The aim of the project is to take stock of the situation of fathers' family involvement in the 7 EU countries represented in the partnership and to raise awareness of the need to develop such involvement in view of supporting equal opportunities both for women and for men, in particular in reconciling work and family life.
Various aspects are analysed:
- sharing of tasks and responsibilities;
- paternity, parental and care leaves or leaves for family reasons,
- reconciling family and work;
- enhancing the role of fathers;
- role of men in the promotion of equality;
The partnership gathers COFACE member organisations from seven countries plus the Belgian Institute for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men. The 7 NGOs are:
- Ligue des Familles (BE)
- Pancyprian Organisation Polyteknon (CY)
- Vaestoliitto (FI)
- Union Nationale des Associations Familiales (FR)
- Family and Childcare Centre (EL)
- Unione Famiglie Handicapatti (IT)
- Liga Portuguesa dos Deficientes Motores-CRS (PT).
The partnership's mix of different cultures and constituencies adds to the multi-stakeholder approach that is sought in the project. The project will last 15 months from 1st October 2005 to 31st December 2006, ending with a large Conference in Helsinki during the Finnish Presidency of the EU.
