Interactive Catalogue
See this page in:
Go Back
WE – Women’s Equality Festival (Lecce, Italy)
Best Practice
Promoter Information:
Abstract:
The WE - Women's Equality Festival is an annual event in Italy dedicated to promoting gender equality, women's empowerment, and addressing the challenges faced by women in various sectors. The festival serves as a vibrant platform for dialogue, collaboration, and reflection on crucial issues such as gender inequalities, leadership, entrepreneurship, STEM inclusion, and the role of women in business and society. It gathers participants from diverse professional backgrounds—ranging from politics and business to academia and the arts—uniting them under a shared mission to combat discrimination and advance the role of women in both public and private spheres. The Festival hosts a wide array of events, including debates, workshops, presentations, and networking sessions, all designed to foster engagement on topics such as inclusive language, gender policies within companies, employment, and violence against women. The program also features discussions about women in entertainment and other traditionally underrepresented areas. Each edition of the WE Festival attracts prominent speakers and experts from Italy and across the globe. Past festivals have featured influential figures such as: Ersilia Vaudo Scarpetta, an astrophysicist committed to addressing gender bias in STEM fields; Pegah Moshir Pour, a renowned Iranian-born activist advocating for women's rights; Cinzia Spanò, President of the Amlet@Association, which focuses on combating gender violence in entertainment; Titti De Simone, Puglia Region Councilor for the Implementation of the Regional Government Programme; Katia Da Ros, Vice-President of Confindustria, who champions sustainability, culture, and gender equity in business; Linda Laura Sabbadini, Director at Istat, specializing in data-driven gender equality initiatives; Barbara Falcomer, Director of Valore D, an organization representing over 340 Italian companies focused on gender equity and balance. The festival provides a space for companies to share their experiences and best practices in promoting gender equality, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship and leadership. These efforts aim to inspire action at both local and national levels, ensuring that gender policies become more inclusive and effective in tackling persistent inequalities. In addition to its discussions on gender and inclusion, the WE Festival has also become a platform for highlighting positive societal changes, such as the increased representation of women in politics. As Alessandro Beulcke, CEO of Beulcke+Partners, remarked, "Women's empowerment is crucial for the future: the sustainability of businesses and the entire national system must prioritize inclusiveness to remain competitive and build a better world for future generations." The WE Festival continues to grow in influence, providing a critical forum for advancing gender equality in Italy and beyond. It stands as a significant reminder of the progress being made, while also pushing for further actions to secure equal opportunities for women across all sectors of society.
Keywords:
public debate, women equity, gender policies, women leadership and entrepreneurship
Dates:
May 4, 2023 - June 4, 2023
Source Specificity:
Initiative/Practice/Project/Programme/Case Studies
Website:
https://www.lecceprima.it/eventi/festival-parita-genere-lecce-4-aprile-2023.html
Power Domains:
Economic
Methods Tools:
Awareness-raising, Networking
Country:
IT
City:
Lecce
Implementation Scale:
national
Language:
Italian
Other Links:
https://www.wefestival.it/
Share this item:
