Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz

FROZEN IN THE FRAME. A DIARY OF TWO DECADES 1990-2010

Wrocław 2010

Edited by Elżbieta Woźniak

Substantive assistance Agnieszka Curyło

Cooperation: Lucyna Orłowska, Daria Mieszczanowicz, Anna Radłowska, Małgorzata Mieszczanowicz, Teresa Gołembiowska

Printed by: Jakopol Wrocław ul. Skoczylasa 16 54 -071 Wrocław

Copyright @ Demokratyczna Unia Kobiet – Rada Krajowa, 2010 Any parts of this publication may be reproduced without permission for educational and non- profit purposes if the source is acknowledged

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This book is dedicated to Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka and all the wonderful women and girls from the Women’s Democratic Union Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz

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CONTENTS

Twenty years have passed. . . ……………………………………………………………. . 5 And that‟s how it all began: 1st Congress of WDU ……..…………………………..………. 8 New challenges – new perspectives: 2nd Congress of WDU ………………………………… 18 Democracy without women is half a democracy: 3rd Congress of WDU ……………………… 25 On our way to Europe: 4th Congress of WDU ……………………………………………. 35 Citizens participation – working for a change: 5th Congress of WDU ……………………… 42 Women‟s dialogue beyond boundaries in a new European home: 6th Congress of WDU ……. 50 20th Anniversary of Women‟s Democratic Union ……………………………………….. . 62 Twenty years of Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw…………………………………... 69 Our friends …….………………………………………………………………………………. 72 The chronicles of Women‟s Democratic Union ………………………………………………. 76 Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………………. . 115 Appendix ………………………………………………………………………………………. 116 A 1. Initiators of Women‟s Democratic Union ………………………………….. 117 A 2. Members of Women‟s Democratic Union awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland …………………………………………………………………………….. 118 A 3. People honored with the Sapphire Rose Award ……………………………. 120 A 4. Major resolutions and stances …………………………………………. ….. 121 A 5. Major projects implemented between 1990 and 2010 ……………………… 132 A 6. Conferences organized by Women‟s Democratic Union ………………….. 142 A 7. Partners of Women‟s Democratic Union …………………………………… 157 A 8. Women‟s Democratic Union: outsiders perspective ……………………….. 159 A 9. Women‟s Democratic Union and the media …………………………………

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TWENTY YEARS HAVE PASSED…

We need to know where we came from to understand where we are going

Over twenty years have passed since the event that had and still has a significant impact on my life and development. In the Spring of 1990 Łucja Banaś, the secretary of the Voivodeship Branch of the Polish Women‟s League, paid me a visit. She has invited me to a meeting with Danuta Waniek and proposed me to join the initiative associated with the organization of the new women movement. Although I accepted the invitation, I did it without much enthusiasm. At that time I did not know much about feminism and did not notice the importance of gender in the political and social sphere, but simultaneously I was deeply interested in the issues of human rights and freedoms, as well as democratization of public life. Ever since I remember I have been involved in the public sphere. I served as the vice chairperson of the Voivodeship Trade Union‟s Agreement for culture and education. For many years I have worked as chair of a large branch of Polish Teachers' Union and also have been cooperating with NGOs. My whole adult life has been associated with education and culture. So if today many of you mention my deep determination, associated with activities in the Women's Democratic Union, I must admit that my first commitment was more due to curiosity and obligation to participate in something that could possibly result in a beneficial social change than political engagement. For me Women's Democratic Union as well as other NGOs and women‟s organizations have been the most difficult universities that shaped my views and civic involvement. Thanks to my participation in various forms of activities of the Association I got the chance to meet prominent and interesting people, who taught me about feminism, perseverance and political struggle. Looking at Women's Democratic Union from the perspective of two decades I reached the conclusion that the last twenty years of our activities in many respects seem to mirror the Polish transformation. On one hand they reflect women‟s social enthusiasm and active citizenship, on the other: socio-cultural barriers limiting their democratic participation. Some say that we are open, dynamic, reliable and consistent on our way to reach the goal. Our creative independence, activity and responsibility make us leaders of social change. Despite all that, we still find out that if a woman wants to get the same function or position in public life as a man, she needs to be way better than he is. This is confirmed both by our own experience as well as everyday‟s life of hundreds of thousands of Polish women. Polish authorities and the government do not seem to like the competent and active women who expect more than electoral declarations and demand a real improvement in their situation. The number of women‟s organizations involved in equal opportunities policy is decreasing every year, which raises concerns and should stimulate a broader political reflection on the causes of this situation and result in enhancing actions of the state administration. Women‟s civic involvement and their participation in public life are often limited because of their living conditions and low social status. If we are willing to start a broad social movement to stimulate the development of women's active citizenship, above all 5 we have to remember to guarantee them the possibility to do so, manifested in free participation, allowing to develop and improve their civic competence in order to broaden their involvement in public life and decision-making areas.

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the Women's Democratic Union I present you a brief history and a handful of memories that will allow you to evaluate our political commitment, effectiveness of our civic actions and contribution to the development of democracy in Poland as well as the process of European integration. This publication is not meant to be a precise record of all of the activities of the Women's Democratic Union in the past two decades, but rather a concise description, indicating the most important trends and areas of our activity. It shows our path from self-discovery to self-realization in a democratic society. While congratulating all of my colleagues, Chairpersons and members of Women's Democratic Union on a wonderful anniversary, I encourage you to read this publication.

Renata Berent–Mieszczanowicz

Chairperson Women‟s Democratic Union

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20 YEARS OF ACTIVITY 1990 – 2010 THREE CHAIRPERSONS

Danuta Waniek WDU Chairperson 1990-2000

Jolanta Banach WDU Chairperson 2000-2004

Renata Berent–Mieszczanowicz WDU Chairperson since June 20th 2004

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AND THAT’S HOW IT ALL BEGAN… 1st Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union

The social and political changes in Poland after 1989 increasingly revealed areas of social discrimination, violations of human rights and freedoms, moral and cultural stereotypes, particularly limiting women‟s freedom and their right to free choice. The anxiety caused by these phenomena resulted in the development of new initiatives for women, who began to organize themselves in associations, foundations and other social organizations.

Before 1989 there were few women's organizations in Poland. The constitutional and economic transformation created new legal and organizational conditions that facilitated the development of active citizenship and allowed the freedom of association1. In 1990 on the basis of these changes Women's Democratic Union (WDU, in Polish: Demokratyczna Unia Kobiet, Polish abbreviation: DUK) has been created. Currently WDU is a nationwide association with a developed field structure, organized in clubs and Voivodeship Conciliatory Councils.

