Gender stereotypes are one of the most persistent root causes of for inequality between women and men in all areas of life and in all life periods. The Conference Elimination of Gender Stereotypes: Mission (Im)Possible? will address possible ways to eliminate traditional gender roles and gender stereotypes, especially in the areas of education, training, labour market, culture and media. The Conference is supported by the European Commission.

The Conference will be followed by the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Gender Equality, which is the most important event in the area of gender equality during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Ministers will discuss participation and empowerment of women in society. This topic will be the framework for addressing issues of the balanced participation of women and men in political decision-making, the empowerment of girls in order to achieve gender equality, and the importance of gender equality policies in development cooperation.

Seeking balance between security and flexibility is a lengthy process requiring the active participation of all stakeholders. This will be the main topic of the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs that will be held immediately after the Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for gender equality.

On European level, important steps were made in the past years, which will be of support and help to the countries in forming their national regulations. Invaluable is the contribution of previous Presidencies, including the adoption of common principles of flexicurity.

Slovenian Presidency wishes to ensure continuation of the process and therefore encourage deepening of discussion about flexicurity, especially in relation to implementation of common principles of flexicurity and coordination of social policies and employment policies. In so doing, the Presidency will dedicate special attention to youth and older workers, and to the challenges which are faced by women on the labour market.

• More about the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs
• More about the Area of Gender Equality during Slovenian Presidency