of the International Training Centre of the ILO, said that the purpose of the project “Women and Job Mobility: Obstacles and Solutions for Women in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector”, which was co-financed by the European Commission, was to rise awareness on institutions and social actors so that they can take measures that favour the professional mobility of women within the information and the communication technologies (ICT) sector.

Between the main objectives of the project it was emphasized the "identification of the obstacles that limit the participation of women in the ICT sector and that prevent the development of a career within the sector and the study of the social abilities necessary to be successful in sector", problems that many women face.

Mr. Eddie Higgins, representative of the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union of Ireland, SIPTU, conclude that "it is a reality that there are few women who work in the ICT sector and it is necessary to foment their presence in this sector". For this reason it is necessary to focus on young women, as the main target, as they are most prone to stuffy engineering careers nowadays and are more familiarized with the ICT sector. He commented that the main obstacle that women face to develop a career in the ICT sector is the same one that in other sectors: the difficulty of conciliating labour and personal life, and more in a sector in which labour mobility is necessary to obtain continuous training in different countries.

For that reason, companies in the ICT sector, more than in any other, have to facilitate labour mobility programs: housing searching services in the new destiny country, the facilitation of information on the cultural customs of the country, schools search services for the children (if there were any), good economic compensation, etc.

Nowadays it is necessary to use the new technologies so it is easier for both men and women to conciliate labour and personal life. Internet offers a handful of options to work from a distance with no need to physically be in the office. This requires a commitment of trust, from the business owner, and of responsibility, from the worker.

The event also counted with the presence of Mrs. Nancy Pascall, Gender Policy Officer of the Directorate of Components and Systems of the European Commission, who said that "the number of women in careers such as engineering continues to be very low". Mrs. Brito-Marie Södenberg, representative of Winnet Europe proposed as a solution to the data facilitated by Mrs. Pascall that children should be educated in equality since primary school "to abolish the gender differences it is necessary to begin to educate well in primary school. It is necessary to educate in equality. And the second step is to eliminate stereotypes in the work place".

On the other hand, Prof. Vittorio Cappecci, professor of the University of Bologna, said that: "it has to be to proposed, in primary schools, mathematics and physics education systems that are applied practical things in order to create interest in students and to foment that in the future they decide to study careers related to the ICT sector ".

The event was also attended by the representative of the Department of Gender of Telecomitalia Media, Mrs. Paola Mastromarino; the representative of APID (Associazione delle Piccole Imprese Donna), Mrs. Giovanna Boschis; Mrs. Clara Collarile, Former General Director of the Office for Intervention in Economic and Social Matters of the Ministry for Equal Opportunities of Italy; Mrs. Marina Larios, representative of Witec and Mrs. Benedetta Magri, Coordinator of the Gender Unit of the ITC-ILO.

AFAEMME concludes with this event the project that has been developing throughout all 2007.

Its new project, that will be develop in partnership with International Training Centre of the ILO and EUROCHAMBRES throughout 2008, is called: "Add Value, Break Stereotypes” tries to help the companies of the private sector, in particular small and medium businesses of all the sectors, to understand the benefits of fighting gender stereotypes in the business market.

You can find more pictures of the event in: http://www.afaemme.org/photo.php

AFAEMME was named member of the Commission of International Relations of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Barcelona

AFAEMME was named member of the Commission of International Relations of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Barcelona by Mrs. Miquel Valls I Maseda, President of the organization, during the last Plenary of the Corporation.

Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen meets in Barcelona with the President of the Association of Businesswomen of Morocco (AFEM)

The President of AFAEMME received last 25th July Mrs. Bouthayna Iraqui Houssaini, President of Afem and one of the Vice-presidents of AFAEMME, and Mrs. Saloua Karkri Belkeziz, Honorary President of AFEM Foundation.