Initiating group and its activities

In the Spring of 1989 many debates were held in women's circles on how to improve women‟s political and social situation. Problems arising from the transformation, such as unemployment, poverty and lack of influence and social control of the decision-makers, required new activism. The need for creating a new nationwide women's organization arose. Both the existing legal and organizational conditions and the opportunity to get involved to meet their own needs and challenges have been favorable..

The original plan was to develop a new organization, including the Polish Women's League (Liga Kobiet Polskich, LKP), the most important Polish women's organization before the 1989. Therefore the first steps in organizing a new movement were undertaken in close cooperation with the Secretary General of the Polish Women's League - Elżbieta Dehnel – Łuczyńska2. Eventually, however, Polish Women‟s League did not join the WDU, preserving autonomy and organizational independence.

The WDU initiating group consisted of 63 ladies3. It is worth noting that Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka was also among the initiators of WDU. At various stages of her political activity she has always supported our organization. She was a close friend both of the Women‟s Democratic Union as an organization and personally of many of its members.

The founding meeting, led by Danuta Waniek, was held on 16 June 1990 in Warsaw at the headquarters of the Polish Women's League. The meeting was recognized the first Congress of the Women's Democratic Union. During the meeting the first National Conciliatory Council of Women's Democratic Union and the first Presidium were chosen.

1 See more: Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz, Broszura Jubileuszowa Z perspektywy dziesięciolecia WDU (personal archive). 2 Elzbieta Dehnel-Łuczyńska (died in 2005) psychologist, a former secretary of Polish Women‟s League (under Elżbieta Lęcznarowicz‟s leadership). 3 List of members of the initiating group are available in the appendix (A 1). 8

Danuta Waniek pointed out in her publication on women of the left that WDU was the first left-wing organization in the new system that from the very beginning of its existence developed independently, maintaining democratic principles and freedom of choice4.

Danuta Waniek, political scientist and researcher, was elected the first Chairperson of the WDU. Teresa Janiszewska (teacher and Polish Teacher‟s Association activist), Anna Szymanska - Kwiatkowska (journalist, editor in chief of the monthly Pani) and Maria Zwitkowska (labour union activist) were elected Vice Chairpersons. Jolanta Gontarczyk (sociologist) served as Secretary General. The first WDU National Council consisted of 27 people, while the total number of members of the organization amounted a thousand. Some of the members of the first National Council are still involved in the WDU activities: Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz is currently the Chairperson of the National Council of Women's Democratic Union while Lucyna Orlowska serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the National Council of Women's Democratic Union. Both of them in addition to their activity in the structures at the central level were heavily involved in local WDU clubs activities.

At the Founding Congress of the WDU the Programme Declaration was accepted. The fundamental values of the WDU: equality before the law; the right to free choice; equal status of women and men; comprehensive advancement of women; social protection and preventive health care and society education on women's rights - human rights were agreed. The WDU Programme Declaration determined also the place and role of the new organization in social and political life. It has been recognized that the Women's Democratic Union:

... is a new social movement, organized around a variety of needs and interests; is a movement of independent-minded women, to support the changes in Poland that aim at the democratization of public life, pluralism, rule of law and tolerance; is a movement critical of the reality, presenting proposals for solving important social problems; ... is the voice of contemporary Polish women, conscious of their position and role in the family, their contribution to the national economy, Polish culture and science, aware of the need of broader engagement in public life. Women all around the world are different – because of their ethnic descent, working and living conditions, beliefs and religion - but all of them share a general, common concern: the preservation of peace and beauty of Mother Earth as a prerequisite for any other creative initiatives; ... is a movement open to all participation formulas 5

The basic trends and directions of WDU‟s programme activity in the political, socio- professional, ecological, cultural, educational and economic sphere were also discussed during the Founding Congress. All of these areas are reflected in the colorful logo of the Association: green indicates an interest in ecology, blue stands for social and living problems, purple is a symbol of feminism, red means cooperation with European and global movements for sustainable development of society and social justice, while orange represents the alternative programme. Up till now all of them are the hallmarks of the activities of our Association.

4 Danuta Waniek, Kobiety lewicy w polskim doświadczeniu politycznym. Tradycje, wartości i tożsamość. , Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, 2010. 5 See more: Deklaracja Programowa Women’s Democratic Union(Women‟s Democratic Union archive). 9

The Association “Women’s Democratic Union” has been inscribed in the register of associations in the “A” section, item. RST in box 7 of the Regional Court in Warsaw VII Civil and Registration Division on the 3rd of December 1990.

The first three years of WDU‟s activities were a period of intense organizational development expressed in the formation of new clubs, the search for local and social cooperation partners and members‟ education in the field of women‟s policy, social communication and negotiation skills and preparing the women involved in our movement for direct participation in decision-making at parliamentary and local level.

The first term of the WDU‟s newly elected authorities lasted from 1990 to 1993. From the outset we were deeply involved in the development of regional structures, which resulted in the appointment of new clubs in Krakow, Lodz, Wroclaw, Slupsk, Gdansk, Czestochowa, Katowice, Zielona Gora, Bialystok, Olsztyn, Poznan, Torun, Bydgoszcz, Kielce, Kutno, Poland, Włocławek and Lublin. The quantity of members in respective clubs was diverse, ranging from 15 to 150 people.

The Association was an uncomfortable and controversial social partner for the then government. Therefore it encountered many external political and organizational difficulties but despite that the members‟ daily work was dominated by enthusiasm and women‟s solidarity. Lucyna Orłowska, one of the founders of the Women's Democratic Union, currently the Vice Chairperson of WDU‟s National Council and the Chairperson of the WDU in Gdansk, recalls: very few women used to take leading political and economic positions. Very seldom they participated in social life. Even if they are wise and educated, they still earn less than men. The dreams of promoting women’s participation were fulfilled in their own way. But the political transformation has resulted in the need for other action, as many women, especially educated, got lost in the new situation6.

