Women's Network Seminar

Nordic Forum. As a member of the International Programme Committee the co-ordinator participated in the planning process of the 10th Anniversary Seminar of the Nordic Forum that took place in Turku 12-13.8.2004. The Seminar, arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers, City of Turku and Abo Akademi University gathered ca 500 participants from 11 countries to evaluate how the themes from ten years ago have progressed. UBC Women's Network was given a quota which made it possible to invite interested members to participate in this process campaigning for equal opportunities for everyone in accordance to the theme of the seminar "Equal Opportunities - for WoMen". The seminar reviewed the themes through working life, social influencing, as well as private and family life. In addition, women trafficking as well as violence towards women and its consequences received a great deal of attention.

Women's Network seminar. The theme for the seminar, that was organised on October 14, was "Municipalities and Gender Equality in Baltic Sea Region and as a Nordic Dimension". The Women's Network discussed iter alia: the program for the autumn, the importance of a woman to be elected to UBC Presidium, common projects and answers to the questions: how to promote Gender Equality Cooperation; how to create a supportive environment for Gender Equality Policy, how to strengthen the role of women in decision-making and politics and how to use Women's Network to enhance that purpose?

It was extremely important to get the views of some very prominent women in politics and administration from Russia, Estonia and Lithuania, the representatives from Lake Victoria Women's Network and to get the grass-root opinions from the women's centres in Kalmar and Turku.

The participants formulated project-ideas (to be further developed) and expressed many important thoughts answering the questions above. One of presented ideas was to build a permanent structure within the UBC consisting of representatives from UBC commissions and networks, representatives from UBC cities and Women's NGO's and researchers. This structure could be used as well as an advisory or as a consultative committee with the goal to implement common standards on equal opportunities, rights, freedom and responsibilities and to promote policies to help member cities to develop municipal equality plans, promote standards and norm, to promote gender mainstreaming.

Two women from the LVRLAC Women's Network participated in these Seminars. One of the best experiences from these days in Turku was that women's organisations and groups are cooperating to become stronger. In order to obtain that goal LVRLAC Women's Network would like to get in touch with different UBC member cities for further cooperation.