María Noel Vaeza, regional director of UN Women, visits Córdoba, Argentina
The government of the province of Córdoba (Argentina) received the visit of María Noel Vaeza, UN Women's regional director for the Americas and the Caribbean, to facilitate joint actions to promote gender equality, with emphasis on the prevention of gender-based violence, political leadership and women's participation in STEM. Additionally, for the first time, UN Women chose Cordoba as the venue for its annual 2024 regional retreat, which brought together representatives and program and communication specialists from across the region.
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Meeting with the Governor of Córdoba
Governor Martín Llaryora, accompanied by the Minister of Social Development and Employment Promotion, Laura Jure, and the Secretary for Women, Claudia Martínez, received UN Women's Regional Director, María Noel Vaeza and Verónica Baracat, Country Program Coordinator of the Argentina Office.
During her visit, Vaeza thanked the governor for his political will to support excellent interdisciplinary work in protecting women's rights. She also emphasized the support of these policies that have been in place for over 20 years in Córdoba. "In particular, the articulation between the Polo Integral de la Mujer and the Centro Integral de Varones stands out, a model to be exported and taken to other countries," Vaeza explained.
University Program in Community Accompaniment against Gender-Based Violence
On the occasion of the commencement of the 2024 edition of the University Program in Community Accompaniment against Gender Violence, María Noel Vaeza gave a lecture on gender perspective and human rights at the National University of Córdoba.
Martín Llaryora, Governor of the Province; Myrian Prunotto, Vice-Governor; Laura Jure, Minister of Social Development and Employment Promotion; Paulo Cassinerio, Secretary General of Social Development; Claudia Martínez, Secretary for Women; authorities of the Ministerial Cabinet, provincial, municipal and gender areas of Chaco and Chubut, rectors and vice-rectors, legislators, councilwomen, mayors and heads of municipalities, authorities and the Academic Committee of the Diploma were present during the activity.
The 2024 cohort has 11,800 people enrolled from Córdoba, other provinces, and other countries. During the five previous cohorts, more than 26,700 women were trained in Córdoba, Argentina, and the world.
This course is a response of the provincial government to the demand of women in the territories and recognition of those who work in the territories, as well as non-governmental organizations and solidarity networks that accompany survivors of gender violence.
María Noel Vaeza was appointed Honorary Professor of the Provincial University of Córdoba. The title was awarded by Claudia Martínez, Secretary for Women, and Julia Oliva Cúneo, Rector of the Provincial
University of Córdoba, in the presence of Mónica Cingolani, representing the Network of Universities for Non-Violence against Women.
Supra-regional roundtable "Commitments to Equality"
María Noel Vaeza, UN Women's regional director, made the opening remarks on Monday, May 20, at the "Supra-regional Dialogues. Building Commitments for Equality" at the Metropolitan Museum of Urban Art of Córdoba, with the participation of Vice Governor Miriam Prunotto; the Minister of Social Development and Employment Promotion, Laura Jure; the Secretary for Women of Córdoba, Claudia Martínez; the national senator for Córdoba, Alejandra Vigo; government and judicial officials; mayors; deputies; senators; representatives of the academic and business sectors and social organizations.
"We believe that provincial governments and sub-national levels are fundamental to mobilizing public policies that positively influence national policy. And that is what we are trying to do here in Córdoba, by setting a standard for positive public policies yielding good results," added Vaeza.
In this sense, the territorial work of community leaders and the existence of more than 180 Women's Centers, spaces through which local governments provide comprehensive care to women who are in a situation of violence, were highlighted.
On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between UN Women and the Women's Secretariat of Córdoba to strengthen joint initiatives that promote gender equality, the exchange of knowledge and experiences for the eradication of violence against women and girls, for the economic and digital empowerment of women and linked to the agenda of parity governance.
Memorandum of Understanding with the Women Economic Forum (WEF) in Argentina
UN Women signed a memorandum of understanding with Lina Anllo, Director of WEF Argentina, to advance gender equality, women's economic empowerment, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"UN Women is committed to implementing innovative solutions and issues such as digitalization, financial inclusion and women's entrepreneurship, development in STEM careers, circular economy, and advancing towards financing for gender equality," commented Vaeza.
Visit to the Polo Integral de la Mujer, a unique experience in the region
María Noel Vaeza and members of UN Women's team visited the Integrated Women's Center, promoted by Claudia Martínez, Secretary of Women's Affairs of Córdoba. This is a pioneering management model at the national and regional level that brings together in a coordinated and articulated manner, in the same physical space, the Executive and Judicial Branch offices dedicated and specialized in prevention services, assistance, strengthening of autonomy, and access to justice, with the restitution of rights and the gender perspective as the nodal axis. The various programs and services of the Secretariat for Women are concentrated in this center.
Since its inauguration in March 2016, women who come to this space find everything from legal accompaniment, health care, economic support, housing, and a childcare center for their children to the possibility of completing their studies. One of its objectives is strengthening their autonomy by generating employment and learning trades.
UN Women also visited the Centro Integral de Varones ( Integrated Men's Center), which provides psychological and socio-educational support to male aggressors. Through prevention, assistance, protection, access to justice, strengthening of autonomy and rights, territorial and community development, and strategic coordination, strategies are promoted to prevent and modify male violence.
Tec Women's Space
There was also a visit to the Espacio Mujeres TEC (TEC Women's Space), a coworking and pre-incubator of technological entrepreneurship led by women and diversities. This is where public and private initiatives converge to develop and enhance the technological skills of women in the province of Córdoba. Through English courses, digital literacy, technology training, and incubation for entrepreneurship, the space seeks to strengthen and generate synergies between students, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the ICT sector and promote the generation of talent in the knowledge economy to reduce the gender gap in the field of technology.
Meeting with civil society organizations
UN Women's Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean, María Noel Vaeza, along with the Deputy Regional Director, Cecilia Alemany, and all the country representatives of the region, met with representatives of civil society organizations in Córdoba to discuss their needs and suggestions for jointly building strategies to advance women's rights.
Visit to the Renault factory
On Friday, May 24, the UN Women team for the Americas and the Caribbean toured the Renault's Santa Isabel plant facilities in Córdoba. The visit was led by Marcela Dassaro, Director of Human Resources; Matías Maciel, Director of Public Affairs, Communication, and Sustainability, and Lucía Ploper, Communications Manager, accompanied by Paula Camogli, Public Affairs Manager; Magdalena Martínez, Talent Manager, and Nicolás Busquets, Deputy Industrial Director of the company.
Renault Argentina was one of the first companies in Argentina to sign the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) of UN Women and the Global Compact in 2015, committing to work towards reducing gender gaps in its organization. In addition, it was the first automotive company to sign the WEPs in the country.
Thanks to its commitment to gender equality and especially to hiring women, Renault was a finalist for the WEPS Award in Argentina in 2019. Currently, the company has 45% women in the management committee, 17% female operators (42% were hired in the last recruitment), and 25% in the factory.