First coalitions and first election programme

In 1991 WDU accessed the Electoral Agreement of Democratic Left Alliance. The Association was the second signatory of the agreement and participated in its activities until 1999. In the same year WDU announced its first election programme, presenting a critical socio-political analysis of the past decade with reference to the situation of women in Poland. The WDU Election Programme announced:

Sharing the anxiety and concern of many women's circles connected with the rapid impoverishment of families, reduction of our children’s development chances and support for women's struggle against the attempts to limit their choices, we advocate: - the protection of women’s rights in the labor market, particularly single mothers rights; - women's right to early retirement; - women’s promotion in various areas of public life, and particularly - granting the Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families Minister with a rank of independent minister; At the same time we oppose:

6 Agnieszka Curyło‟s interview with Lucyna Orłowska (April 2010). 10

- the renewed attempts to criminalize abortion; - the reduction of the number of nurseries, kindergartens, and children’s sanatoriums; - the rapid decrease in mother and child medical care; - the commercialization of children's summer holidays; - the degradation of public education and culture. In the name of women’s rights protection, aiming to defend our families’ interests, we address all the women and appeal for the widest possible participation in the elections to the Sejm and Senate. Our genuine commitment to the campaign and future presence in the parliament will be crucial for decisions concerning the principles of social policy during the political changes, and might help to avoid burdening women and their families beyond their mental and physical abilities. There will be no democracy without women’s participation! Without democracy Poland will not be a just country!7

The WDU engaged in the October parliamentary elections in 1991, placing its candidates on the lists of the DLA Electoral Agreement. Many of WDU members decided to take part in the competition for parliamentary mandates, among others: Danuta Waniek (Warsaw), Lucyna Orłowska (Gdańsk) and Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz (Wrocław) who wrote in her election leaflet:

I believe that Polish parliament lacks a women's lobby. Because of that, the decisions concerning the matters important for Polish families, Polish women and Polish children, are being made exclusively by men, who often lack the appropriate knowledge and imagination. Moreover, recent political activity of the parliament has also threatened women’s personal freedom.8

Despite the lack of experience (besides Danuta Waniek‟s indisputable political skills) we performed better than it might have been expected, regarding the places that we were proposed. Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, starting from the 11th position on the list, eventually obtained the third result. As a result of the elections Danuta Waniek and Wanda Sokołowska, both recommended by the Women‟s Democratic Union, became Members of Parliament (MP)9 .

Although women's representation in parliament was relatively small, matters connected with equal opportunities policy and the situation of women in Poland were often raised at the parliamentary forum by members of the WDU. Much attention has been paid then to the issue of the Government Plenipotentiary for Women, Family and Youth. The office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Women has been created before the system transformation in September 1986 on the basis of the resolution of the Council of Ministers. It

7 Women‟s Democratic Union‟s election programme: parliamentary elections 1991 (personal archive). 8 Renata Berent Mieszczanowicz‟s electoral flyer (personal archive). 9 Between 1991 and 1993 Danuta Waniek worked in six Parliamentary Commissions (Commission on Culture and Massmedia, Constitutional Commission of the National Assembly, Extraordinary Commission for consideration of constitutional bills: Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Provisions implementing the constitutional law - Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Legislative Committee, Extraordinary Commission to consider a draft law on the legal protection of the fetus; Commission on Education , Scientific and Technological Progress). Wanda Sokołowska worked in the Commission on Social Policy. 11 eventually operated until October 1989. Anna Kędzierska was appointed the first Plenipotentiary, with the rank of undersecretary of state. In April 1991, in the times of Jan Krzysztof Bielecki‟s government, a resolution of the Council of Ministers established the Office of Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families, which operated until February 1992. The then Plenipotentiary Anna Popowicz has taken vigorous action for the advancement of women. Basing her activities on the resolution of the Sejm she has prepared, among others, the government's action programme to improve the situation of women, children and families. She also protested against the introduction of legal restrictions on access to abortion and other means of family planning. Unfortunately, Wojciech Wlodarczyk - The Head of the Office of the Council of Ministers - made it clear that he does not intend to keep the Office of Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families in the structure of the central government.10 This decision was opposed by the Women's Democratic Union, on behalf of which Danuta Waniek addressed a following parliamentary question to the then Prime Minister Jan Olszewski: Two weeks ago, Minister Anna Popowicz has been dismissed. The reasons for the dismissal presented to the public, including mistakes in youth policy and Minister’s reluctance to pronatalism, have not convinced women’s circles. We fear that the existence of this office is under serious threat (...) Therefore, I would like to ask whether the current government intends to continue to preserve the office of Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families in its structure, and what is the governments’ idea of the office and its activities11. In her speech she also pointed to the fact that Poland had ratified two important international conventions in the foregoing years: the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Women and Political Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which serve as the basis for the establishment of this office12.

WDU actively joined the election campaign also in the following elections in 1993. Our demands included issues such as prohibition of gender based discrimination, adopting the law on equal gender status, revision of the abortion law, so that the decision about giving birth to a child belonged to a woman, the introduction of provisions concerning joint taxation for single parents, appointment of the Ombudsman for Children and the restoration of the Office of Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families in the structure of the Council of Ministers. In September 1993 the candidates recommended by the WDU joined the election with the slogan: There will be no democracy without women’s participation!

Incomparably more of the candidates recommended by the WDU and WDU representatives acquired seats in the Parliament. The list of the WDU – related MPs included:

10 Speech during the 11th session of the Sejm of the first term (20. 03. 1992). The minister believed that the action was in line with the intentions of the government aimed to reduce the number of senior positions in central administration and rationalization of its structure (author‟s note). 11 10 pt. of the 11th session of the Sejm of the first term agenda (20. 03. 1992). 12 Hanna Suchocka, the first female Prime Minister in Polish history, the successor to Prime Minister Jan Olszewski. She did not appoint a Government Plenipotentiary for Women's Affairs, despite numerous petitions of women's organizations and groups. She answered frankly that she does not see the need for action for the advancement of women or any political justification for such a decision. The position of the Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families was vacant until December 1994. Bureau operated but in practice did not address issues concerning women, focusing on youth affairs. Except for women's organizations, no one was interested in increasing women's participation in politics (author's note). 12

Jolanta Banach (WDU), Barbara Blida (supported by the WDU), Zofia Grzebisz – Nowicka (supported by the WDU), Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka (supported by the WDU), Alicja Murynowicz (supported by the WDU), Irena Nowacka (supported by the WDU), Małgorzata Ostrowska (supported by the WDU), Izabela Sierakowska (supported by the WDU), Renata Szynalska (WDU) and Danuta Waniek (WDU).

Unified in the just cause

In December 1990, many of the WDU members participated in the conference entitled: Woman in contemporary Poland: chances and threats. In a document summarizing the deliberations, the participants called for institutional and systemic changes that would ensure women's participation in the process of transformations in the economic, professional, social, educational and political spheres. Anna Szymańska – Kwiatkowska13 said that the conference had provided the needed and solid materials. Thanks to the meeting and its conclusions the Parliamentary Women's Circle has been established (April 1990). It later evolved in the Parliamentary Group of Women (Parlamentarna Grupa Kobiet, PGK), working closely with the Women‟s Democratic Union. Parliamentary Group of Women, speaking the political voice on behalf of women, has been an important partner for WDU. Acting above political divisions it realized many of women‟s demands. Creative and chatty atmosphere was possible thanks to the Chair of Parliamentary Group of Women, charismatic Barbara Labuda14 as well as Danuta Waniek and other members of the Presidium. Barbara Labuda recalls WDU‟s and Parliamentary Group of Women cooperation in the following way: I keep very good memories from the period of cooperation of the Parliamentary Group of Women under my guidance (from 1990) with Women’s Democratic Union - around such important issues as women's freedom unhampered by any ideologies; the right to decide about ones life, work and motherhood; or the opposition to women’s social and civic discrimination and domestic violence prevention15.

It should be stressed that from the beginning of its operations, the WDU has been subject to all of the initiatives related to women's rights and tolerance. On 13 May 1991 Presidium of Women's Democratic Union issued a statement replying to the opinion of Kazimierz Kapera, the then vice minister of health, regarding the bill on the protection of the unborn life. The WDU‟s statement claimed: We believe that everyone - both women and men - have every right to dispose of their privacy and no one, regardless of the ideology and religious beliefs, should interfere in this area of human existence..16 In cooperation with other feminist circles and organizations, such as the Polish Feminist Association, the Pro Femina Association17, All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions Women's Council, Women's Democratic Union has developed an appeal regarding the Senate

13 Anna Szymańska-Kwiatkowska, one of the founders of Women‟s Democratic Union and vice chairman during the first term. Editor in Chief of Pani and afterwards Kobieta i Życie. Editor and founder of Kobieta i Styl. 14 Barbara Labuda, Polish politician, state official and diplomat. Democratic opposition activist in communist times. A deputy to the Sejm of 10th, 1st and 2nd term. Minister in President's Chancellery. Between 2005 and 2010 the ambassador of Republic of Poland in Luxembourg. 15 Barbara Labuda‟s correspondence with Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Luxembourg (July 2010, WDU archive). 16 Danuta Waniek, Kobiety lewicy w polskim doświadczeniu politycznym. Tradycja, wartości i tożsamość, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, 2010. 17 The PRO Femina Association prepared the flyer on Ten reasons why abortion should be legal. 13 bill on the legal protection of unborn life 18. The text of the appeal was sent to the press and was published in many newspapers. In 1991 at the initiative of Zbigniew Bujak and Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka a Social Committee for the referendum on the punishment of abortion was formed (the so called Bujak Committee). It adopted a declaration which stated that Freedom of speech is the foundation of civil liberties. In such an important matter concerning all of us - men and women - the law needs to be respected 19. WDU demanded a referendum on the law on the protection of the unborn life. According to the WDU members it was a fair, most effective and most democratic way to resolve this contentious issue. After the conservative, right wing Christian National Union‟s submission of bill on the protection of the unborn life, Women's Democratic Union actively participated in organizing committees for legal abortion and their social activities. In Gdansk thanks to Lucyna Orlowska‟s activity Gdańsk Voivodeship Social Committee for the Referendum on the Criminalization of Abortion has been established. Jolanta Banach served as the spokesperson of the Committee. The Committee eventually collected 28 000 signatures in WDU Gdańsk‟s seat. Similar committees operated also in other Polish cities – Wroclaw (the initiative of Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz and Barbara Labuda), Bydgoszcz (Lidia Żabińska and Anna Mackiewicz), Płock (Wanda Sokołowska) and Toruń (Krystyna Sienkiewicz). Wanda Sokolowska (WDU) and Danuta Waniek (WDU) strongly opposed the anti-abortion law, declaring in their Sejm speeches As usual, tragic consequences will be borne by women with the lowest socio-economic status. If we want every ‘conceived’ life, and by saying ‘conceived’ I mean ‘conceived’ in a responsible and conscious way, if we want every ‘conceived’ life to be born, it is necessary that both the state (through its educational agenda) and the church, would consistently shape the attitudes of the human being responsible for its acts, and stimulate its natural demands for righteousness, nobility and morality20. In her speech in the Sejm on 30 December 1992, Danuta Waniek drew attention to the fact that the bill prohibits abortion, and having an abortion will be penalized with up to two years of imprisonment. Under this law the doctor will always be punished, unless he makes abortion to save woman’s life. The bill, however, does not explain when and who decides whether it is the case of woman’s health or woman’s life. Given the prevalent intimidation present in the medical environment, in practice this dilemma will be resolved in the following way: if a woman survives – it must have been the case of her health, if she dies – her life must have been the case. According to the provisions of the bill a woman will not be punished for the abortion, unless she removes the pregnancy on her own. Past experience proves that the poor and vulnerable women will resort to drastic measures21.

The bill on the referendum has been rejected by the Sejm on the 7th of January 1993. In her speech, Izabela Jaruga- Nowacka summed this fact up by saying: we have collected more than one and a half a million signatures, we have submitted them to a democratically elected parliament, and politicians, who have been given confidence, simply threw them away. It should be mentioned that one reason for the rejection of the bill on holding a referendum was the abstention of Labour Union MPs from Ryszard Bugaj‟s and Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka‟s party.

18 The appeal is available in the Women‟s Democratic Union archive. 19 Danuta Waniek‟s personal archive. 20 Wanda Sokołowska‟s speech during the 21st session of the Sejm of the first term (24.07.1992). 21 Danuta Waniek‟s speech during the session of the Sejm of the first term (30.12.1992). 14

Local activity and cooperation

Between 1990 and 2004 WDU clubs, local organizational units of the Association cooperated with the Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland (Socjaldemokracja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, SDRP). The cooperation and support had various forms: lending premises, sharing technical equipment and office supplies. Danuta Waniek agreed to share her MP's office with the seat of the WDU National Council. She also supported the activities of the Warsaw club for a long time. Jolanta Banach for some time has supported the activities of the club in Gdansk. However, some clubs, such as the Women's Democratic Union in Wroclaw, have operated from the beginning without any support. Some of the WDU members were also involved in the party activities and tried to effectively raise the issue of gender equality in the political forum. But as soon as at the end of the WDU National Council‟s first term, the cooperation lost all of the well-understood features of the partnership. The Association defended its independence and as a result most of the local structures operated without the support of leftist party. The first term was also characterized by numerous local initiatives. Almost all clubs led integration activities, conducted civic education and participated in the evaluation of documents concerning the situation of women, families and children.22 Many clubs, recognizing the problems of violence and social exclusion, led support groups for women. WDU in Warsaw, Gdansk and Wroclaw offered courses for unemployed women. WDU in Kielce organized environmental assistance for single mothers. In Gdansk and Wroclaw Job Clubs have been established and a programme of providing supplementary nutrition of children in schools has been carried out. In Wroclaw many programmes for family and children support have been conducted, including prevention programmes, legal and psychological counseling, therapeutic camps, conferences and public speeches. The leader of the WDU in Gdansk Lucyna Orłowska initiated an innovative programme How to effectively look for a job, that not only helped many people in finding employment but also, what should be noted, has contributed to the increased activity of women. The club in Gdańsk has also held many other courses, including: You can become a good nanny, Seniors in the virtual world, Basic computer skills and invoicing, How to effectively look for a job, We look for active women or the Social carer and senior assistant. Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, from the very beginning strongly associated with the Wroclaw‟s WDU Club, dispatched an open letter to Polish President Lech Walesa on the tragic situation of Polish education and civil rights violations. Regional television and radio stations treated this event as the news of the day. Afterwards the letter was also disseminated and gained support in different environments. Women's Democratic Union has always stressed that it is an association working for the political rights of women, in terms of increasing their political impact and gaining economic independence. The explicit political engagement was the cause of a major distrust from many women‟s organizations and communities, which, according to Katarzyna Szumlewicz, resulted from attempts to stifle criticism and apoliticality of behaviors23. Between 1990 and 1994 Presidium of WDU focused much attention on the members‟ education in the area of civil rights and political powers, as well as the promotion of the association. Increasing women‟s participation in public life by enhancing their political and

22 Reports of the WDU clubs and the Presidium od WDU‟s National Council – 1st term (WDU archive). 23 Katarzyna Szumlewicz, Wątki lewicowe we współczesnym ruchu kobiecym. Polityczna grawitacja. (source: www.lewica.pl). 15 personal competences has been one of the most important priorities in Association‟s actions at the time. One of the results of these activities was an increase in WDU members social participation in local communities expressed in various projects and other forms of involvement. Many examples in this regard were provided by the members of clubs in Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Kielce, Czestochowa, Katowice, and Lodz. Many nationwide meetings and conferences were held at this time. They were attended by, among others. Professor M. Fuszara, Professor R. Siemieński, Professor E. Zielińska, Professor M. Szyszkowska and representatives of parliament and government. WDU discussion salons were often attended by major left and right wing politicians: Izabella Sierakowska, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Aleksander Kwasniewski, Jozef Oleksy, Olga Krzyzanowska, Barbara Labuda et al. The meetings provided the opportunity not only to learn about feminism but also to get to know the principles of functioning of the state and its duties towards citizens or the content of international conventions ratified but not implemented by Poland. The extraordinary, chatty atmosphere and great female solidarity have been characteristic for our group at that time. Lucyna Orlowska in her poetical chronicle portrayed the formation the Women's Democratic Union in the following way:

Once, in April, on a beautiful day The shadow fell on the right side of political scene For different girls from different cities Met to hold a convention During which - knock, knock, knock They founded the WDU Indispensable in every city Why? It’s all in the text So that women in a pleasant way Finally liberated themselves So that women were in the Government, the Parliament So that every day they could say there That women are rational That women are orderly That women are thrifty That women are solidary That women are GODDESSES That the world without goddesses will vanish That all women: mothers, wives As well as lovers Constantly need to climb up To become known There they need to work hard to fight for their dignity So that the pot was not the target And the vacuum cleaner was not the savior

To be continued in the upcoming years…

16

NEW CHALLENGES – NEW PERSPECTIVES

2nd Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union

The second Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union was held in 1993 in Warsaw. New authorities of the Association were chosen. Danuta Waniek was reelected Chairperson. Jolanta Banach and Halina Krywak became Vice Chairpersons. Jolanta Gontarczyk again served as Secretary General. Lucyna Orlowska, Marzena Sosnowska, Maria Skrobiszewska, Grażyna Ulicka and Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz were elected to the Presidium. All of the Chairpersons of regional structures became members of the National Council. Besides that the first regional (voivodeship) organizations, called Voivodeship Conciliatory Councils, were formed.24

During the Second Congress of the Women's Democratic Union a resolution to continue the priorities of the first period of activity and add a few new ones was undertaken. As a result, the following priorities for the period 1993-1997 were adopted:

PRIORITIES OF THE 2ND CONGRESS 1993-1997

 Development of regional structures;  Increasing competences and qualifications of members of the association;  Including WDU representatives in the works of local governments through participation in committees, working groups and other forms of interaction;  Developing partnerships with NGOs, public administration and local government;  Lobbying for equality and equal opportunities.

Women‟s limited access to equal participation in the male – dominated institutions and organizations (political parties, public agencies, etc.) was an extremely important factor influencing women's involvement in the activities of WDU. In pursuit of equal opportunities, the second term of the National Council WDU was a time of intense activity and acquiring new skills by members, including self-presentation, communication, mediation, fundraising and collaboration with NGOs and other actors. Zofia Kuratowska25 initiated an important and controversial discussion about parity on electoral lists. Women‟s place and role in the society were a part of the existing social model. While women's economic rights were guaranteed by several directives, the issue of their political rights and participation in public life appeared an incomparably bigger problem. WDU‟s stance on the issue of parity was clear. The Association considered parity an interim measure for equalizing women‟s opportunities in the decision-making processes. Gender

24 Voivodeship Conciliation Councils were created in the following provinces: Wroclaw, Gdansk, Bydgoszcz, Warsaw, Silesia. Councils met two goals: coordination and representation. 25 In her TV speech in January 1997, Zofia Kuratowska recalled the most controversial rule of parity democracy: in case of nominated authorities, not less than 40% of persons of one sex should be appointed. 17 equality should be more of a bottom - up process, rather than a project planned and managed centrally – said Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz in her interview with the Piast weekly - WDU has always been of the opinion that provisions can not create a genuinely new reality. Politics, to be effective, can not ignore the cultural foundations of awareness and functioning of society. Gender equality will be a fact only if it will be a reasonably stimulated process26.