The Presidents of both associations and the Honorary President of Afem met to review the activities of the present projects that they are carrying out together. They also discussed the means to fortify the collaboration bonds that unite AFAEMME with the association of the neighbouring country in order to continue working together to promote the incorporation of women in the Moroccan labour market.

Mrs. de Felipe Lehtonen participated in the “Second Congress of Women’s Business from the Adriatic and Ionio Area”

The President of AFAEMME, Mrs. de Felipe Lehtonen, participated in the “Second Congress of Women’s Business from the Adriatic and Ionio Area” that took place in Ancona (Italy) from May 30th to 31st May.

The event was a good opportunity to exchange ideas about the situation of businesswomen in the European labour market and to analyse the new labour markets that offer the best opportunities for businesswomen.

Mrs. De Felipe spoke about AFAEMME´s past projects on women mobility, gender stereotypes in the European labour market and about the project that AFAEMME is carrying out this year for the European Commission in partnership with the I.L.O. (International Labour Organisation) entitled “ Women and job mobility: obstacles and solutions for women in the Information and Communications Technologies (ITCs)”

This project is focused on women and ITC and addresses the female population in the European labour market in order to produce an increase on worker’s mobility. At the same time, it focuses on women as a specific subject of economic growth, trying to combine the high skill component of the female European labour market.

In the context of this project AFAEMME will develop a specific section on their web side www.womenmobility.org on job opportunities for young women in ITC and what can be done to overcome the obstacles they find.

The President of AFEMME also explained that the main aim to AFAEMME was: “to coordinate the efforts of the various Mediterranean Businesswomen’s entities, promoting common activities and projects in order to increase their rank and effectiveness in the business world; to influence public opinion through presentations, events, campaigns directed at National Authorities and Institutions, to establish the role of women in business and to encourage and assist in the creation of structures such as coalitions and policies, to strengthen the participation of women in economic life, providing better business relations and gender equality”.

Mrs. De Felipe so gave the thanks to Mrs. Gorajski, Director of entrepreneurship and women labour market of the Chamber of Commerce, for had invited her and gave the opportunity to participate in that important event.

The counsellor of Presidency of the Region of Murcia, Mr. Fernando de la Cierva, received the members of AFAEMME

The counsellor of Presidency, Mr.Fernando de la Cierva, received the members of AFAEMME in an act celebrated in Murcia last 22nd  March.

The counsellor expressed his gratitude to the presidents of the Mediterranean Businesswomen Associations present for their work to promote gender equality in the labour market. 

At the same time, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, thanked the Regional Government, the Woman Institute of the Region of Murcia and the local Association of Professional and Businesswomen (OMEP) for the support that AFAEMME received to organize the European Conference “Businesswomen and Labour Mobility in the Mediterranean Arc”.

Mrs. De Felipe presented to the Counsellor a replica of the “Dama de Elche”, a historic symbol of the noble values transmitted by the Mediterranean women.

European Conference “Businesswomen and Labour Mobility in the Mediterranean Arc"

Published: March 21st and 22nd, 2007. Murcia, (Spain). By: L. Acedo

March 20th:  Greeting of AFAEMME´s members

March 21st: 

• 12:00hrs: Reception in the San Esteban Palace with the President of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia
• 14:00hrs: Typical lunch
• 16:00hrs: Guided city tour and assistance to exposition of III Centenary of the sculptor Salzillo
• 21:30hrs: Welcome dinner

more...

AFAEMME Annual Meeting

Published: March 21st and 22nd, 2007. Murcia, (Spain). By: L. Acedo

AFAEMME Members meet in Murcia, Spain on 22nd March to celebrate their Annual General Meeting.
The Assembly took place after a European Conference framed within the project called: “Women and Job Mobility: obstacles and solutions for women in the ICT sector”, where it was analyzed how the new communication and information technologies (ICT) can help to improve the networking between the members of AFAEMME, as AFAEMME is working in a project co-financed by the European Commission.

