IMS Press Release (2001) 002 1 May 2001

NATO Women Committee meet in Rome to widen profesionnalism standards The Committee on Women in the NATO Forces will celebrate its 25th anniversary at its annual meeting in Rome, 10-15 June 2001. The meeting this year will be co-hosted by the Netherlands (the chairwoman's nation) and Italy who requested the privilege to co-host the event to highlight the recent participation of female military personnel in their Armed Forces. The theme this year will be, PAST, PRACTICE and PERSPECTIVE: Past. The acknowledgement of the committee's growth in the role of gender issue awareness amongst its allied members. Practice. The recognition of the three sub-committee working groups which make recommendations to NATO for effective employment and training, as well as development of initiatives in quality of life practices for women in uniform across the Alliance. Perspective. The focus on the way ahead; 'twenty five years is still young but mature enough to face up to challenges in years to come.' A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday morning, 11 June 01, at 10:30 in the Aula Magna room of the Carabinieri Officers' School, Rome. Additional Information The Committee on Women in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Forces (CWINF) was formally recognised by the NATO Military Committee on 19 July 1976. The Committee's mission is to advise NATO leadership and member nations on critical issues affecting women in the NATO nation's Forces. The Committee is a consultative body on policies concerning women in uniform in the active armed forces of the Alliance. It is responsible for disseminating information relating to women in all NATO nations, and facilitate networking between member nations of the military services. Highlights of this year's meeting will include: Participation of the new Italian Chief of Defence, General Rolando Mosca Moschini, at the opening ceremony. Lessons learnt by nations with respect to recruiting and employment, training and development, quality of life, and service-specific issues. For example, the first results of Italian military female recruitment will be discussed, as well as policy in respect to equal opportunity and employment in the Italian Armed Forces. Discussion of a variety of topics by Single Service Panels, including characteristics of the environment surrounding servicewomen in each of the Services, military image, policy changes, training and career development, interpersonal relationships between genders, health care aboard ships, limitations on women's roles/functions in the military, and policies for couples in the military.