SECOND EUROMED FORUM OF WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS

The two-day meeting of the Second Euro Mediterranean Forum of Women Parliamentarians came to an end on Saturday. The Hon. Dolores Cristina chaired the deliberations of the Forum. The Hon Anton Tabone, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta, made an introductory statement welcoming the participants. The Hon. Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, delivered a keynote address on the effects of Globalisation.

The work of the Forum was carried out in three Workshops. Each session examined specific issues in relation to Globalisation under the following headings:-

Globalisation and the Economic Power of Women

Globalisation, Immigration and Citizenship

Globalisation and Access to Information and Culture.

The discussions examined the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation on women. The participants emphasised the need for education and training and encouraged the mobilisation of resources in the field of information technology, particularly the Internet. In renewing their will to combat illegal migration and the human slave trade, they encouraged the drawing up by the European Union, in collaboration with their partners in the Barcelona Process, of a policy on migration and the conclusion of bilateral agreements to regulate migratory flows. Equally they sought to promote respect for international conventions on human rights, the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights, as well as the UN Economic and Social Charter.

At the end of the meeting the Women Parliamentarians approved the reports drawn up by the rapporteurs of the respective Workshops and expressed their satisfaction and support for the Final Declaration of the Second Session of the Euromed Parliamentary Forum held in Brussels on 8-9^th February 2001. They urged that the respective Parliaments of the Euro Mediterranean region promote and implement the provisions therein.

Spain will be assuming the Presidency of the Third Euro-Mediterranean Forum of Women Parliamentarians.