The EMHF has joined with the the Centre of Health and Ethics in Society (CHES) and the European Institute for Women’s Health (EIWH) to organise a roundtable meeting looking at gender and health in the EU.
The meeting, which took place at the Madariaga European Foundation in Brussels on 28 October, will be calling for gender to be mainstreamed into EU policy. It is expected to attract some 50 key representatives from various departments within the European Commission, permanent representations, European Parliament and health stakeholder groups.
EMHF Director Erick Savoye said: ‘The aim of the Roundtable is to raise awareness of the importance of gender issues in all EU policies, programmes and initiatives addressing health and to identify the activities needed to ensure the implementation of the gender perspectives in these.’
Speakers were to include Dr Ian Banks, Prof Siegfried Meryn and Prof Alan White from the EMHF as well as speakers from the European Institute of Women’s Health, the EU Commission, public health bodies and MEPs.
The round-table is timely. ‘There are various current EU policy initiatives which could have a profound bearing on the way gender issues will be addressed in relation to health, such as the Reflection Process on the future of the EU health strategy, launched by Commissioner Byrne in July,’ said Erick Savoye. ‘Another example is the Commission’s intention to progress the Open Method of Coordination in relation to health policies. Other relevant opportunities are the implementation of the General Services Directive, the upcoming deliberations on the content of next year’s Public Health Framework work programme, and the debates surrounding the future Framework Research Programme.’
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