European Women’s LobbyLobby Européen Des Femmes

European Women’s Lobby

KIRSTI KOLTHOFF

President

kirsti.kolt@sverigeskvinnolobby.se

http://www.womenlobby.org

The EWL Mission

• To ensure gender equality in the EU

• To promote the empowerment of all women

• To strengthen women’s social and economic rights 

• To combat all forms of violence against women and to ensure women’s human rights

• To support women’s diversity

The EWL Mission

• To ensure gender equality in the EU

• To promote the empowerment of all women

• To strengthen women’s social and economic rights 

• To combat all forms of violence against women and to ensure women’s human rights

• To support women’s diversity

EWL Member organisations in Europe National Co-ordinations of women’s NGOs

European Member organisations

EWL General Assembly (100 delegates)

EWL Board of Administration (32 elected members)

EWL Executive Committee 1 President, 3 Vice Pres., 1 Treasurer

EWL Structure

EWL Secretariat (Brussels)

EWL Secretary General EWL staff

EWL Memberorganisations

EWL Board members

EWL ExecutiveCommittee

EWL Secretariat(Brussels)

European Parliament(Women‘s Rights‘ Committee)

European Commission(DG: Employment and

Social Affairs)

'The Council'

European Women‘s Lobby (EWL)

EU Institutions

which EWL regularly works

ROAD MAP FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN EUROPE

2006 - 2010

Gender equality is not only a matter of social justice it is an issue of democracy. New challenges require

innovative answers – it is the duty of public authorities to ensure the

unconditional equality between women and men.

•What is the Road Map?•EWL Process for Road Map•Commission Process for Road Map•Common Themes•Different Actions•Women in Decision Making (example)•Violence against Women (example)•Follow Up

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ROAD MAPA Common Vision

• Builts on the Framework Strategy for Equality between women and men (2001-2005)

• Recognises that gender inequalities persist: access to resources, rights and power are unequally distributed; inequalities impact more on women who find themselves having to choose between having children or a career.

• Recognises the necessity of a dual approach: gender mainstreaming AND specific measures

• Aims to ensure that women and men avail of the same opportunities, rights and responsibilities in all areas of life

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EWL PROCESS FOR ROAD MAP

• 2004 - agreed at EWL annual General Assembly to lobby for a new Framework Strategy

• March 8 2005 – presented idea for Road Map to the Group of Commissioners on Fundamental Rights, Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities

• April-May 2005 – consulted EWL member organisations on content for Road Map

• June 2005 – submitted first text to member organisations inviting amendments

• October 2005 – amendments to text discussed at EWL General Assembly – final text adopted

• October 2005 - presented text as a model for the official text of the Commission

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COMMISSION PROCESS FOR ROAD MAP

• Early 2005: - initial drafting in Equality Unit, Directorate of Employment and Social Affairs

• Consultation with all Directorate Generals for input into text

• Consultation with College of Commissioners• Final adoption by College• 1 March 2006: Communication from the Commission• 8 March 2006 – formal presentation of Road Map

as « the Commission’s commitment to driving the gender agenda forward, reinforcing partnership with MS and other actors »Back

COMMON THEMES

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EWL priority areas:

1.Institutional mechanisms (Governance)2. Economic and Social Justice for women3. Parity democracy4.Violence against women -women’s human rights5.Advancing women’s rights in international context6. Eliminate patriarchal gender roles and stereotypes

Commission priority areas:

1.Economic independence2. Reconciliation private and professional life3.Equal representation in decision-making4.Gender-based violence – trafficking5. Eliminate gender stereotypes in society6. Promoting gender equality outside the EU7. Governance

DIFFERENT ACTIONS

Commission proposed actions:Define a new composite Gender Equality IndexUse of Structural Funds to support achievements of Barcelona targets on child care and other care facilities2007 – Communication on the gender pay gapMonitor gender mainstreaming: 2010 European Year of Combating Exclusion - Poverty2006 – Communication on demography addressing reconciliation of family-professional lifeUpdate in health policies the gender dimension in health Back

EWL proposed actions:Create a Directorate on equality within CommissionDevelop Action Plan – EU macro-economic policies use to increase investment in public services (care)Specific gender equality targets to eliminate pay gapStrategic gender equality objectives to combat poverty-social exclusion Revise Directive on Parental leave to ensure longer and paid leave shared between both parentsEU gender equality objectives in health

WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING

EWL proposalsBinding texts to ensure equal representation in all institutionsSet 50% target for women in Committees and Expert GroupsDevelop mentoring programmes and confidence building, leadership for women in European civil serviceProvide resources for women candidates and support campaigns in favour of women in view of 2009 European elections

Commission proposalsHighlights women’s participation in politics, economics, science and technologyProposes to promote gender mainstreaming in: 7th Framework Programme (research), Education and Training (2010), Citizen’s for Europe ProgrammeEstablish EU network of women in economic and political decision-makingAwareness raising activities in view of 2009 European elections

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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

EWL PROPOSALS• Legal base in EU structure• Directive on VAW• European Action Plan on

VAW• European Monitoring Centre • Revision of Directive that

curtails victims of trafficking right to reside and to work

• Address the demand side of the purchase of sexual ‘services’

• Support networking of women’s organisations and NGOs

COMMISSION PROPOSALS• 2006 – Communication on

establishment of system for comparable statistics on crime, victims and criminal justice

• Support Member States and NGOs in work on VAW, promote networking, exchange, research, programmes victims and perpetrators, encouragement for national action plans.

• Follow-up Communication on trafficking – promote use of Structural Funds for integration measures

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FOLLOW UP

•Road Map – gender equality tool or tool to gender mainstream into existing policies? •2008 – report on the state of implementation•2010 – evaluation of the Roadmapincludes indicators for monitoring progressBack

http://www.womenlobby.org