The doors of the Women Summit7 in Rome which will remain a strong testimony of commitment within an international governance never experienced in Italy and which has borne fruit thanks to the leadership of three Presidents who brought their expertise on the Environment, entrepreneurship and social factors who lead the race towards sustainability in all countries without exception.
A W7 summit born from the intuition of Women's G7 of 2017, organized impeccably by Marta Dassu' and Emma Bonino, and which saw the success materialize in official G7 gender equality group with the subsequent Canadian presidency in 2018.
Road map for women at the G7: 5 central themes
It all started with the handover from the Japanese colleagues who last December at an event at the Ministry of Culture entrusted me, Annamaria Tartaglia and Martina Rogato with the task of creating a map of instances that they were the expression of an intersectional approach on five themes such as: work, financial empowerment, violence, climate justice and peace and security.
Work participation and economic justice are intrinsically linked to well-being of women and, therefore, to more equitable global development.
Beyond the short term, the reference framework on which to base immediate actions which however affect a fruitful and lasting cultural change cannot ignore observing, for example demographic dynamics, looking at the aging of the population in Italy as in Japan, but not only that, also at reasing of productivity growth and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, which present policy makers with significant challenges.
While policy responses need to be tailored to individual country circumstances, there is a common need to invest in digital infrastructure and skills of the workforce to preserve the role of the G7 as an engine of growth in the world economy.
On our path to defining a communiqué adapted to these challenges, we asked ourselves how to promote investments to better support women and girls, reduce gender gaps towards gender equality, unleash the potential of the G7 globally in collaboration with the rest of the world, combat climate change and stem the deleterious effects of war theaters that delay the achievement of sustainability, and other areas where global challenges are acute. Women are the first to suffer the repercussions of these phenomena and how can the G7 act to make a difference for women and girls too?
There are many positive examples of collaboration between the G7 and the countries of the so-called Global South on the issue of fragility and gender discrimination. And it is no coincidence that recent significant events held in New York during CSW68, the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of the United Nations, focused on the theme offinancial empowerment of women and they allowed me to observe different leadership styles and reflect on inclusion as a crucial aspect of virtuous leadership in some countries. On the one hand, more inclusive countries that have actively created spaces where all individuals are welcomed. They cultivated a culture of belonging where everyone felt seen, valued and empowered, which directly impacted their well-being and health.
In contrast, other countries such as Iran and Afghanistan continue to deny women fundamental rights, from access to education to employment, denying any hope of financial and social inclusion.
Striving for full inclusion is morally right and essential to building a safe space within organizations and communities, while promoting resilience, sustainability and economic development for all.
Too often politicians don't ask themselves what women need to build their economic power. What are their financial ambitions and what stands in the way of realizing their dreams of full citizenship?
Road map: the importance of closing the gender financial gap and investing in targeted policies
If the countries fill the gender financial gap and invest in targeted female policies, we can expand women's economic opportunities, increase their economic power and, consequently, economic growth. With our Communique', the result of six months of work by 72 international experts from 42 countries, we have proposed a path to create a brighter and more resilient future for women, communities and G7 countries but not only.
Among the transversal topics artificial intelligence and health. On this last topic, allow me to underline the fact that medical research has neglected women's health for too long. This gap represents a huge missed opportunity that could be worth $1.000 trillion per year to the global economy. New research has identified the highest impact areas for investment in women's health innovation.
But one cannot fail to note with relief that governments are increasing funding, and an innovative global alliance has formed to reshape how solutions for women's health are developed and prioritized. Together with the G7 Health delegations, we were able to discuss how the women's health sector is transforming.
During our hearing, I stressed the importance of mental health and how it is linked to and evident in victims of economic violence and financial stress, and how the need for self-esteem techniques as essential tools for building self-confidence and resilience.
These techniques are particularly valuable in work environments at high risk of gender discrimination typical of STEM careers, such as Finance, Fintech, Cybersecurity and Engineering. We also underlined the need for a close alliance and Male “sponsorship” to advance gender equity. These interventions are essential to breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive spaces where women can thrive.
The conversation also explored how the landscape of sports disciplines, fundamental to psychological balance, and other traditionally male-dominated fields has changed in the last decade. By sharing my experience in financial education projects with sports teams and their families, I illustrated ongoing progress and challenges, from cyberbullying and cyber violence to valuing disabilities, highlighting the broader movement towards inclusivity and recognition of women's achievements across all sectors.
This W7 journey has been a powerful reminder of what we have achieved and exciting paths ahead, highlighting the progress and work still needed to achieve accurate gender equity in financial empowerment, violence prevention and beyond.
Finally, according to the EU study, the financial dependence it is associated with several negative outcomes, including poorer physical and mental health and fewer opportunities for education, paid work and entrepreneurial activities.
Because women's financial dependence on their partners may prevent them from leaving or ending abusive relationships, thereby increasing their risk of experiencing intimate partner violence.
In the Eurostat research on domestic violence (EU-GBV) economic violence is increasingly prevalent, with 4% – 18% of women reporting that their partner prohibits them from working or controls family finances and expenses.
Excessive control of family expenses leads to a spiral of other forms of violence, such as those provided for by the Istanbul Convention, which recently entered into force, and by the International Labor Organization Convention 199. (ILO)
Since last month the new EU legislation, currently completing the approval process, aims to prevent rape and increase awareness of consent, while female genital mutilation and forced marriages will be included among the crimes covered by European legislation.
The new directive will prohibit the forced marriage and female genital mutilation and will have specific rules on cybercrimes, such as cyber-flashing and cyber-stalking. Victims will thus have better access to justice and healthcare, including sexual and reproductive services.
It seems clear to me that the only thing women are missing is the opportunity, the real and tangible one, for social participation, and this is what we are saying with our declaration: Let's raise our voices for equal opportunities, the freedom to make choices and the freedom to see these opportunities in the reality of laws and language, and the willingness to embrace cultural change outside of the rhetoric of violence and STEM stereotypes.
It is true that we can be everything for others and above all with our commitment to care work but no one can be responsible for our happiness except ourselves.
We want to take on this personal responsibility and are committed to activating it and learning how to achieve it. However, this will only be possible with our economic independence and with the recognition that women's rights are human rights, and among these the right to be able to express ourselves freely, all and everywhere, and the right to be heard for the common good that that of a prosperous and inclusive society.
