” Women in Europe”

1. ”Women in Europe” RoSa Documentation Centre and Archives On Feminism, Equal Opportunities and Women’s Studies

2. WOMEN IN EUROPEIntroduction :The European Union versus the Council of Europe RoSa Documentation Centre

3. WOMEN IN EUROPEIntroduction :The European Union versus the Council of Europe The European Union is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for prosperity and peace.It is not a State intended to replace existing states, yet its Member States have set up common institutions to which they delegate some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.  The Council of Europe is an international institution, which aims to protect human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law. Its 45 members include 21 countries from Central and Eastern Europe. It has granted observer status to the United States, Canada, Japan, the Vatican and Mexico. Any European state can become a member provided it accepts the Council’s fundamental principles and guarantees human rights to everyone under its jurisdiction. The Council of Europe should not be confused with the European Union. The two organisations are quite distinct. The Council of Europe was established in 1949, grouping together 45 countries. The European Union was founded in 1957, uniting 25 member states. Whereas the Council of Europe is mainly concerned with human rights and legal work, the European Union is also active in the field of economy, politics, industry and finance, food and agriculture. The former fifteen European Union member states are all members of the Council of Europe. RoSa Documentation Centre

4. WOMEN IN EUROPEIntroduction: The European Union versus the Council of Europe The European Union • Introduction • Key dates and documents • Legal work: Directives on equal opportunities • Institutions for equal opportunities • European Parliament • European Commission • The Council of Europe • Introduction • Origin and membership • Aims • Institutions for equal opportunities: • - Directorate-General Human Rights • - Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men RoSa Documentation Centre

5. The European UnionIntroduction • As from the foundation of the European Union in 1957, gender equality was integrated as a fundamental principle in the EC-Treaty. But that was only a start. It took years of struggle to get where we are now. • Meanwhile, the European institutions have worked hard to ensure that women’s rights are recognized and to set up structures to put them into practice in everyday life. • Equal treatment of men and women is a basic principle of democracy. The European legislation clearly stipulates non-discrimination on a variety of grounds, one of which is sex. Sex discrimination may be direct or indirect: • direct discrimination happens when men and women are treated differently on the basis of sex; • indirect discrimination happens when a requirement, condition or practice that does not appear to be unfair, in fact discriminates against people of a particular sex. RoSa Documentation Centre Home

6. The European UnionIntroduction • What has been achieved in the European Union in the field of gender equality and gender mainstreaming? Those achievements are called “the community acquis” • Community acquismeans the entire collection of common rights and obligations which bind all the Member States together within the European Union. It is changing all the time. It comprises: • Principles and objectives agreed upon and laid down in the treaties • Legislation following the treaties • All kinds of declarations, resolutions and measures concerning the European Union’s activities. Read more about the term community acquis RoSa Documentation Centre Home

7. The European UnionKey dates and documents Let’s have a look at somekey dates, thus demonstrating the“Community acquis”in the field of gender equality and gender mainstreaming, achieved in the European Union. • 1957Treaty of Rome establishing the European Community • 1982Action programmes on equal opportunities for men and women • 1997 The Treaty of Amsterdam, entry into force on 1st May 1999 • 2000Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union RoSa Documentation Centre Home

8. The European UnionKey dates and documents • Treaty of Rome establishing the European Community The Treaty of Rome (25th March 1957) establishing the European Community aims at, among others, the elimination of all discrimination on grounds of gender. • The most famous article is art. 119 which lays down the principle of equal pay for equal work. • Since the Member States showed little enthusiasm in the practical application of that principle, a number of Equal Pay Directives have been designed as from 1975. • Article 119 of the Treaty of Rome says: • Each Member State shall during the first stage ensure […] that men and women should receive equal pay for equal work. • For the purpose of this Article, pay means the ordinary basic or minimum wage or salary and any other consideration, whether in cash or in kind, which the worker receives, directly or indirectly, in respect of his employment from his employer. • Equal pay without discrimination based on sex means: • that pay for work at time rates shall be the same for the same job. • that pay for the same work at piece rates shall be calculated on the basis of the same unit of measurement; Read more: The Treaty of Rome, Article 119 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

