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INSIDEEUA state of justice The EU must do more to promote gender equality, argues Anna ZáborskáAt the start of the 21st century, with the west rejoining central and eastern Europe, would it appear that all policies to support equal opportunities and promote women have been a resounding success story? Will national laws be enough to guarantee equal opportunities for men and women? John Hume, a former MEP and Nobel peace prize winner, stated, “The EU is the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution. For that reason, the principles at the heart of it should be sent to every area of conflict.” Throughout a century, one major issue has continued to attract our attention: the role of women in resolving conflicts and promoting peace throughout society. Remember that any woman who can express her creative genius can also become a serious revolutionist, because women know how to create and re-create peace, which does not only mean the absence of war, but a state of justice. All conflicts are based on some kind of difference, be it race, religion, nationality or sex. I grew up in a former Communist state. A wall separating human beings has a special meaning for me and my fellow citizens. Experiences of the permanent risk of separation – but also intergenerational solidarity, mutual understanding and spirituality – strike a particular chord among the polyphony of 27 EU member states. From bitter experience, we know that denying another person all their natural rights through a fear of the “different” can lead directly to violence and terror. The best way of avoiding these conflicts is to respect differences. Diversity is a fundamental trait of human beings – from conception to natural death – that opens up opportunities. International women’s day is a focus point showing the importance of bringing together women of all political persuasions and philosophies, irrespective of their social situation, to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy all human rights and basic freedoms and to be able to continually improve its own specific characteristics. Women should be proud to be women! I would like all women and men to unite and denounce the sometimes degrading image portrayed of women, the situation at work where women fear pregnancy implying losing job, domestic violence, crimes of honour, etc. Let’s pool all of our strengths to make people understand that the future of new Europe is linked to the situation of women – particularly the poorest women who fear social exclusion. Moreover, granting unconditional access to fundamentalrights implies giving the poorest families access to legal aid and reshaping relevant laws: it is noticeable that women living in extreme poverty do not feature prominently in case law. What is the benefit women give to the EU? It is indeed most important for each of us to get involved at every political level. Let us promote respect for life and the living! Living equality every day is more than simply safeguarding equal opportunities. It requires more of a commitment on our part. We women are ready to lend our experience, knowledge and our willingness.A debate will take place in the European parliament on March 4 looking at the electoral behaviour of women ahead of the June elections. Chaired by parliament vice-president Rodi Krasta-Tsagaropoulou and with closing comments from Anna Záborská, the chair of the women’s rights committee, the event will look at how women perceive the European elections and their reasons for choosing to vote or abstain.“Let’s pool all of our strengths to make people understand that the future of new Europe is linked to the situation of women – particularly the poorest women who fear social exclusion”Anna Záborská is the chair of parliament’s committee on women’s rights and gender equality2 March 2009 PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE 41 EU EVENTSWomen in Business and Politics “Where are the women?” A panel debate at the European Business Summit 2009 Talking points: • • • Results from Autumn MEP poll on gender equality MEP and Commissioner feedback on the poll results The Parliament Magazine articles from: ? ? ? ? ? ? DODS AUTUMN POLL In September 2008, Dods EU Polling conducted a survey of members of the European parliament (MEPs). Responses were collected via post or online in English, French and German. 6.3% of MEPs submitted completed surveys and were drawn from PES, EPP-ED, ALDE, IND/DEM, GUE-NGL, GreensEFA If and when the Lisbon treaty is fully ratified and enters into force, should EU leaders guarantee that at least one of the EU’s top posts be filled by a woman?1 a Overall 53.2% 36.2%MEPsMale 83.3%Female33.3%PES respondents were most supportive of this proposal, with 76.9% compared to 60% for ALDE a Do you think that positive discrimination is a solution to the problem of gender inequality in the EU institutions?2 a PES showed the most support for this initiative, with 84.6% in support compared to 40% for ALDE and 30% for EPP-ED. There was no statistically significant variation between old and How strongly do you agree with this statement? There should be more female commissioners than at present and there should be more women MEPs after the 2009 elections.3 a Overall 34.0% 23.4% 23.4% 10.6%MEPsMale 66.7%Female 38.5% of PES members agreed strongly while the remainder agreed. This compared How strongly do you agree with this statement? There should be an even split of male and female candidates on the electoral lists for the 2009 European parliament elections.4 a Overall 70% of ALDE members disagreed or disagreed strongly that there should be an even split of male and female candidate Who in your opinion would be the best woman to fill one of the EU’s top posts?25%41.7%5 aMEPs16.7%16.7%Two British male MEPs suggested Margaret Thatcher.Margot WallströmAngela MerkelMargaret ThatcherBenita Ferrero WaldnerFig. 