WOMEN

Given that principles of gender equality and non – discrimination are enshrined in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty

• they are associated with the European Strategy for “Growth and Jobs”, they constitute some of the strategic choices and top priorities of the Operational Programme “HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 2007 - 2013” and furthermore they are incorporated in all its ESF co-financed interventions.

The O.P. “HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 2007 - 2013”, through its specific actions, aims at fostering gender equality and non-discrimination in order to strengthen employment and reduce unemployment among women.

According to this framework, the ESF co-financed activities contribute to the observance of gender equality principle through actions of promotion of women’s employability putting priority on the following:

• Improving women’s accessibility and participation in all levels of the labour market in order to support women’s financial independence
• Promoting women entrepreneurs and women’s participation in science and technology, particularly in decision-making positions
• Combating gender stereotypes in career selection and in the professions by promoting lifelong learning.
• Reconciling work and family life as well as offering support for childcare facilities and carers of dependents
• Supporting the integration into employment of immigrant women

In the ESF co-financed actions, the participation of women in actions for training and certification of knowledge and skills are carried out through the following projects: