The Women's Economic Forum has been inaugurated in Turin and will animate the Workshops for Large Repairs for three days.

The fourth edition of the Women Economic Forum Italy opened in Turin today, running through October 26. The three-day gathering takes place at Palazzo Perrone di San Martino and the OGR Turino venues. Organizers aim to translate discussions into concrete initiatives for gender equality. The forum addresses female participation in the economy, spanning artificial intelligence, labor markets, finance, and health sectors. In Italy, the gender pay gap exceeds 40 percent, significantly higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average of 35 percent. Globally, women constitute roughly 25 to 30 percent of the workforce in artificial intelligence fields. They hold less than 15 percent of executive roles within that sector. These imbalances form the core agenda of the current meeting. Last year’s iteration recorded 1.2 million streaming users and attracted 1,900 participants from 58 countries. Marilena Citelli Francese, president of the Forum, described the chosen format as an Agora. She defined this as a space for shared encounter and participation that fosters idea exchange and solution elaboration. At the close of the inaugural ceremony, officials announced the Manifesto of the Women Economic Forum Italy. This document intends to convert dialogue into specific actions for parity. Anna Maria Poggi, president of the supporting CRT Foundation, stated that intervention is required in education, family services, care responsibility sharing, and access to decision-making roles. She expressed hope that dialogue among institutions, businesses, research bodies, and civil society will yield new collaborations. These efforts should expand opportunities for women’s professional growth and participation. Laura Mattarella, who heads the honorary committee, cited the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report. That data suggests 134 years remain until full gender parity is achieved at the current pace. Mattarella argued that artificial intelligence could accelerate change if paired with effective policies and inclusion. Within the European Union, women make up approximately 51 percent of the population but only 19.5 percent of ICT specialists. This share rose from 16 percent in 2015, marking a 3.5 percentage point increase over a decade. Mattarella noted that Italian women working in artificial intelligence demonstrate talent well above the European average. Studies indicate that code written by male programmers is better understood by other men, while code written by women is equally comprehensible to both genders. She emphasized that removing systemic barriers is necessary for societal development. Equality serves as a condition for progress. With AI set to transform medicine and politics, it is vital to question who designs these technologies and which values guide them. Technology must remain a tool serving people, fundamental rights, and collective welfare. Cultural shifts are needed to encourage girls toward STEM paths and boost female innovation participation. Mattarella concluded by inviting attendees to rewrite the collective future in the age of artificial intelligence. The event brings together members of the G100 network. This international association promotes women’s leadership and economic empowerment, boasting over 500,000 members across 150 nations. The program features nine plenary sessions led by prominent figures from research, industry, and international institutions. Speakers include Ersilia Vaudo from ESA, Barbara Caputo from the Polytechnic University of Turin, Chiara Corazza from ESCP Business School, and Datin Hartini Osman from Prihatin Ehsan Group of Companies. Other participants comprise Sharon Cittone from Edible Planet Ventures, Ambassador Staffan de Mistura, Milena Lerario from e-GEOS, and Tiziana Mele from Lundbeck Italia. Costanza Maria Gargano has joined the G100 as an advisory member focusing on entrepreneurship and sustainability. Since 2023, she has served as president of the Equal Opportunities Committee for the Milan Bar Association. A civil and family lawyer, she sits on the Family, Persons, and Minors Commission of the Milan Bar Council. Her professional work includes consistent advocacy for gender equality, combating discrimination, and protecting fundamental rights. The forum continues its schedule of meetings aimed at addressing these structural economic disparities.