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“Each government holds legal and political responsibility towards the principle of equality between all citizens: human rights are women’s rights too”, says Judith Neisse director of the EU-funded programme “Enhancing Equality between Men and Women in the Euromed Region”. In an interview with Eurojar, a media project funded by the EU, she says they are currently working with many Mediterranean Partner Countries “to analyze the situation of women in each of them and to lead studies about gender-based violence.” Later on, she says, action plans will be drawn up.

 

Judith Neisse is the new director of the 'Euromed gender equality' program. Interested in women status since the beginning of her career, Judith Neisse has worked on gender issues in Mediterranean countries within the framework of projects funded by the EU, the Belgium cooperation, the German cooperation and the UNDP.

 

Judith Neisse: In everyday life, equality begins in the private sphere. Equitable sharing of responsibilities is defined within the couple and the family, with a line of conduct on the basis of equal rights and equal obligations beyond individual differences. However, love and mutual respect are not sufficient. Sometimes the influences of the past and traditions have repercussion on mentalities. It is thus the role of public institutions and civil society to carry on. Each government holds legal and political responsibility towards the principle of equality between all citizens: human rights are women’s rights too.

 

Just like some men, some women are affected by the mentality prevailing in their country. Others express a desire for improving their conditions and obtaining entire emancipation, in spite of their social background. They all have the right to equality. This is why the adoption of international rules and universal values of equality is an essential issue. Citizenship education and governments’ volunteer approach will help destroying psychological fences.

 

The program has an atypical approach. It is addressed to state actors in charge of equality policies. It offers an accompaniment in the form of expertise services, studies, training sessions and capacities reinforcement so that they can be able to improve the situation in their country and then in their region, as they know it better. The program does not allocate grants for short-term projects, like other initiatives do. We work on social changes, and this takes time. Currently, we are collaborating with many countries to analyze the situation of women in each of them and to lead studies about gender-based violence, according to common criteria and methodologies. Later on, action plans will be drawn up at a national and a regional level.

 

Dissimilarities and diversities are never a hindrance but challenges and opportunities for mutual learning and co-development. Division no longer exists between the “North” and the “South”, but between Mediterranean countries that adhere to international norms and values, and those who are still resisting the advantages of equality.

 

Our program works with public entities. However, there is another Euromed regional program (Investing in People – Euromed Gender Equality) that allocates grants to civil society actors for the same purposes.

 

 

Gender-based violence is an international and a global phenomenon. On one hand, it is related to historical factors (tradition and culture). On another hand, only a legal and an economic autonomy could help women escape violence. With education and better legislation, their struggle will be facilitated.

 

 

The world equality infers that equal treatment is essential before the law. It also leads to a mutual respect. Such perception excludes privileges and discriminations towards one group or another.