The JFC Naples Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Vasco Angelotti, on behalf of the JFC Naples Commander, Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, addressed the participants with welcoming remarks.
Avv. Marisa Guida, President of Club Aversa, provided an overview of the Soroptimist International and talked about the fundamental principles in which the Club is based upon.
The Soroptimist International was founded in 1921 and is a global volunteer movement with a network of approximately 72,000 club members in 121 countries. It is a non-profit association aimed at the realization of local and international projects and constitutes an universal voice for women. Today, it represents the biggest organization of international service for “professional women” with the goal to defend human rights. On this principle, the association is focused on gender equality, women empowerment, and environmental objectives such as economic and social sustainability.
Soroptimist Club Aversa was founded on 25 march 2017 and is formed by 24 professional women.
Lt.Gen. Angelotti began his brief with an overview of the political-military structure of NATO and JFC Naples, highlighting NATO’s ability to respond to crisis, while maintaining an active role in supporting Allied Partners. He also highlighted Italy’s importance as one of the founding Nations of the Alliance and its important contributions to peace over the years. Lt.Gen. Angelotti also spoke of the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept and its role as a guiding light of all Alliance activities while he focused the “Deterrence” as a theme to its foundation.
The presentations were divided into two main sessions. During the first session, the delegation was briefed on the historical background of NATO and JFC Naples, the Joint Operations Center’s activities and the conflict in Ukraine. During the second session, the briefers talked about the women’s empowerment in peace and security, the NATO Strategic Direction South Hub and the women networks in Africa and the Middle East and the protection of women during armed conflict.
At the end of the presentations, the delegation participated in a questions and answers session with the General and the briefers.
Thank you for giving me the privilege to have met your egregious and prestigious reality
Lt.Gen. Angelotti said “Your association deals with many sensitive and actual topics, most of which are already of JFCNP interest” he concluded.
“On behalf of our Club, I’d like to thank General Angelotti for the privilege to have hosted us in one of the most important Commands of the Alliance in South Europe” Avv. Marisa Guida, President, said “the comparison and the cooperation between Soroptimist and NATO are a great opportunity to promote women’s involvement in the prevention and resolution of conflicts as well as in the processes in the construction of peace” she concluded.
“We thank General Angelotti for this special and engaging day” Prof. Margherita Di Ronza, Vice President, said. “The topics covered by the briefers sits in line with the Soroptimist’s values” she concluded.
Today’s visit is part of the community relations campaign designed to establish strong cultural and social links with civic society and to strengthen the relationship with local and regional institutions.