The European Symposium on the role of women in emergency situations was organised by the Mediterranean Women’s Studies Centre (KEGME ), (President Mrs K. Lazari).

It was held in Athens, on May 4-7 , 1995 , under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Public Works and with the collaboration of the Council of Europe, which was represented by its executive secretary Dr. J-P Massue, the ECPFE, the EPPO, the European Network for Woman’s Studies (ENWS) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

The Symposium aimed at:

• the presentation of the role of women in emergency situations caused by natural and technological disasters;
• the study and analysis of women’s experience in matters of health and life quality, women’s strategies in emergency cases, women’s participation in decision bodies, and their contribution to issues of environment, international organisations and relevant social and political actions.

The Symposium’s conclusions and proposals were presented in the Beijing United Nations Congress for Women on “Equality, Development and Peace”, in September 1995.