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The voice of European Women

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 voice of European Women. The largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU, with more than 2500 member organisations:.

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The voice of European Women

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  1. The European Women’s Lobby Working together for women’s rights and gender equality in EuropeWomen in Decision-Making and the EWL 50/50 Campaign

  2. The voice of European Women • The largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU, with more than 2500 member organisations: • 30 National Coordinations • 21 European-level member organisations

  3. The main policy areas of EWL work: • European policies and legislation on equality between women and men • Women in Decision-making /Parity Democracy • Employment and Social Affairs • Violence Against Women • Immigration, Integration and Asylum

  4. Did you know that in the EU… • Only 35% of MEPs and less than a quarter of national parliamentarians are women

  5. Did you know that in the EU… • Only 3% of the presidents of the largest companies are women

  6. 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

  7. 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%

  8. 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

  9. 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…

  10. 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)

  11. 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

  12. 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 .

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. Demonstration for EU Top Jobs

  17. 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)

  18. 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 women • Quotas have been successful in Norway

  19. 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

  20. Conclusion • A 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

  21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! For more information: www.womenlobby.org

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