On November 26, 2009, the READI organized a day of work entitled Guidelines for development in the poorest countries of the Euro-Mediterranean. Education, gender equality and the rule of law

The objectives of this conference were:

  • Provide solutions and alternatives for moving towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in the field of education for all and its relation to access to employment and equality between men and women, the implementation of State law and the extension of human rights at all, considering the context of conflicts that, unfortunately, the Middle East and North Africa have been in for several generations.
  • Take a further step in consolidating READI as an area of permanent dialogue and inclusive, and promote and strengthen this area at European level collaboration by inviting NGOs from disadvantaged geographical areas in Eastern Europe, who traditionally have been distant from the developmental challenges of the southern Mediterranean.

The topics discussed were:

  • Universal access to primary education, continuity of academic training at the secondary and informal training, vocational training,
  • Settled curricula on human rights, fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity and, without avoiding the obvious differences between men and women, deepening a common identity.
  • Respect for others, based on the coexistence, in the center of education.
  • Defending the right of Arab women to participate in power structures and mechanisms of decision-action.
  • Equal opportunities between men and women in the personal, social and economic reforms through legislation to provide legal channels and adapted to their own socio-cultural reality in the region.
  • The effects of war, occupation and armed conflict on Arab women.
  • Effective use of media to bring about changes in social roles that promote equality between men and women.

The participants were 51 people representing 37 organizations, regional governments, think- tanks and experts in development and cooperation from 15 Middle East countries, Western Europe and East and North Africa (Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Israel, Latvia, Croatia, Slovenia, Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania)

The conclusions and recommendations were prepared and approved by those involved in the day.