5a, a plurality of MEPs suggested Angela Merkel as a suitable woman to fil DODS EU POLLPoll position In September, Dods EU Polling took the pulse of the EU on various topical issues. The results have inspired comment from MEPs and commissioners alike way of promoting fairness and equal opportunity. They compensate for the barriers – including the men choosing men phenomeno NEWSANALYSISover the years, I have realised that it is in fact a solution to start improving the representation of women in many sectors. Having an even split of male and female candidates on electoral lists could be a good proposal for the 2009 European parliament elections.Karin Riis-Jørgensen MEP INSIDEEUTackling gender bias Vladimír Špidla sets out what the EU is doing to close the pay gap between men and women and promote gender equality in decision-making rolesWhile the last few years have seen a general increase in the number of women in decisionmaking positions in Europe, they still rem INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAYPower to the people uring the past 15 years, almost 100 countries have introduced gender quotas aimed at increasing women’s political representation in politics. Evidence shows that a critical mass of women in parliament can make it possible to adopt a gender-sensitive persp INSIDEEUA state of justice The EU must do more to promote gender equality, argues Anna ZáborskáAt the start of the 21st century, with the west rejoining central and eastern Europe, would it appear that all policies to support equal opportunities and promote women have been a resounding success story WOMEN’S RIGHTS | Benita Ferrero-WaldnerBenita Ferrero-Waldner with Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko (right) and Finland’s president Tarja Halonen (left) during the ‘Women stabilising an insecure world’ conference in Brussels, March 2008Mrs Women’s RightsBenita Ferrero-Waldner believes in th NEWSANALYSISWe also still need more women in leadership positions. The 11 EU special representatives promoting EU interests in troubled areas of the world are all men. Why? This need not be so. Of course, at the commission we must multiply our efforts to get more women into key positions, for exampl PROFILE | Anneli JäätteenmäkiLegislative observerAnneli Jäätteenmäki talks Lisbon, gender equality and how the EU’s rules on transparency are way out of fashion. Sarah Collins reportsA Matt Williamsnneli Jäätteenmäki doesn’t beat around the bush. From hinting that the Lisbon treaty is dead to callin NEWSANALYSISmoved on to an even more contentious – and still unresolved – negotiation process: the Lisbon treaty. So is it possible to salvage the treaty some are saying is dead? For the ALDE deputy, it needs more than just a lifeline – it needs serious reconstructive surgery. “I would like a change MEP PROFILE | Karin Riis-JørgensenTalking about a revolution Karin Riis-Jørgensen is on a mission to empower people, she tells Sarah CollinsWhen asked why she became an MEP, Karin Riis-Jørgensen jokingly replies, “To change the world.” But it’s not too far from the truth for one of the women spearhe NEWSANALYSIScitizens’ rights are very important for me. It’s fantastic that you have an EU court of justice to give rights to you as an EU citizen. But we have to look upon the EU in another way when we talk about subsidiarity. It’s not because of the EU that we have subsidiarity; it’s because of me GENDER EQUALITY | MEP campaignA tip for the top Why is it that women’s names never make it on to shortlists for the EU’s top jobs, asks Karin Riis-JørgensenT Karin Riis-Jørgensen is vice chair of the ALDE grouphe future top jobs in the EU will require potential candidates soon. Let at least one of t NEWSANALYSISWhen EU summits end, we usually see pictures of men in suits explaining on our TV screens how they negotiated and achieved results for all Europeans. German chancellor Angela Merkel, pictured here with US president But where are the women to act as role George W Bush and Russian models f CATHERINESTIHLER CATHERINESTIHLER CATHERINESTIHLEREDITORIAL TEAM Managing editor Brian Johnson Martin Banks Sarah Collins Chris Jones Matt Williams International Press Centre Boulevard Charlemagne 1 Box 2 Brussels 1041 Tel +32 (0) 2 285 0828 newsdesk@theparliament. www.theparliament.com EDITORIAL BO COVERSTORYGrowth and jobs, but not for all How can the Lisbon strategy, designed to create economic growth and jobs, become a genuinely social story, asks Anne Van LanckerAccording to recent European commission figures, 16 million people in the EU are still unemployed and only 66 per cent of the act EMPLOYMENT WEEK | MEP commentAnne Van Lancker is a member of the employment committee and rapporteur on the employment guidelinescontracts. The share of often involuntary fixed-term contracts and part-time employment in the EU between 2000 and 2006 has increased. Labour markets remain strongly segme COVERSTORYA fundamental right Gender equality is a common value of the EU and a necessary condition for achieving growth, jobs and social cohesion, says Vladimír ŠpidlaIN THIS SECTIONWOMEN’S DAY 31 A fundamental right Gender equality is a common value of the EU and a necessary condition for achievin WOMEN’S DAY | Vladimír Špidla and Ján Figel’Vladimír Špidla is commissioner for employment, social affairs and equal opportunitesThe roadmap covers all the EU’s internal and external policies and addresses six priority areas: equal economic independence for men and women; reconciliation of work, pri COVERSTORYThe former president of Sri Lanka, Ms. Kumaratunga, highlighted another important aspect, when she emphasised last year at the European parliament that women’s role in peacemaking processes should become more prominent. “Women,” she said, “have traditionally had a role of reconciliation”. WOMEN’S DAY | Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Margot WallströmBuilding a better world Women must not be seen simply as victims but as active participants in the process of building a more stable and secure world, say Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Margot WallströmThe role of women in promoting peace and secu COVERSTORY“There are currently around 100 million children not getting any education at all – and more than 70 million are girls” Ferrero-Waldner to discuss ‘women: stabilising an insecure world’. Female heads of states, ministers, and heads of international organisations, business leaders, and civi COVERSTORYZero tolerance How civilised is a society that tolerates violence against women, asks Alexander AlvaroThe answer to that might be obvious, though figures highlighting violence against women in Europe might make you think twice. Large-scale surveys, running since 1995 in member states, have WOMEN’S DAY | Violence Against WomenAlexander Alvaro is a member of parliament‘s civil liberties, justice and home affairs committeeAs parliamentarians we can and must play an active and vital role in combating violence against women by promoting prevention, help for victims and/or survivors and tak WOMEN’S DAYThe gender agenda Any discussion of gender equality, especially in the developed world, runs the risk of becoming entangled in arguments about the differences between men and women, writes Sarah CollinsThe statistics bear these differences out. “Women are paid 16 per cent less than men in COVERSTORYAccording to Brenda King, “It’s not about putting down men and boys; it’s about getting policymakers to thing about how policy will impact on men and women. It will affect men and women differently.” So is the key to integrating gender policy to have more female representation – to have mo