In my speech I will highlight the important revolution that is experiencing Italy in the women's leadership and the great opportunity provided by law 120/2011 (so called Gulf-Moscow law) imposing an obligation for listed companies and those in control public authority to appoint the members of its Board of Directors and statutory auditors so that it is guaranteed to have at least 20% of the less represented gender on the first renewal and at least 33% by 2015.
The term of effectiveness of law 120/2011 is set for 2022. This term will be sufficient to implement a real cultural and social change ?
The Women represent a value positive for the economy and contribute substantially to the business and economic growth (womenomics).
The relationship between women's presence and performance of companies is a crucial theme in the debate on the effects of gender quotas.
I will highlight the experience of Norway, a pioneer country in the introduction of gender quotas (in 2003 the law has set the minimum to 40% of women's participation in governance bodies of companies listed on the stock exchange) where the law was effective for increase the number of women on boards. However, the effects of quotas on reducing gender gaps (especially in the labor market) and on the company's performance are unclear.
Italy, a country with a persistent condition of strong economic disparities between men and women, with the introduction of the law bipartisan -120 / 2011- on gender shares is a particularly interesting case study: Italy an example to follow for the rest of Europe.
Therefore we must to support the adoption of similar laws at the level of other EU countries and commit itself to promoting specific training the removal of stereotypes for which the woman would not be scope for finance and the economy.
