Honoring one and every woman and girl on the planet
A myriad of events is being planned all over Monaco on and around March 8, 2019, joining the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. The objective is to strive for a more gender-balanced world and to achieve that we all unite in highlighting women’s achievements, raise consciousness against bias and take action for equality.
So even if you are not among the women interviewed, nor happen to appear in one of the campaign’s photos, nor featured in one of the books being published on this occasion, all of us ladies are being celebrated together with our sisters all over the world and the men who love us!
SheCanHeCan – Women of Monaco Life Series
SheCanHeCan, created by Vibeke Brask Thomsen (photo insert) in 2011, is a Monaco based organization aiming to inspire and support girls to take leadership roles, encouraging girls and boys to challenge deeply-held, life-limiting gender stereotypes and strive to realize their full potential.
The association works relentlessly to recognize the achievements and contributions of great female leaders, in the belief that looking back, we can inspire a better future.
In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, SheCanHeCan interviewed Eight women in the Principality as part of their Women of Monaco Life Series, by telling their stories. This year the women featured are: Kathleen Jones Founder & Director, Etiquette & Decorum; former professional skier Claudia Morandini,; Emma Jarach owner of My Jemma Resortwear; Jessica Sbaraglia who created Terre de Monaco; Karen Aliprendi de Carvalho Conseiller National; Lou Grether Director of Artcurial Monaco; Natasha Frost, President of Pink Ribbon; and Rachel Lachat, Rudder Bunker Trader.
They were asked to respond to three questions that were developed into interviews: What does success look like to you? What is the main thing that needs to change to improve entry into your field of work, including opportunities for development and the day-to-day life of women at work? Tell us about a woman you admire and how she’s inspired you to become who you are today?
Every one of the accomplished women selected opened up their hearts to share their feelings and experiences, candidly telling their stories and inspiring others. SheCanHeCan strives to highlight the talented, compassionate and motivated women from all walks of life, and diverse fields, thus unveiling the true makeup of our community, over and beyond all that glitters.
The women featured firmly believe that only hard work and perseverance makes dreams come true; they define success as the ability to do what you are passionate about, what makes you really happy, success looks like a big smile, or as simply finding proper balance in life, a sense of accomplishment and peace; they affirm that education is a right and wisdom is the sum of all your experiences, good and bad. We invite you to read the full interviews on the SheCanHeCan website/Publications, as you will find them revealing, interesting and inspiring.
#8MarsMonaco Campaign on gender equality
The #8MarsMonaco public awareness campaign on gender quality culminates on Friday, March 8, 2019, in celebration of International Women’s Day, to promote Monaco’s firm commitment to further women’s rights in the Principality and across the world. You will certainly find the portrait of Prince Albert on the posters, as well as those of several dignitaries, such as Serge Telle, Minister of State, Stephane Valerie, President of the National Council, Patrice Cellario, Minister of Interior, Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, who are all supporting this operation.
This campaign, done in collaboration with the artist Anthony Alberti, aka Mr. One Teas, lead by Celine Cottalorda, Delegate for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights, has as a mission to raise the profile of the women and men working on the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights, created by the Monaco Government in October 2018.
Posters featuring key personalities, including Prince Albert II, have been appearing all over the Principality this week. The public awareness campaign for equal rights will officially kick off on Friday 8th March in the presence of Minister of State Serge Telle, President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri, Minister of the Interior Patrice Cellario, and Minister of Health and Social Affairs Didier Gamerdinger.
The Naked Soul project
CREM (Club des Residents Etrangers de Monaco) is engaged with women through the publishing of an Artbook/Calendar, featuring 16 women active in the life of the Principality.
The project was created by Louisette Levy-Soussan Azzoaglio, in collaboration with the famous photographer of actresses and models Amedeo M. Turello, under the title “The Naked Soul”.
Women accepted to be photographed at the Hermitage Hotel, to present an idea of beauty that is natural and frank, away from fashion clichés and the banalities of a world that very often portray women in search of esthetic perfection and eternal youth. It will be a calendar from March 8, 2019, to March 7, 2020, to mark International Women’s Day.
The private viewing will be on Thursday, March 7 from 18:00-21:00 at G&M Design, 11, Avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco, and the exhibition will remain open to the public from March 8 through Sunday, March 10, 2019. An art book/calendar with all the photos and interviews will be available for sale to the public at Euro 100, with proceeds benefiting two projects of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation assisting women in Chad and Guinea.
CHPG Director awarded Prize Femme Leader de l’Annee
To commemorate International Women’s Day just a couple of days in advance on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, the Monegasque association Femmes Leaders Mondiales Monaco, presided by Chantal Ravera, presented their 2nd Prize Femme Leader de l’Anee 2019 to Benoite de Sevelinges, the first woman to become Director of the Princess Grace Hospital Center (CHPG), during a ceremony at the Center Rainier III, of CHPG.
(Photo: Benoit de Sevelinges with the Femme Leader de l’Annee trophy accompanied by Chantal Rivera, Brigitte Boccone Pages and members of FLMM, at the Center Rainier III, CGPH @FLMM)
Monegasque Benoite de Sevelinges, is a graduate of the Institute d’Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux, with an option in Business and Organization Management, and a DESS in Strategy and Business Management. She additionally completed Public Health studies at L’Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Rennes. She joined CHPG in 2009 and assumed her new responsibilities as the head of the CHPG in July 2018.
The trophy that was designed by artist BELI, had been first awarded in 2018 to Brigitte Boccone Pages, Vice President of the Conseil National de Monaco.
Today’s Quote
“Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone’s responsibility.” Ban Ki-moon
Monaco Reporter 