European Year of Workers’ Mobility closing conference in Lille (France) - AFAEMME participates in the Closing Conference of European Year of Workers´ Mobility and finalizes its project on mobility and equality

Published: December 11st and 12nd, 2006. Lille, (France).  by L.Acedo

On 11st and 12nd has taken place Closing Conference of European Year of Workers´ Mobility.  In the act, celebrated in Lille (France), page www.womenmobility.org that AFAEMME has developed inside the framework of the project" Mobility and Equality in the European Labour Market" has been one of the most applauded initiatives. 

Closing Conference have consisted on the one hand in an Exposition for 13 stands where some of the 31 Associations and European Organizations, among that is  AFAEMME and the Coalition for Gender Equality  of Latvia, could present the projects developed during that year 2006. 

More...

AFAEMME BOARD MEETING AT MALLORCA

Published: September 29th 2006. Mallorca, (Spain). By: L. Acedo

AFAEMME Board Meeting took place at Hotel Barceló Albatros at Palma de Mallorca last 29th September. The meeting was attended by representatives of the associations from Mediterranean and EU member countries belonging to AFAEMME’s network. Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, president of AFAEMME, presented the new web site of the Association totally renewed and redesigned: www.afaemme.org She also pointed out the need to have a good corporative image and updated tools in order to support networking and make it effective.

Labour Market and Entrepreneurship Overcoming Gender Stereotypes Transnational Action Plan promoted by Geneder Equality and Businesswomen Organisations

Published: February 23rd 2006. Brussels (Belgium) by L.Acedo

On 23rd February 2006, AFAEMME presented in the European Parlament the Project entitled “Labour Market and Entrepreneurship Overcoming Geneder Stereotypes Transnational Action Plan promoted by Geneder Equality and Businesswomen Organisations” carried out with the support of the European Commission and FEMM (The comision of Gender Equality of the European Parliament).
More than a hundred of people from forty countries attended to hear the results of the project and the recommendations which were made to the European Institutions and National Governements.

The Annual General Meeting and Elections of AFAEMME

Published: February 23rd 2006. Brussels (Belgium) by L.Acedo

The Annual General Meeting and Elections of AFAEMME, took place on 23rd February 2006 in Brussels.
We are pleased to announce that we have five new members from Argelia, France (FCE), Lebanon (LAB), Syria (MAWRED) and Turkey (KAGIDER) and we have extended the Board of Directors to incorporate four new Vice-Presidents form Greece (SEGE), Malta (MBWD), Morocco (AFEM) and Spain, Andalucia (FAME).

AFAEMME New Logotype

Published: February 25rd 2006. Barcelona, (Spain) by L.Acedo

Euro-Mediterranean Economic Leaders Summit

Published: November 28th 2005. Barcelona (Spain) by L.Acedo

AFAEMME is one of the twelve members who has subscribed to the conclusions presented in the “ Euro-Mediterranean Economic Leaders Summit” held on 28th November 2005 in Barcelona. We expect that the voice of the business sector of the Mediterranean region will be heard and taken in consideration for the future policies of the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership.

Third National Focal Meeting in Sofia (Bulgaria)

Published: October 14th 2005. Sofia (Bulgaria) by L.Acedo

As part of the gender equality project "Labour market and entrepreneurship overcoming gender stereotypes" , under the coordination of Afaemme, WAD (Women’s Alliance for Development), held the third National Focal Meeting in Sofia (Bulgaria) on 14th to 16th October, where we presented and discussed the conclusion of the twelve national studies.
The meeting was very fruitful and many issues were debated. Everybody is looking forward to the final large shedule meeting in Brussels (Belgium) on 2nd-4th February 2006, where Afaemme with its proyect partners and collaborating Associations will have the opportunity to present the reports and recomendation to members to European Comission and National Governments.

