Post on 04-Feb-2016
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The European Women’s Lobby Working together for women’s rights and gender equality in Europe
Women in Decision-Making and the EWL
50/50 Campaign
The largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU, with more than 2500 member organisations:
The voice of European Women
30 National Coordinations
21 European-level member
organisations
The main policy areas of EWL work:
European policies and legislation on equality between women and men
Women in Decision-making /Parity DemocracyEmployment and Social AffairsViolence Against Women Immigration, Integration and Asylum
Only 35% of MEPs and less than a quarter of national parliamentarians are women
Did you know that in the EU…
Did you know that in the EU…
Only 3% of the presidents of the largest companies are women
Women in decision-making= an important issue for the EWL since its creation
Many activities since 1990: events, lobbying etc 50/50 Campaign 2008-2009 Move towards parity in European institutions:
Parliament, Commission and “EU top jobs” Equality in decision-making in economic sector
Women In Decision-making: What Is at Stake is the European Democracy
Women are mostly under represented in decision-making in all European countries:Women in the European Parliament: 35%Women in national Parliaments in EU and accession countries : 24%Women in national governments in the EU MS and accession countries: 27%
Reasons that are commonly given for women’s under-representation in political decision-making
Women’s economic subordination: economic, social and cultural resources are necessary to attain decision-making positions
Symbolic factors linked to traditional gender roles: decision-making seen as a male domain
Electoral institutions, laws and functioning: list system or majority systems, holding of several mandates, political parties as gate keepers, status of elected persons etc
The EU has been an important actor in promoting equality between women and men, especially concerning employment
5 EU Member States have legal quotas /parity system (Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia)
In about 16 EU countries some political parties have voluntary quotas
Continued…
EU level: no binding measures to ensure the equal representation of women and men within the EU institutions
Quotas for economic decision-making in Norway, Iceland, Spain (proposed in France)
Activities within the EWL 50/50 Campaign (2008-2009)
More than 60 Campaign events in 22 countries! Petition, Facebook group, website, media work Gender audit of political parties in view of the
European elections
Activities within the EWL 50/50 Campaign
More than 300 prominent women and men from all over Europe and all political affiliations support the Campaign: 14 EU commissioners, heads of state, ministers, members of parliaments, leaders of trade unions, writers, a Nobel Prize winner etc .
2009 European Elections results (1)
Now 35% women in the EP → progress compared to about 30% at
the start of 2004-2009 legislative period In all Member States except 2, more women
in the EP than in national parliament
European Elections results (2)
17 countries with more women than before 2 countries stay at same level and 7 have less
women MEPs than before 2 countries = less than 20% women European countries which have restrictive
policies in relation to abortion are below 30% of women
Autumn 2009 Activities of the 50/50 Campaign
Lobbying focused on two key subjects
EU “top jobs” created by the Lisbon Treat•President of the European Council•Foreign Affairs Chief
College of Commissioners
Demonstration for EU Top Jobs
Women in « EU Top Jobs » - Results
One of three “top jobs” to a woman:Catherine Ashton as EU’s Foreign Affairs
Chief
Nine women Commissioners = 1/3 of College (no progress)
Economic and Financial Decision-making• Women underrepresented in key positions and
decision-making• No woman head of a central bank in 2009 • Only 3% of the presidents of the largest publicly
quoted companies are womenQuotas have been successful in Norway
Other Areas of Decision-making• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Only 8.3% of patents awarded by the European Patent Office are awarded to women
• Science and research• 45% of PhD graduates in 2006 were women• Only 20% of grade A academic positions in 2007 held by
women• In 16 European countries, men occupy more than 90% of
university headships
ConclusionA lot of work to be done to reach democracy!
Implement binding electoral measures to ensure 50/50 in 2014 European Parliamentary elections
Must ensure parity in Commission: nomination of one woman and man by each Member State in the future
Women specific measures and funds to enable and empower women to participate
Quotas in the economic sector