Women's Democratic Union lobbied for the establishment of a constitutional office of Plenipotentiary for Gender Equality in Poland, with legislative initiative and separate budget. The forthcoming United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing was an undoubted impulse to revive the office of Plenipotentiary. As a result of pressure from women's circles, the Democratic Left Alliance - Polish People's Party coalition government has decided to appoint Barbara Blida27 to the position of Plenipotentiary for Women and Families in December 1994. This decision caused much controversy. Selection of Barbara Blida, the then Minister of Housing and Urban Development to the position of Plenipotentiary was recognized by women's organizations, including the WDU, as a sign of negligence and marginalization of women's rights issues and gender equality. The newly elected Plenipotentiary did not hide that she is not interested in women's rights issues, and she agreed to accept this nomination only due to her will to fulfill Prime Minister‟s request. As she admitted during a meeting with women's organizations and Women's Democratic Union representatives, she would have willingly relinquished the burden to someone else.28

In May 1995 a significant change regarding the Office of the Plenipotentiary took place, both in terms of personal settlements and in terms of renaming the office. On the 12 th May 1995 the Office of Plenipotentiary for Women and Families was replaced with the Office of Government Plenipotentiary for Family and Women. Prime Minister Jozef Oleksy appointed the DLA MP and Vice Chairperson of the WDU – Jolanta Banach – to this Office. She created the office from scratch and using the experience gained in the WDU immediately began works on the Report on the situation of Polish families29. Between 1994 and 1997 there was a clear change in the direction of social policy in Poland, and with the help of the Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families women's and non governmental organizations became important consultative entities for central and local authorities. Ewa Dąbrowska – Szulc30 emphasizes that two attorneys cooperating with the WDU, Małgorzata Fuszara and Eleonora Zielińska, played an important role in promoting gender equality. They prepared the first bill on equal status of women and men. Dorota Kempka, DLA senator, cooperating with the WDU described this period in the

26 Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz‟s interview for Piast (1994). 27 Barbara Blida was appointed to the position of the Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families by the then Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, who did not want to not expose himself to attacks either from feminists or the church. On April 25th 2007 B. Blida died during the Agency for Internal Security‟s intervention. 28 Urszula Nowakowska, Instrumenty państwa na rzecz awansu kobiet (Internet: http://temida. free. ngo. pl/rapawans. htm ) 29 The Report on Polish Families Situation concluded that 63% with three children and 80% with four children does not achieve the level of social minimum. Half of the families with at least three children declared the lack of funds for the purchase of meat and sausages, 35% could not afford vegetables, and 30% milk and dairy products, 15% of households assessed their situation in this regard as bad or very bad.. 30 See more: Ewa Dąbrowska- Szulc, Córy patriarchatu, czyli echa dyskusji nad projektem ustawy o równym statusie kobiet i mężczyzn na przełomie XX i XXI wieku. (Internet: http://www. ekologiasztuka. pl/pdf/fe0043dabrowska. pdf ) 18 following way: We have been fighting for introducing provisions guaranteeing equal rights for men and women in the new constitution, which has been adopted last year. We battled for the art. 33, paragraph 1 and 2, we wanted to put it explicitly in the Constitution that the men and women have equal rights, and not - that women have equal rights with men.31

During the presidential election in 1995, WDU got involved in Aleksander Kwaśniewski‟s campaign. Danuta Waniek, WDU Chairperson, became the chief of his campaign. In the proclamation presented in August 1995 WDU appealed32

Let’s support Aleksander Kwasniewski in his struggle for the presidential office!

Having won the election, Aleksander Kwasniewski will initiate the creation of the Equal Status Council, aiming to protect equal opportunities for men and women in various fields of social activity. If the Parliament adopts the act abolishing the penalization of abortion, Aleksander Kwaśniewski will sign the act, meeting the expectations of the majority of society, including demands of many women's organizations. He shall not support any ideological struggles around the sphere of human privacy. On the contrary, he shall support any initiative, expanding the free choice of free people to shape their own path in life.

After his election to the office, President Aleksander Kwasniewski appointed Danuta Waniek as the head of the Presidential Chancellery.

International Year of the Family – Women’s Democratic Union’s stance

The United Nations General Assembly decided in its Resolution 44/82 to name 1994 the International Year of the Family, emphasizing its long-term time dimension, aimed at stimulating all manner of activities at local, national and international level in any way related to family issues. Women's Democratic Union got involved in the celebrations of International Year of the Family by organizing conferences as well as numerous community initiatives and public debates on this issue. Activists clearly noticed the problems connected with social exclusion such as domestic violence, unemployment, poor economic and housing situation and lack of institutional mechanisms of support for dysfunctional families as well as the collapse of Polish education system, which resulted in limiting opportunities for young people. These activities were closely related to the objectives that were included in the Programme Declaration of Women's Democratic Union, appealing: Concern for the family, its material existence, the proper fulfillment of its educational function is the moral and social duty of society and state. Today, the Polish family is congested with the ongoing economic crisis, causing severe psychological effects (...) Woman is faced with threats that are difficult to overcome. Single mothers are in particularly dramatic situation.

31 Ośrodek Informacji Kobiecych OŚKA (nr 4/1998). 32 Danuta Waniek, Kobiety lewicy w polskim doświadczeniu politycznym. Tradycje, wartości i tożsamość. , Wydawnictwo Adam Marszalek, 2010. 19

The Association opposed the constraints of women‟s rights regarding decision-making on conscious motherhood. It expressed the view that education and offering practical assistance for family planning are the most important matters in this regard and that the phenomenon of abortion should be reduced by ensuring a decent existence, effective contraception and the development of the culture of life and sexual education. Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka, then the Labour Union MP, postulated during her Sejm speech33 one should not agree to divide the society for the ones who stand for life and the ones against life as life is an undisputed value for all Poles (...) The legislature can not be satisfied with showing off its morality, it must be ready to accept the responsibility connected with the practical implications of the adopted Act and this Act has brought more harm and suffering, it has taken away more lives than it has saved. It has not eradicated the phenomena of abortion caused by social reasons. It resulted in the deepening of social inequalities, dramatically hitting the poorest and thus the least conscious groups.

Facts and events

WDU Club in Wroclaw, in cooperation with dr Elżbieta T. Woźniak34 organized in 1994 a nationwide conference entitled: Family in Contemporary Poland - questions, concerns, hopes. It was attended by representatives of academic circles, local government, NGOs and women's organizations. The conference was held under the auspices of the Parliamentary Group of Women. It developed proposals and demands related to the state social policy, describing the condition of the Polish family, its needs, aspirations and place in society. The conclusions have been submitted to the Marshal of Parliament, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, and were later reflected in the report. The conference was one of the first major field projects of the WDU.

Another initiative on the eve of the forthcoming conference in Beijing was the participation of Women's Democratic Union representatives in collecting and compiling materials for a report on the situation of women in Poland, prepared by the office of Government‟s Plenipotentiary for Family and Women, Jolanta Banach. WDU‟s contribution to the report was very important as it the first time that Polish NGOs were invited to cooperate in the preparation of the governmental document. At a conference in Beijing UN member states adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and committed to implement the provisions of the agreements35. Platform for Action pointed to twelve areas which are important for combating discrimination against women: 1.Women and Poverty, 2 Education and Training of Women, 3.Women and Health, 4.Violence against Women, 5 Women and Armed Conflict, 6.Women and the Economy, 7.Women in Power and Decision- making, 8.Institutional Mechanism for the Advancement of Women, 9.Human Rights of Women, 10.Women and the Media, 11.Women and the Environment, 12.The girl-child. It

339 pt. of the 28th session of the Sejm of the second term agenda (01.09.1994). 34 Dr Elżbieta T. Woźniak, graduate of Polish Philology at the University of Wroclaw, received her PhD in humanities at the Slaski University in Katowice, academic consultant. Conducts research on the influence of civilization development on the social and political position of women. Member of the Board of Nongovernmental Cultural Organizations of the Ministry for Culture and National Heritage. Cofounder of the Federation Polish Women‟s Lobby, currently the vicepresident of Polish Women‟s Lobby. Lives in Wroclaw. 35 189 governments and more than 15,000 people representing NGOs took part in the Beijing Conference. It introduced the debate on women's rights in the context of human rights. 20 also called on all the UN governments to develop national action programmes for the dissemination of the principle of equal treatment of men and women.36 As a result, the first Polish National Programme for Women, incorporating many of the conclusions and demands of women's organizations, was established. The programme was adopted by the government in 1997. Its realization was among the competences of the Government Plenipotentiary for Family and Women.

Another initiative of the Plenipotentiary Jolanta Banach (WDU) was the preparation of a programme of domestic violence37 prevention, called Against violence: opportunities equalization, coordinated at the national level by WDU Secretary General Jolanta Gontarczyk. The main objective of the programme was to create a coherent and comprehensive system of assistance to victims of domestic violence.38

Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz cooperated with ETOH – Foundation for the Development of Prevention, Education and Therapy of Alcohol Problems (created in 1991) led by Professor Jerzy Mellibruda. She also participated in the actions connected with organizing social anti – violence movement in Poland. Together with Lucyna Orłowska (Gdańsk) they took part in the Blue Line39 activities. Clubs in Gdańsk and Wrocław organized social, therapeutic and legal support for women and children - victims of violence. In 1996, the Women's Democratic Union of Wroclaw has launched the Round-the- clock Centre for Crisis Intervention and Social Therapy Against Violence, which operates up till now, though in a different organizational form. It also developed a socio – therapeutic programme for women victims of violence, which later became a model solution for other women‟s support centers. Katarzyna Kądziela40 recalls: at that time I have worked at the State Agency for Solving Alcohol Problems as the coordinator of the domestic violence prevention programme, a leaven of the Blue Line, nationwide emergency service for victims of domestic violence. WDU from Wroclaw requested the Agency for funding a project concerning actions targeted to women. The project was one of the first programmes developed outside the environment associated with addiction - treatment, and addressed to all, not only to families with alcohol problems. It was an important and interesting project. Eventually, as the programme was approved, I went to see how it really works. When I got there, I saw one of

36 See more: Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz Raport. Pracując dla zmiany – 15 lat po Pekinie – Rekomendacje dla Przyszłości, Wydawnictwo WDU, 2010. 37 According to the Beijing Declaration, the term violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. (Deklaracja Pekińska i Pekińska Platforma Działania, Wydawnictwo Pełnomocnika Rządu ds. Rodziny i Kobiet, Warsaw 1996) 38 The innovative thing about the programme was the idea to launch credit line for the victims. The program has not been implemented before the parliamentary elections in 1997. The leadership change after the elections prevented the implementation of the idea of appointing Plenipotentiaries on Women‟s Affairs at local levels (author‟s note ) 39 Blue Line – nationwide emergency- phone line for victims of domestic violence. It began its activity on July 3rd 1995, as a facility of the Institute of Health Psychology of the Polish Psychological Association. It undertakes preventive actions, works with many state, self government and international institutions. 40 Katarzyna Kądziela, feminist, human rights expert. While working in the Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families and Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status Offices she concentrated on the issues of violence against women and sexual minorities rights. The quotation comes from her letter to Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz (July 2010). 21 the first Polish women's shelters - a good, friendly place for women. Created, prepared and managed by women.

WDU representatives have participated in national conferences and workshops related to the problem of violence. WDU was also the organizer of the conference entitled Together against violence. Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz, seeking allies to solve this important social problem, has invited the church to cooperate. Her initiative was welcomed. Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz personally celebrated mass for the victims of violence in the Wroclaw Cathedral. As he admitted, he had done it the for first time in his priestly ministry. The mass was attended by representatives of local government, city authorities as well women from the Centre for Crisis Intervention and Social Therapy, and other shelters for homeless women and children. The mass was not only a rite, but also the beginning of the social campaign Against Violence, which involved also the church. Numerous comments connected with this event have appeared in the media. Most of the commentators expressed their surprise with the fact that Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz, then a Councilor representing the leftwing Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland, has invited the church to solve the problems of violence, simultaneously demanding a clear stance on this issue.

In the attempt to solve the problems of violence, WDU focused not only on gaining allies in the combat against violence, but also on building external support system for victims of violence. Many trainings, courses and workshops for people working with dysfunctional families and individuals affected by violence and unemployment were conducted (clubs in Wroclaw, Gdansk, and Lodz). WDU also conducted a series of women‟s medical examinations: oncological, dermatological, ophthalmological and gynecological. The Association was involved in activities aimed at children (e.g., therapeutic centre Rodzina Misiów Parpusiaków in Wrocław, various forms of support for children with ADHD) and seniors (Golden Age Academy). Implementation of varied forms of activity took place in the conditions of practical lack of support from local government and public administration.

WDU members‟ activity in the regions and municipalities allowed them to achieve significant position in the environment of local NGOs. WDU became the advisory medium, and its members often acted as independent experts, cooperating with the media41.

In the second term of office two areas of Women‟s Democratic Union activity for women‟s equal opportunities were clearly marked. The aim was to be achieved on the one hand through various projects and activities to assist families in crisis situations, and on the other as an effect of efficient lobbying to change laws unfavorable to women. Danuta Waniek, Jolanta Banach, Wanda Sokolowska, Barbara Labuda, and Izabela Sierakowska were particularly active in the Sejm in this field.

Clubs in Wroclaw and Gdansk started international cooperation regarding gender

41 Numerous TV and radio speeches in local and national media (Danuta Waniek, Jolanta Banach, Lucyna Orłowska, Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz). Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz was invited as independent expert to the local TV programme Co tam, panie, w polityce. (Agnieszka Curyło archive). 22 issues with various organizations such as the OVEN Network 42 and German Women‟s Council. Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz was one of the two Polish women43 invited to the International Fair in Dusseldorf, where she represented Polish women‟s organizations, and particularly Women‟s Democratic Union activities. This fact should be considered a great honor because it has been the first invitation addressed to Polish organization in many years.