International Focal Point Meeting at Barcelona (Spain)

Published: June 30th 2005. Thessaloniki (Greece) by L.Acedo

AFAEMME celebrated in Barcelona on Friday June 30th and Saturday July 1st 2005, the Third International Focal Point Meeting that forms part of the project “Labour Market and Entrepreneurship Overcoming Gender Stereotypes”, with the presence of Presidents and key representatives of Associations from each country found in the eastern hemisphere of Europe (Estonia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Poland). The attendees analysed in detail the real obstacles which women have to face in the labour and entrepreneurial market and proposed various ways to improve the access of women to this market. During this International meeting, also took place the launch of the renewed issue of “Fair Play”, published by WAD, Women’s Alliance for Development, Bulgaria.

General Assembly of AFAEMME at Thessaloniki, (Greece)

Published: April, 9th 2005. Thessaloniki, (Greece) by L.Acedo

The past 9th of April 2005 and as part of the second meeting to discuss about the project “Labour Market and Entrepreneurship, Overcoming Gender Stereotypes”, took place the General Assembly of AFAEMME at Thessaloniki, Greece. One of the main activities during the Assembly was the aprobation of the activities done during 2004 and the coming activities during the current year. The members of AFAEMME present at the event were:
Mrs. Maria Helena de Felipe (President); Mrs. Mercedes Delgado (General Secretary); Mrs. Cristina Gorajski (Italy); Mrs. Mina Thanou (Greece); Mrs. María Angeles Ruiz Martínez (Murcia, Spain); Mrs. Marisa Riestra Nicolau (Balearic Islands, Spain); Mrs. Charlotte Gregory (Malta); Betariz Fernandez (legal advisor) and Elisabeth Trallero (International Coordinator).
The celebration of the next General Assembly will take place on January 2006 at Brusselss, Belgium.

Workers Mobility: a right, an option, an opportunity

Published: Febrary 20th 2005. Barcelona (Spain) by L.Acedo

On 20th February 2005, some members of AFAEMME atended the Internacional Conference in the European Comisión in Brussels, entitled “Workers Mobility: a right, an option, an opportunity” which launched the European year of Worker´s Mobility. The inaugural session was presided by Mr. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

Seminar on Civil and Political Right at Barcelona Forum

Published: July  29th 2004. Barcelona (Spain)

The Meeting on Women's Dialogue was held between the 29th and 31st of July, within which AFAEMME took part at a Round Table Debate (chaired by its President Mrs Maria Helena de Felipe).  The topic of this particular discussion was:
    "Civil and Political Rights - New Forms of Democracy"
The three days were marked with success in terms of attendance, enthusiasm and participartion of women relevant to the social, political and economic worlds.
 We will have the conclusions after the closure of the FORUM on the 24th of September and will be carrying the over to the new MONTERREY FOURM in 2007.

President of AFAEMME is invited to Morocco to represent Catalonian 

Published: May 27th 2004. Casablanca (Morocco)

President of AFAEMME, Mª Helena de Felipe, was recently invited by the Head of the Catalan Government, Mr. Pascual Maragall, as part of a delegation, to Morocco. The purpose of the visit, made between 27th - 29th May 2004, was to participate in a series of meetings to promote corporate co-operation between Morocco and Catalonia of Spain.
The invitation was further extended by Mrs.Felipe, to Saloua Kakri, President of AFEM of Morocco, an active member of AFAEMME.

Mrs. Reem Barghouty Damen awarded

Last March 2010 Mrs. Reem Barghouty Damen, President of the Jordan Forum for Business & Professional Women (JFBPW), has been awarded by Mr. Najjar, the Minister of Water & Irrigation, on behalf of the Prime Minister of Jordan, Mr. Samir Refai’, with the Ministry of Water & Irrigation Award.

By this award, Mrs. Reem Barghouty Damen, the Board of Directors of JFBPW, its members and the working team were congratulated for the distinguished efforts in saving water during the WEPIA Project.

