To promote a gender balance in decision-making . Recipe n.46 . "THE PROVINCIAL FORUM OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY" What The 13 July 2000 is an important date for the women of the Province of Catania. For the first time in Sicily "The Provincial Forum of Equal Opportunity" "- born after the European experience with the project “MAINSTREAMING RECIPES” - has been set up, promoted by the Minister For Equal Opportunity of the regional province of Catania and achieved with thanks to the active participation and perserverence of a considerable number of men and women who work in the province of Catania Council, the Provincial Advisor For Equality, the elected advisors of the 58 councils of the province and of the Catania Council, the Catania Ministry of Education, the Asl, the university, the mayors, the Equal Opportunity Commission that has been instituted in the Catania and its provincial councils, the press, the Categories Associations, the Volunteer Association, the third sector, the key agents of professional formation and the Consumer Affairs Associations have met in accordance with sharing the same objectives and intentions for reciprocal work to put in action equal opportunity for all the women of our territory. How much From 13 July until today the Provincial Form of Equal Opportunity, with the coordination and supervision of the Provincial Minister of Equal Opportunity, Dr Cettina Camareri, has achieved the following actions: - A visit to the Equality Commission of Bruxelles and a shared "training-information" experience to better understand the work and interpretation of the Commission of Equal Opportunity of Bruxelles from the politicians of Equal Opportunity to the politicians for employment and relay this experience and acquired information to our territory. -A real analysis of the requirements and needs of women in Catania and of motivations that they, from origins of progress and of social limitations can characterise the journey and evolution of the conditions of equal opportunity in training, social , political, familial and work fields of men and women. -A document that indicates the possible strategies of operations for meeting the requirements and needs of women to take incisive action which favours the complete realisation of equal opportunity. -The presentation of a project entitled, "Educare alla Parità in the sphere of initiative supported by law no. 125/9 "Positive Actions For Women" How For months, and in accordance with the constitution of the "Tavolo Di Concertazione" in Agenda 2000 where womens issues are strongly emersed, the Minister For Equal Opportunity has an objective to find a concrete way to favour and spread the culture of equal opportunity. The idea to construct the Aassembly of the Provincial Forum of Equal Opportunity was created by the need to activate a space/time away from the political platform and active work to which all women who want equal opportunity can support like a new culture, from the valuation of the gender difference inside the global transformation of the market place, of society and of knowledge. The 13 July 2000 , the day in which the Minister For Equal Opportunity of the regional province of Catania has constructed the Provincial Forum of Equal Opportunity and has decided to coordinate this project. This was also the day in which many women created a legal act from precedent law, trying to link and find common general programmatic lines for the interests of women dedicated to cultural promotion of equal opportunity. 2. The objectives of the Equal Opportunity Forum are: Equal opportunity promotion between men and women, within the family, in politics and also in training. The cultural promotion founded on the difference of valuation of type and determination to encourage occasions in which men and women can confront themselves through a complete reality interpretation integrated by the prospectives and by elements both masculine and feminine.. The forum is therefore pluralistic and an open field of ideas and proposals to develop a political project that should favour real equal opportunity between the sexes.. Work conditions and professional developments should include a majority presence of women and girls in all decision making , organizing and political process. Itinery Starting from a provincial common level that citizens can confront directly with a social citizen model that affirms the right of dignity for all and build a new relationship with institutions. This transformation , to which we are looking forward to assisting with through the form, will create a richer standard of living for the people of Catania and its provinces. The Provincial Forum of Equal Opportunity is composed of a Forum Aassembly and an Executive Committee. The Forum Aassembly meets around every 45 days and the Executive Committee meets once a week in the organization and planning of proceeding works under commission. The works under commission must be planned and programmed to be completed and promoted in the territory respectively. The works under commission instituted today are: - Under commission process of a document to present at Bruxelles and organization of a manifestation on the general state of equal opportunity "Donne In Progress". - Under commission Agenda 2000 - Under commission European community proclamations. - Under commission relationships with local, regional and national institutions. - Under commission aanalysiss of womens needs and correlation of social and work requirements, including training, political and family needs. - Under commission promotion and divulgence of the Provincial Forum of Equal Opportunity. Results - To promote the usual procedures to favour equal opportunity and to value the difference created, with occasions to instrument work…to increment the process of change and to break down the barriers that, still today, create obstacles for women regarding occupations and qualifications. - Coordination and support of the politicians concerned with equal opportunity to assure both the congruity of the legislative initiative and the correct application of the existing normative. - Action time to promote the attribution of powers and responsibility to women in the political field of decision making. - Action time to recognize and guarantee freedom of choice and social quality for men and women. - The activation of an internet site on the Catania Provincial Forum of Equal Opportunity. - The activation of an observatory for business women. - The activation of an observatory to value the real life working conditions of women. - To make measures to favour the businesswoman and of those dedicated to womens issues. - Training to favour women in public administration. - To increase the number of female politicians who support equal opportunity in public institutions. References for further informazion: Dott.ssa Cettina Cambareri Assessore alle politiche sociali, giovanili, della famiglia e alle pari opportunità PROVINCIA REGIONALE DI CATANIA Assessorato alle pari opportunità Tel 095 336049