From the 19th to the 21st of April, around 25 participants from all over Europe (Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden) gathered in Lisbon for a transnational training on gender equality management systems. This training was part of the FRO Curriculum project, launched in 2007 and aiming at creating a training manual for teachers and trainers with key competencies essential for enhancing gender equality and FRO, meeting requirements especially of SMEs. This project, of which the European Movement is a partner, is led by the Portuguese organisation ANJAF (National Youth Association for Family Action) and is co-financed by the European Commission Leonardo da Vinci Life Long Learning programme.

During two days, trainers and participants from NGOs, consultancies, private companies, ministries, research centers, etc., were trained on the Gender Equality legal framework (European policies, roadmap, legal acts), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Ethical codes, FRO management system and reconciliation policies. Each module was illustrated by presentations of good practices and followed by very fruitful exchanges of views and lively discussions.

As partner in the project, the EMI took part in the training along with a representative of the EMI member association AEDE (European Teachers Association). The results of the FRO project will be presented in Brussels on the 21st of September 2009, at the occasion of a conference on “Family Responsible Organisations”, addressing the issues of CSR and “Sustainability during the economic crisis: weakness or opportunity?”, with the already confirmed participation of EESC President Mario Sepi and EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Vladimir Spidla.
More information on this conference will be available soon.