THE DEPARTMENT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: TEMPORARY POLICIES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CITY QUALITY

COMMITTEE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES- POLITICAL ELECTIONS: A CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN IN KEY POSITIONS

PIEDMONT A NEW REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITES

ENTREPRENEURSHIP - THE DEPARTMENT FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: INITIATIVES AND RESULTS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP- SOCIAL INNOVATION AND LABOUR MARKET: COOPERATIVES

EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP - A LEGACOOP/MINISTRY OF LABOR RESEARCH

OSSERVATORIODONNA THE FIRST STEPS TO CREATE AN ENTERPRISE

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA - WOMAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ONE BILLION LIRE FOR POSITIVE ACTIONS

UNIONE INDUSTRIALI IN ROME A PROGETTO AL FEMMINILE-PLURALE

SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF PROSTITUTES AND LAWS AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENTS

WOMEN IN ARTS-CULTURE AS A RESOURCE IN ANCONA

THE DEPARTMENT FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES - TEMPORARY POLICIES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, CITY QUALITY

On Feb.19 and 20, Rome is hosting the international meeting promoted by the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Prime Ministry in cooperation with the Centro LUPT from the University Federico II in Naples, on the Temporary policies, sustainable development and city quality.
Women must be involved, in fact, also in initiatives referring to the city development and the city planning and during the meeting in February proposals in this sector will be debated, said the adviser of the Minister for Equal Opportunities, Ms. Anna Pedrazzi.

Policies undertaken by many cities, European actions to improve the city quality, the implementation of commitments singled out during the UN Conference in Rio and the Habitat II meeting indicate the women's involvement in this sector. The number of women in this sector, however, must increase.
The first day will be dedicated to "Time policies" and it will be chaired by the Head of the Department for Equal Opportunities, Ms. Delia La Rocca and by Ms. Pedrazzi of the Department for Equal Opportunities. The agenda: "Matching work and social commitments", "Employment, local development, choice time: the European guidelines" , "The chart of ideas for a city quality". The topics of the second day, chaired by Ms. Clara Collarile and Ms. Rosanna Minozzi from the Department for Equal Opportunities, will be: "Sustainable development and city quality", "City decline and social hardship", "Funds and programs for the local development", "Re-organizing mobility".
The program also includes a meeting on "Women in the city government". Ms. Balbina Piennaar (Namibia) from the International Union of Local Authorities, the European representative of the same body, Ms. Doris Mpoumou of the Women's Environment and Development Organization from the United States, Ms. Ana Caucello, the President of AFEM from Portugal, Ms. Mariangela Bastica, the Head of the Emilia Romagna Region, will be attending this meeting.

Further information: Dipartimento Pari Opportunità: Phone +39 06 6779 5997, fax. +39 06 6990265; e mail annamariapedrazzi@virgilio.it; or Centro LUPT University of Naples, phone +39 081 55211011, fax.+39081 2538601 e mail noccia@unina.it.(Italian Network)

THE COMMITTEE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES - POLITICAL ELECTIONS: A CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN IN KEY POSITIONS

Despite progress in Europe, the number of women in politics is still low. And this happens in Italy, too.
In consideration of the elections which will be held soon in our country, the Committee for Equal Opportunities of the Prime Ministry is organizing a number of meetings with the Italian heads of the different associations. The conclusions of these meetings will be debated at the beginning of March, before March 8.
The committee has also started campaigns and tv programs in this connection.(Italian Network)

PIEDMONT - A NEW REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Last January, the regional Committee for Equal Opportunities started operating in Turin.
The scope of this committee is to promote equal opportunities between men and women in the social, economic and cultural field, to undertake actions to eliminate discrimination towards women.
In Piedmont, the rate of unemployed women dropped under 10% in 2000 and working women account for 40% of the labor force. Further actions, however, must be undertaken to eliminate discrimination.
The Committee is formed by 15 representatives appointed by the regional Council and by three Union representatives: Chiara Barbero, Patrizia Cascarano, Barbara Corbisiero, Ivana Dessanay, Monica Eula, Silvana Fantini, Anna Mantìn, Marta Minervini Calandri, Luciana Pampuro, Mariagrazia Pellerino, Valeria Picco, Antonella Rainero, Giovanna Rolle, Valeria Siliquini, Laura Simonetti, Eufemia Ribichini, Giuseppina Saroglia, Carmen Scia. (Italian Network)

WOMAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP - THE DEPARTMENT FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: INITIATIVES AND RESULTS

The promotion and the support in favor of woman entrepreneurship are a priority of the Government, stated the Minister for Equal Opportunities, Ms. Katia Belillo in a release for the participants in the recent meeting on Woman Entrepreneurship, promoted by Legacoop and the Fondazione Italianieuropei.
A priority which was fruitful: 30% of the new enterprises in industrialized countries are run or have been set up by women.
The steps of the Government in this connection include: the establishment of the Osservatorio per l'Imprenditorialità femminile in 1997; spreading of information on prospects to set up an enterprise; promotion of new woman entrepreneurship through pilot projects; the enforcement of the law No. 21/92 to support the establishment of enterprises run by women; a free toll number for women interested in getting information on how to set up an enterprise, a campaign in 1997 to promote woman entrepreneurship.
Results which have been achieved are important: the Osservatorio pointed out that over 100 bills have been approved. In addition, the Osservatorio created a web site (www.osservatorio donna.it) supplying information on entrepreneurial activities. The site is connected to a network of desks of the Province, the municipality, Chambers of Commerce, unions. In addition two pilot projects to boost the establishment of new enterprises in the tourist and artisan sectors have been started.
The Law No. 215 has led to the presentation of 14,262 projects and 11,494 have been included in the list ( they benefited altogether of 240 billion lire). And the toll free number answered 77,000 calls. (Italian Network)

WOMAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP - SOCIAL INNOVATION AND LABOR MARKET: COOPERATIVES

There seems to be an antithesis between entrepreneurship and employed work but often the second leads to the first.
Within this framework, taking about entrepreneurship means examining relations between these two conditions and the problems of development of the whole country, said Ms. Vanda Giuliano from Legacoop who stressed how the increase of new woman entrepreneurship favors woman employment.
According to a recent survey carried out by Censis, woman entrepreneurship does not benefit in most of the cases of social securities. It is also true, however, that this kind of work allows women to meet different needs, without being cut away from the labor market.
Most of the woman enterprises are small (cooperatives) and they operate in the third sector. They need special laws, research training, credit access programs.
Women in cooperatives members of Legacoop account for 51% ( 2,500,000 ). Woman cooperatives work mainly in the tourist, cultural, restoration, archaeological, service, catering and cleaning sectors.
Legacoop has undertaken cooperative promotion programs mainly in Southern Italy, and mostly for youths. (Italian Network)

EMPLOYMENT/ENTREPRENEURSHIP - A LEGACOOP/MINISTRY OF LABOR RESEARCH

Cooperatives in entrepreneurship are a reality and their number is steadily increasing: this is the conclusion of a research promoted by Legacoop and the Ministry of Labor.
According to the research, recently presented in Rome, the highest number of cooperatives is in Northern Italy (51%). In Central Italy, the percentage drops to 25.7% and in Southern Italy to 22.8%. Cooperatives operate mainly in the service and tourist sectors ( in Northern Italy) and also in the agricultural-food sector ( in Southern Italy). Southern cooperatives boast the highest number of women. However, in most of the cases, they have only a temporary contract.
The percentage of women in key positions is extremely low: .3% in Northern Italy, .7% in Central Italy and .4% in Southern Italy. In most of the cases , women work as employees: 41.5% in Northern Italy, 50.6% in Central Italy and 37.5% in Southern Italy. (Italian Network)

OSSERVATORIODONNA- THE FIRST STEPS TO CREATE AN ENTERPRISE

The Department for Equal Opportunities of the Prime Ministry has recently created an on line service Primi passi per fare impresa within the framework of the web site in favor of woman entrepreneurship.
The new instrument offers women detailed information on how to set up an enterprise.

The service is part of a number of new initiatives which will be soon operating ( "Idee di business", "Inventa la tua idea", "Progetta la tua impresa", "Entriamo in banca", "I servizi bancari che fanno per te", "Come e dove formarsi") worked out by Sviluppo Italia, Formaper and run by Osservatorio Donna.
The service offers a sort of tutoring through internet to women interested in establishing an enterprise.(Italian Network)

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA : WOMAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ONE BILLION FOR POSITIVE ACTIONS

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region offered to the Committees for the Woman Entrepreneurship in the four provinces a specific financing. The Regional Council has allocated, in fact, one billion lire for consultancy and support instruments in favor of woman entrepreneurship.
Chambers of Commerce can take part in these initiatives to help regional woman entrepreneurs to access to contributions.(Italian Network)

UNIONE INDUSTRIALI IN ROME PROGETTO AL FEMMINILE PLURALE

Enhancement and cultural growth of women working in key positions: this is the guide line of UIR -Femminile Plurale, an initiative started by the women of Unione Industriali in Rome.
The scopes of the Unione Industriali in Rome are to develop woman entrepreneurship, presence of women in union and entrepreneurial associations, social organizations; social marketing and solidarity; policies in favor of equal opportunities.
This initiative aims at establishing a specific association which can promote special initiatives, coordinate other activities of Unione Industriali, and represent women's interests in other bodies.

Women members of Unione Industriali work in the third sector (24%), metallurgic sector (16%), in the chemical, communication and publishing field (12%) and in tourism (7%). (Italian Network)

SOCIAL NTEGRATION FOR PROSTITUTES AND LAWS AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Social integration for prostitutes and laws against sexual harassment in the offices: these are the two drafts which have already been approved by the Senate and must now be approved by the Chamber.
The first draft points out initiatives to support projects undertaken by local and private bodies to prevent prostitution and to favor the social re-integration of prostitutes.
Regions will finance the campaign on the social, human and health damages of prostitution; education courses, professional training courses, protection services for victims; specific actions in the areas where prostitutes are.

dd>As concerns sexual harassment in the offices, according to the new law, discriminatory actions ( dismissals, transfers) are cancelled. Legal sanction for sexual harassers are not envisaged. Those who have been harassed can ask to be transferred and they can quit their work and, in this case, the employer must pay 6-24 wages.(Italian Network)

WOMEN IN ARTS- CULTURE AS A RESOURCE IN ANCONA

From Feb. 22-24, Ancona is hosting the debate Donne nelle Arti - La cultura come risorsa promoted and organized by the Marche region, the Department for Equal Opportunities and the Committee for Equal Opportunities of the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Culture.
A debate which will highlight the contribution of women in culture and cooperation initiatives between local and national authorities.
During the first day, women will talk of their experiences, where as during the second day, workshops held by women working in the literary, theater, cinema, ballet field have been arranged.(Italian Network)