The Hon. Helena Dalli participates in International Seminar in Salzburg

Over fifty delegates from thirty-one countries met in Salzburg, Austria in August to examine the unique leadership roles that women will play in meeting global challenges in the 21st Century.

Helena Dalli, Parliamentary Secretary for Women's Rights joined parliamentarians, former cabinet ministers, international bank officials, corporate and private enterprise executives, labour leaders, and peace and human rights activists in looking at current best practices that are advancing women into decision-making positions in Europe and North America, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The group also assessed the economic, social, and environmental problems that they said are likely to grow in the coming years. They issued a statement, after four days of intensive meetings, calling for a new leadership style for both men and women to meet the difficult challenges of the 21st Century.

This new leadership style, being put into place in numerous large corporations, non-profit groups, and in many political systems around the world, replaces hierarchy with participation and includes a social agenda along with goals of economic growth.

The participants at the special session issued the following statement: "We declare our support for women friendly democratic systems and advocate for a network of resources to identify, support, encourage and sustain women's leadership in business, politics, non-governmental organizations and international institutions."

The session was held at the Salzburg Seminar in Salzburg, Austria, which has been hosting leaders at Schloss Leopoldskron for international dialogues for more than fifty years. The International Centre for Research on Women, a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank, celebrating its 20th anniversary, convened the meeting together with the Salzburg Seminar.