AFAEMME’s President Participates in Meeting with Spain’s Minister of Equality

AFAEMME’s President, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe participated in a meeting held in Madrid, Spain on September 11th, 2008 hosted by Spain’s Minister for Equality, Her Excellency Mrs. Bibiana Aido and the Secretary of Equality Policies, Mrs. Isabel María Martínez Lozano.

The meeting gathered together several Presidents of National Women Organisations from different areas and was held to present this new Ministry’s work plan as well as to collect opinions on the current situation of Spanish equality policies, as seen by these organisation leaders.

During the meeting, Mrs. Aido spoke about the existing differences between men and women, stating that “…We have to take into account that we come from different places: men have been socialized to take power, but women have been socialized to not take power”.

It is expected that future meeting will be held to accompany the Ministry’s work in the years to come.

Mrs. Bibiana Aido, Spanish Minister for Equality; Mrs. Elvira Mendez, President of the Organisation Health and Family and Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME

AFAEMME’s President takes part of a Museum Exhibit

Published on April 28th, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME, was interviewed to form part of the exhibit “Dones, els camins de la llibertat” (Women, the roads to freedom) organised by the History Museum of Catalonia. The exhibit, which will be open from April 17th to July 20th, 2008, was inaugurated by the Honourable Counsellors of the Government of Catalonia, Mr. Tresserras, Counsellor of Culture and Mrs. Capdevila, Counsellor of Social Action.

EUROCHAMBRES 15th Annual Congress on 25-26
October 2007 in Paris

EUROCHAMBRES, the Association of European Chambres of Commerce and Industry, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008, forms one of the key pillars of business representation to the European Institutions.

EUROCHAMBRES annual Congres brings together around 500 participants from over 50 countries coming from the worlds of business, politics and media.

The theme of the 2007 Congress will be:

Business and Regional Development: growth will
come from the grassroots!?

For the firs time a European Congress will focus on the role that economic actors can play towards local and regional authorities as partners in the global success of Europe.

Governance, competitiveness and territorial competition: members of the European parliament and Commission, ministers, regional and local elected deputies and captains of industry will debate these issues which are essential for the dynamism and growth of the European Union.

MORE INFORMATION/REGISTRATION on the Congress website:

www.eurochambresparis2007.org

Jadrana Radovanic new president of the association of the businesswomen of Croatia (KRUG)

Published 6th June 2007 by Lourdes Acedo

The association of the businesswomen of Croatia (KRUG) has renewed his bord of director. Now Jadrana Radovanic is the new president and the executive board is composed by: Renata Vokal (Deputy of President), Biserka Rajkovic, Diana Vrankovic, Dunja Konjevod, Durdica Zagorec, Ivanka Avelini, Marija Sola, Valnea Bressan and Vlasta Hautz.

KRUG is an association of businesswomen in Croatia, member of AFAEMME. Krug works to improve the position of businesswomen in society by encouraging women entrepreneurship, business culture and working ethics.

The activities of KRUG are education, networking, promotion of achievements of businesswomen, co-operation with public organisations and institutions and liking with similar national and international associations.

KAGIDER NEW TEAM

Women Entrepreneurs Associations of Turkey has renewed his bord of director.

Published 17 th.04. 2007 by L.Acedo

Photo: Mrs. Meltem Gürler (Head of Foreign Affairs Committee of KAGIDER) with Mrs.Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen (President os AFAEMME)

6th Pan Afro Congress of Business and Professional Women

The 6th Pan Afro Congress of Business and Professional Women in Collaboration with 6th Mediterranean Congress of Business and Professional Women and 8th International Congress of Egyptian Business Women Association (EBWA) will be organise by Egyptian Business Women Association (EBWA), African Alliance for Women Empowerment (AFRAWE), Afro-Arab Network for Women Empowerment, Business and Professional Women Egypt (BPW-Egypt) and Organization for Women in Trade (OWIT – Egypt).