9. The European UnionKey dates and documents 1982 Action programmes on equal opportunities for men and women • The first medium-term action programme was launched in 1982, now the fifth action programme (2001-2005) is running. • The programmes aim at promoting the values underlying gender equality and eliminating direct and indirect discrimination against women in many areas. Read more: Fifth Action Programme RoSa Documentation Centre Home

10. The European UnionKey dates and documents 1997 The Treaty of Amsterdam, entry into force on 1st May 1999 • With this Treaty, the principles of equal rights for men and women and of non-discrimination on the basis of sex are incorporated into the EC-Treaty. • What interests us most is the section on freedom, security and justice • This section explains the guarantees introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty to protect fundamental rights within the European Union, such as equality between men and women, non-discrimination and data privacy. • It also discusses the changes concerning freedom of movement within the European Union and the inclusion in the EC Treaty of a new Title on visas, asylum, immigration, and other policies linked to the free movement of persons Read more: the whole text of the Treaty a comprehensive Guide to the Treaty RoSa Documentation Centre Home

11. The European UnionKey dates and documents 2000 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union • A unique entity of classic human rights, social and economic rights and consumer rights, solemnly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at Nice on the 7th December, 2000. • The Article 23 explicitly deals with equality between men and women in all areas, including employment, work and pay, and the acceptance of the principle of favouring the under-represented sex. Read more: Charter of Fundamental Rights RoSa Documentation Centre Home

12. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1975 Equal pay for men and women • Directive 75/117 of 10th February 1975 says in its Article 1: • The principle of equal pay for men and women means, for the same work or for work to which equal value is attributed, the elimination of all discrimination on grounds of sex with regard to all aspects and conditions of remuneration. • In particular, where a job classification system is used for determining pay, it must be based on the same criteria for both men and women and so drawn up as to exclude any discrimination on grounds of sex. Read more: Directive 75/117 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

13. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1976 Equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. • Directive 76/207/EEG of 9th February 1976 says in its Article 1: • The purpose of this Directive is to put into effect in the Member States the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards: • access to employment, including promotion, and to vocational training • working conditions • social security. Read more: Directive 76/207/EEG RoSa Documentation Centre Home

14. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1978 Equal treatment of men and women in matters of social security. • Directive 79/7 of 19th December 1978 says in its Article 1 • The purpose of this Directive is the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security, regarding protection against risks such as sickness, • invalidity, • old age, • accidents at work and occupational diseases, • unemployment; • The directive applies to the working population - including self-employed persons. Read more: Directive 79/7 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

15. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1986 Equal treatment in a self-employed capacity, including agriculture, and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood. • Directive 86/613 of 11th  December 1986 says in Article 1: • This Directive deals with equal treatment between self-employed male and female workers, the position of the spouses without professional status of self-employed workers, the protection of self-employed workers or wives of self-employed workers during pregnancy and motherhood Read more: Directive 86/613 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

16. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1992 Improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding. • Directive 92/85 of 19th October 1992 says in its Article 1: • Purpose: • To encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding. • This Directive may not reduce the level of protection afforded to pregnant workers etc. in each Member State. Read more: Directive 92/85 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

17. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1996 Framework agreement on parental leave concluded by European confederation of enterprises and trade unions. • Directive 96/34 of 3rd June 1996 says in its Article 1: • The purpose of this Directive is to put into effect the framework agreement on parental leave concluded on 14 December 1995 between the general cross-industry organizations • (Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe) • (Centre Européen des Entreprises de Participation publique) • (European Trade Union Confederation) Read more: Directive 96/34 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

18. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1997 Burden of proof in cases of discrimination based on sex. • Directive 97/80 of 15th December 1997 says in its Article 4: • when persons who consider themselves wronged because the principle of equal treatment has not been applied to them, it shall be for the respondent to prove that there has been no breach of the principle of equal treatment. Read more: Directive 97/80 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

19. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 1998 Framework agreement on part-time working concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC. • Directive 97/81 of 15th December 1997 aims to • remove discrimination against part-time workers and to improve the quality of part-time work; • to facilitate the development of part-time work on a voluntary basis and the flexible organization of working time in view of the needs of employers and workers. Read more: Directive 97/81 RoSa Documentation Centre Home

20. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 2000 Equal treatment in employment and occupation. • Directive 2000/78/EG of 27th  November 2000 says in its Article 1: • The purpose of this Directive is to lay down a general framework for combating discrimination as regards employment and occupation, on the grounds of: • religion or belief • disability • age • sexual orientation Read more: Directive 2000/78/EG RoSa Documentation Centre Home

21. The European UnionLegal work: Directives on equal opportunities EU Directives on equal opportunities for men and women 2002 Amendment of the 1976 Directive on access to employment,vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. • Directive 2002/73/EG of 23rd September 2002 refines and adds important statements to the 1976 directive, such as: • Member States must keep in mind the equality between men and women when they make laws, regulations and policies regarding access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions. • There shall be no discrimination whatsoever on grounds of sex either directly or indirectly by reference in particular to marital or family status. • Sexual harassment is considered to be discrimination on the grounds of sex and therefore prohibited. Read more: Directive 2002/73/EG RoSa Documentation Centre Home

22. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Parliament • Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality • Women’s Rights Unit in the Directorate-General for Research (DG IV) • Committee on Equal Opportunities for men and women (COPEC) European Commission • Equal Opportunities between Women and Men and Family policy Unit • Expert groups and networks • Consultative Committee on equal opportunities for women and men • Other Directorate-Generals concerned with women’s rights, in particular DGX (Information), DG VIII (Development) and DG I (External Relations) RoSa Documentation Centre Home

23. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Parliament • The Parliamentary Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality • the definition and development of Women’s rights within the EU • the implementation of the Beijing Action Programme • mainstreaming and positive actions, ensuring women’s participation in every stage of the decision-making process • combating violence and trafficking of women • the integration of the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the new European Convention. Read more: Committee on Women’s Rights RoSa Documentation Centre Home

24. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Parliament • Women’s Rights Unit in the Directorate-General for Research (DG IV) • A division works on research in the area of women’s rights • In close cooperation with the parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities and its secretariat • E-mail: ebacelar@europarl.eu.int • Phone + 352 4300 238 05 / 229 27 Read more: DG IV RoSa Documentation Centre Home

25. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Parliament • Committee on Equal Opportunities for men and women (COPEC) • Parliament’s COPEC is part of the Directorate-General for Personnel (DG V) • It takes account of all the elements of work organisation and of the career development of European Union staff in order to ensure equal opportunities in recruitment, career management, vocational training and access to decision-making positions • specific areas: • dignity at work • making it possible to combine work and home responsibilities • teleworking, part-time working, working hours • child care structures Read more: COPEC RoSa Documentation Centre Home

26. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Commission • Equal Opportunities between Women and Men and Family Policy Unit set up by DG V: • Set up in 1976, under Commission DG V, Employment and Social Affairs • The Unit supports transnational projects to promote equality between men and women in employment, combining work with family life, the media, decision-making and mainstreaming • Aim: • To encourage the integration of women into the labour market • Improve the status of women in society • Include the gender element in EU policies and activities Read more: Family Policy Unit RoSa Documentation Centre Home

27. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Commission • Expert groups and networks at European level set up by DG V: • Gender and Law’ Expert Group • monitors legal developments in the Member States in the area of equal opportunities • ‘Gender and Employment’ Expert Group • analyses obstacles, problems and challenges to women in the area of employment, at European level • ‘Family and Work’ European network • aims to study, disseminate and exchange innovative practices in the area of combining work and family life • analyses new forms of work organisation, flexible working hours and professional mobility. • European monitoring centre on national family policies. • aims to study trends in different forms of family structure, demographic change and the impact of various policies on the family. RoSa Documentation Centre Home

28. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Commission • Consultative Committee on equal opportunities for women and men • The committee, set up in 1981, is composed of: • Two representatives of each member state and of both workers and employers at European level • Observers from European Women’s Lobby, Council of Europe, ILO (International Labour Office) and others • Assists the Commission in drawing up its policy on the promotion of women’s interests, women’s employment and equal opportunities Read more:Consultative committee RoSa Documentation Centre Home

29. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Commission • Women’s Information Division (DG X), Directorate-General for Information, Communication, Culture and Audiovisual Media (DGX) • The Women’s Information Division disseminates information about Community measures in favour of women: • Information is circulated through a monthly newsletter, ‘Women of Europe’, which appears in 11 languages; • 25 000 copies are distributed to women’s associations, relay networks, libraries and individuals throughout the EU. • The Division also organises a “Prix Niki” award to European TV producers who portray women and men in non-traditional ways in TV programmes. Read more:Women’s Information Division RoSa Documentation Centre Home

30. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Commission • Women and Development Unit, Directorate-General for Development (DG VIII) • to integrate gender issues into all areas of development cooperation with ACP countries (regions of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific) through advice and training activities; • supports activities and projects targeted directly at women’s needs and rights; • prepares and implements contracts financed from the budget line on integrating gender issues into development cooperation. RoSa Documentation Centre Home

31. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. European Commission • DG I (External Relations) • PHARE and TACIS • programmes of support for non-governmental organisations in Central Europe, the newly independent States and Mongolia; • in 1993, at the request of Parliament’s Committee on Women's Rights, a budget of ECU 600 000 was allocated to the programme of support for non-governmental organisations in the Central and Eastern European countries (Phare) and the newly independent States (Tacis) to meet the specific needs of women. Read more:PHARE and TACIS RoSa Documentation Centre Home

32. The European UnionInstitutions and bodies responsible for equality between women and men in the European Union EU institutions responsible for equality between women and men. • The ‘Women and Development’ Unit • Set up in 1990, within the Directorate-General for External Relations, Southern Mediterranean, Middle East, Latin America, Southern and South-East Asia, and North-South relations; • The unit ensures that women’s needs and priorities are fully taken into account in Commission-funded development cooperation in those countries Read more:Women and Development RoSa Documentation Centre Home

33. The Council of EuropeEqual Opportunities in the Council of Europe: an overview Introduction • Origin and membership • Aims Institutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • Directorate-General Human Rights • The Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men RoSa Documentation Centre Home

34. The Council of EuropeEqual Opportunities in the Council of Europe: Introduction • Origin and membership • The Council of Europe is the continent's oldest political organisation, founded in 1949, with its headquarters in Strasbourg (France). • It groups together 45 countries, including 21 from Central and Eastern Europe. It has granted observer status to the United States, Canada, Japan, the Vatican and Mexico. • Aims • To defend human rights, parliamentary democracy and the rule of law; • To develop continent-wide agreements to standardise member countries' social and legal practices; • To promote awareness of a European identity based on shared values and cutting across different cultures. RoSa Documentation Centre Home

35. The Council of EuropeInstitutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • Directorate-General Human Rights The Directorate-General Human Rights of the Council of Europe deals with, among other things, equality between women and men. Its division Equality between Women and Men has published a fact sheet on activities and achievements of the Council of Europe in the field of gender equality. Read more: DG Human Rights/equality RoSa Documentation Centre Home

36. The Council of EuropeInstitutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • The Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) • To combat trafficking in human beings (read more below) • To fight violence against women (read more below) • To promote gender mainstreaming • To promote balanced participation of women and men Read more: Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men RoSa Documentation Centre Home

37. The Council of EuropeInstitutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • The Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) • To fight trafficking in human beings • To fight violence against women • To promote gender mainstreaming and balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision making RoSa Documentation Centre Home

38. The Council of EuropeInstitutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • To fight trafficking in human beings. • Trafficking constitutes a violation of human rights: • of the individual, undermining a person’s personal dignity and integrity, freedom of movement and even right to life • of a social group by being a modern form of slavery, by questioning the rule of law and by undermining fundamental democratic values. Read more on the combat against trafficking in human beings RoSa Documentation Centre Home

39. The Council of EuropeInstitutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • To fight violence against women: • by virtue of their sex, women are preponderantly exposed to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment such as physical violence, rape, genital and sexual mutilation • violence against women is a serious obstacle to equality between women and men Read more on the fight against violence RoSa Documentation Centre Home

40. The Council of EuropeInstitutions defending equal opportunities between men and women • To promote gender mainstreaming and balanced participation: • To promote the balanced participation of women and men in political and public decision-making. Equal representation of women and men is at the heart of the functioning of pluralist democracy. It constitutes an integral part of the statutory obligations of the Council of Europe; • Gender mainstreaming strategy is instrumental in achieving real equality and partnership of women and men in both private and public spheres. Read more: Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men RoSa Documentation Centre Home