Women in Czech Politics and theRole of NGO Forum 50 %

Mgr. Marcela Adamusová24.5.2011

Women in Decision-Making

Chamber of Deputies: 44 women of 200 memers, 22 %

Senate: 15 women of 81 senators, 18,5 % Government: 0 women of 15 members, 0 % Regions: 1 woman of 13 hetmans, 7,7 %

Regional and Local Politics

Regional Assemblies: 17,6 %

Local Assemblies: 26 % in average, 23 % in the largest cities

Mayors of Statutory Cities: 2 women of 23 statutary mayors, 8,7 %

Causes of Underrepresentation of Women in Czech Politics

Individual Barriers – patriarchal model of family, different measures for males and females, different concept of power

Social Barriers – traditional concept of male and female roles, women are interested in politics less then men, absence of female role models, different socialization of boys and girls

Institutional Barriers – internal mechanisms of political parties, electoral system,way of nomination of candidates, absence of affirmative action programmes

Women in Political Parties

Women are present in political parties: 30 – 52 % of members are women

Lack of women in leadership: 25 % of women

The higher position in a party, the less women (“glass ceiling”)

Result: women have only little opportunity to participate in decision-making within their parties (e.g. assembling ballots, promoting affirmative action, funding women’s organizations within parties)

Forum 50 %: Basic Facts

founded in 2004 as an attempt to change the situation of women in Czech politics

strictly non-party association

main goal: increase women’s political participation in the Czech Republic (regardless of age, political opinions, ethnicity, religion etc.)

Forum 50 %: Activities

collecting data concerning public opinion on the issue of participation of women in politics

public discussions – round tables, panel discussions, seminars

initiating discussion about affirmative action as a strategic tool to reach equal representation

lobbying

training of female politicians

organisation of campaigns (especially in pre-election periods)

support of research connected with the issues Forum 50 % deals with

Forum 50 %: „Chicken campaign“

Forum 50 %: „Chicken campaign“

Forum 50 %: „Chicken campaign“

Forum 50 %: „Chicken campaign“

Forum 50 %: „Chicken tour“

Forum 50 %: „Chicken tour“

Forum 50 %: „Chicken with the First Lady“

Forum 50 %: Protest against men-only government

Thank you for your attention.

Marcela Adamusová

adamusova@padesatprocent.czwww.padesatprocent.cz