IThe event will take place on 28-30th May at Mena House Oberoi Hotel, Cairo, Egypt For get more information please contact with: asfour2712@yahoo.com

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Catalan Association of Businesswomen and Women Executives (ACCE)

Published: December 21st, 2006. Barcelona (Spain) . By: L. Acedo

ACCE (L´Asociació Catalana d´Empresàries i Executives), a member of AFAEMME´s network,celebrated on December of 2006 its 25th anniversary.

In a very special dinner that brought together the founding members as well as the newcomers, Mrs. Carmen Trias de Romero received the award for “The Best Businesswoman of the Year 2006” which recognised her 30 years as a successful executive leading TEASA, a pioneer business in Catalonia dedicated to proving aide services for events. The award was handed to Mrs. Trias by Kati Carreras-Moysi, Counsellor for Institutional Relations of Barcelona’s City hall.  

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of ACEE, made a speech in which she not only congratulated Mrs. Carmen Trias de Romero for her work, but also recognised the efforts and the achievements made by ACCE in its 25 years of existence, in which it has provided information and advice to its members.

L´Association les Femmes Chef d´Entreprises

Published: December 2nd, 2006.  (France). By: L. Acedo

L´Association les Femmes Chef d´Entreprises, member of AFAEMME, celebrated, last 2nd of December the 60th anniversary of the association in the Chamber of Commerce of Paris. There was 400 attends who participated in the round tables about “Stakes of the Enterprise take over”.

54th FCEM World Congress – SLOVENIA The Future Belongs to the Enterprising Ljubljana

Published: November 21st, 2006. Liubliana (Slovenia) . By: L. Acedo

The 54th congress will be hosted in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from October 21 through 24, 2006. For the whole family of women entrepreneurs, united through Femmes Chefs d`Entreprises Mondiales this will be a beautiful occasion for participants from different nations, languages and cultures to meet and discuss about experiences and share knowledge and information about enterprising, innovation and partnership and to deepen friendships developed through FCEM meetings. This will also be an occasion to know more about the surprising world of Central and Eastern Europe.
If you need more information, get in contact with Mrs. Marta Turk National. President/ FCEM World Vice-president.

ACE&E with his/her Royal High Princes of Asturias meeting

Published: October, 2006. Barcelona (Spain)

Members of The Catalonian Association of Businesswomen were guests to the inauguration of the new installations of the Historic File of the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona where the associates had the opportunity to have a very interesting conversation on conciliation of work and family life themes with her Royal High Princess of Asturias, the very honourable. Mrs. Letizia Ortiz. Who had been very interested in this subject and in the projects that ACEE is to carrying out to improve the businesswomen situation in the labour market.

A meeting with the Business Women Organization from Catalonia

Published: June 12nd, 2006. Barcelona (Spain)

The Economy Minister of Chile Mrs Ingrid-Veronica Antonijevic, requested a meeting with the Business Women Organization from Catalonia (ACEE) on 12th May 2006 in Barcelona.
The meeting was attended by the President of Afaemme Mrs M.Helena de Felipe who organized it, and a group of the highest level businesswomen.
They discussed the situation of business in Catalonia and the obstacles they have had to overcome.
Mrs Antonijevic was interested in collaborating together and to set up a Business Women Organization in Chile.

Dr Bouthayna Iraqui Houssaini as a President

Published: June 28nd, 2006. Casablanca (Morocco)

The Moroccan NGO for business women, General assembly held on Wednesday June 28, 2006, has elected Dr Bouthayna Iraqui Houssaini as a President for the coming three years.

Dr Iraqui Houssaini succeeds to Mrs Saloua Karkri Belkeziz, One of Afem founders. The latter was elected by the same general assembly as a Honorary President.

The Board to work with Dr Bouthayna Iraqui Houssaini during this period is as follows:
Hakima El Haite Mounir:
Vice President in charge of Institutional and International Relations.
Imane Rtabi Benamar:
Vice President in charge of the Creation of Enterprises
Wassila Kara Ibrahimi:
Vice President in charge of the Development of Women Entrepreneurship
Hakima Hourri Touzani:
General Secretary in charge of Regional Development
Souad Doumiri Rachou:
General Treasurer.

The new team will be honoured and delighted to continue and maintain our relationship of a privileged partnership.

Women’s way to Europe

Published: June 25th, 2006. Atalya (Turkey). By: L. Acedo

On the 25th and 26th of May, KAGIDER (Organization of Businesswomen from Turkey) organized an International Conference in Istambul entitled “Women’s way to Europe” in the context of a project of the European Commission.Afaemme is one of the three partners in the project along with IAPBWB (Bulgaria) and ADAF (Romania).

We honoured to have the presence or the Family Minister of Turkey Mrs Nimet ÇubukÇu.

The Spanish delegation included mrs. M.Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME and Mrs. Charo Nogueira, journalist from the El País, and Mrs. Joaquima Alemany, President of the International Network of Liberal Women. They spoke about the situation of women in Spain in reference to gender equality.

The womens cooperative bank

Published: May 25th, 2006. Cairo (Egyp)

We would like to inform you that Mrs Artemis Toumazi with the womens cooperative bank won two awards in the first global summit award which took  place in Cairo  last  9th of June 2006.

ANTIKAD newest member of Afaemme

Published: May 25th, 2006. Atalya (Turkey)

The newest member of Afaemme is ANTIKAD (pendent to be officially approved by the Board), a member of the Coalition of Turkish Women Entrepreneurs, located in Antalaya which is a Mediterranean City on the Syrian border.

The President of the Organization Mrs.Sevinç Eylik and the Vicepresident Mrs. Seval Yasak were present at the Istambul Conference organised by KAGIDER (25th-26th May 2006).

The women entrepreneurship facing financial problems

Published: March 14th, 2006.(Morocco)

The Moroccan member of AFAEMME, the Association of Businesswomen of Morocco (AFEM), organized last 14th of March the event about “the women entrepreneurship facing a financial problems: realities and perspectives” and on 28th of February took place a business-dinner about”the communication and media, which way to use" organized by AFEM too.

Businesswomen Organization in Guatemala

Published: November 9 th, 2005 (Guatemala)

Over 19th to 29th of November , the President of AFAEMME, Mª Helena de Felipe, visited Guatemala and supported the creation of the first Businesswomen Organization in Guatemala, with the support of President of the country Mr. Oscar Berger.

Iberamerican Congress of Business  Women

Published: October 20 th, 2005. Madrid (Spain)

FIDE (Federation of Iberoamerican Businesswomen) celebrate its XV Congress in Madrid , 20th to 23rd of October.This event served well to create business relations between Iberoamerican  and Portugal and Spain countries. From AFAEMME, asisted to the Congress the President M. Helena de Felipe, as well as member of the Joint Directive of FIDE

The situation of businesswomen in Morocco

Published: September, 15th, 2005. Casablanca (Morocco)

On 15th of September of 2005 took place the first anniversary of AFEM. The Association of Businesswomen of Morocco (AFEM) is working a lot to improve the situation of businesswomen in Morocco and they are growing and reaching new horizons continuously. We invite you to consult the link http://www.afem.ma/News.htm

A Delegation from AFEM, visited Barcelona

Published: July 3th, 2005 Barcelona, (Spain)

A Delegation from the Association of Business Women of Morrocco (AFEM) leaded by its General Secretary Mrs. Afifa Dassouli, visited Barcelona between the 7 and the 11 of March . The Delegation had several networking meetings with the Catalan Association of Businesswomen ACEE, as well as interviews with the General Director of COPCA Mr. Jordi Serret at the Palace of the Generalitat; and participate at the entrpreneurs’ day at the Forum of Barcelona.