Our four-year social and political initiatives and innovative actions have been noticed and honored. Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, recognizing community involvement and contribution to the development of democracy in Poland awarded 26 members and persons recommended by the WDU for their work for democratic change. Presentation of medals by the President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski was held in a very solemn atmosphere on 6 March 1997.

42 Brigitte Worteler, German from East Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall she founded the organization OVEN aiming to stand up to all divisions. Together with Marianne Klues-Ktels she worked on salutogenesis – searching for positive ways of healthy life. 43 Beata Grudzińska from Poznań was the second Pole. 23

DEMOCRACY WITHOUT WOMEN IS HALF A DEMOCRACY

3rd Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union

At the beginning of the third term of office of Women‟s Democratic Union authorities, the association had over three thousand members affiliated in 33 clubs. The 3rd Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union was held in November 1997 in Wroclaw. In terms of logistics it was prepared by the Club in Wroclaw. It was attended by 140 members and about 70 guests. Deliberations and accompanying events were held at the Training Centre of the National Labour Inspectorate in Wroclaw. The Congress was attended by representatives of diplomatic corps, local authorities (the vice president of Wroclaw and Voievode of Lower Silesia) and municipal structures, Councilors representing different political parties, members of academia, cultural and nongovernmental organizations. WDU delegates were accommodated at the WDU centre in Wroclaw. The 3rd Congress was noticed and reported by the regional and national media. It is also worth noting that it has been the meeting attended by the biggest number of guests in the history of WDU. As a result of the elections Danuta Waniek was reelected the Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union. Jolanta Banach, Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz and Jolanta Gontarczyk were elected Vice Chairpersons. Grażyna Karpowicz was elected Secretary General and Anna Mackiewicz served as the Treasurer.

The development strategy of the Association identified the following priorities:

 Increasing WDU’s representatives political activity in parliament and local government in order to implement programmes;  Parliamentary and environmental actions to improve women’s situation;  Increasing women's participation in public life and economic development and lobbying in political circles;  Cooperation with central and local administration in order to develop common positions and proposals, aiming to implement equal opportunities policy;  Development of national and international cooperation and field activities

After the parliamentary elections in 1997 many candidates recommended by Women‟s Democratic Union, among them Danuta Waniek, Jolanta Banach, Sylwia Pusz, Joanna Sosnowska and Renata Szynalska, acquired seats in parliament. Strong political commitment of the leftish MPs, especially Jolanta Banach, Alicja Murynowicz and others, should be emphasized. All of them consistently and decisively demanded improvement in women‟s situation in Poland and criticized the actions of the government, limiting their freedom and development. National Conciliatory Council of Women‟s Democratic Union met under the chairpersonship of Danuta Waniek on 16th December 1998 in Warsaw. The meeting was attended by fifty-one councilors elected with the recommendation of the WDU to local

24 government structures at various levels. Unfortunately, only few of them worked for the WDU and supported its development. Due to the administrative reform, National Conciliatory Council considered it necessary to appoint local representatives to create new regional structures, which were meant to coordinate the actions of local entities (clubs) in all voivodeships.

The parliament was dominated by the right wing parties, therefore the Parliamentary Group of Women, consisting mainly of left wing MPs, lost its former clout and organizational capabilities. Other factors, such as lack of cooperation and solidarity among women had impact on the further deterioration of the situation. Women's Democratic Union and Electoral Arrangement Lower Silesia 98 sent their opinion on the local elections to the Parliamentary Group of Women. The signatories critically assessed the results of recent elections at various levels of local government and women's opportunities for cooperation, by stating that: We lost another chance to change the situation of women in Poland, to increase their participation in local government, which would provide them a significant impact on the management of a large voivodeship, district or municipality. We lost as we lacked the usual women's cooperation and solidarity.44 This sad reflection will continue to accompany our future actions.

After the victory of right-wing parties in the 1997 parliamentary elections, many women's organizations experienced lack of support and, above all, lack of will of cooperation expressed by the government and parliament. Many restrictive measures affecting the rights of women in the context of human rights were imposed. Lucyna Orłowska articulated her feelings about this situation: I consider the lack of interest with our actions, expressed by the left, a failure. Our colleagues, who actually started their careers with us, forgot about us. Some claim that Women's Democratic Union members are communists. We obviously identify with the left, but we do not have anything in common neither with the previous system, nor the former ruling elite. I began my activity in the Solidarity movement, at first in the Copper Industrial Area, afterwards I worked in Gdansk, in the Civic Committee. Therefore it was not my origin, but the awareness, that made the left so close to me. I also believe that the state has certain responsibilities and obligations to its citizens, not only to the poorest. Today it willingly forgets about them. It has washed its hands and suddenly starts to explain to those who do not have enough money to buy food, not to mention books or concert tickets, that they should be masters of their own destiny from A to Z.45

Under the Council of Ministers ordinance of 7 November 1997 the office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Family and Women was abolished and replaced by the office of Government Plenipotentiary for Family Affairs46. Kazimierz Kapera47 of the Christian

44 Published by Ośrodek Informacji Środowisk Kobiecych OŚKA (12/1998), p. 11 45 Agnieszka Curyło‟s interview with Lucyna Orłowska (April 2010) 46 Government Plenipotentiary for Women and Families was a part of the Prime Minister's Office. Plenipotentiary had no right to initiate legislation, but he could (with the approval of Prime Minister) raise projects for consideration by the Council of Ministers. The blueprints for such acts resulted from scope of activities. The Plenipotentiary had mainly an advisory role in matters relating to family and children. 47 Please note that the Kazimierz Kapera was previously removed from the post of Deputy Minister of Health for the controversial statements (criticizing contraceptives, and people with different sexual orientation were compared to to patients who require treatment). K. Kapera resigned on Aug. 5th 1999. He was replaced by Maria Smerczyńska MEP from the conservative AWS party, Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Commission for Family 25

National Union, a party known for its extremely conservative views on the family and social role of women and men, has been appointed the new Plenipotentiary. The change of the official name as well as Kapera‟s selection clearly defined the new direction of government policy on social issues and women. The effects of this new course were soon visible. Non- governmental organizations, including the Women's Democratic Union, clearly felt the lack of interest from the government in the field of gender equality and women‟s advancement by increasing their participation in decision-making areas. Attempt to continue cooperation with the office of Plenipotentiary within the framework of the NGO Cooperation Forum turned out to be a fiasco48. DLA MP Alicja Murynowicz, supported by the WDU during the election campaign, said in her Sejm speech: when a few months ago a meeting between the Forum of Non Governmental Organizations, the Parliamentary Group of Women, the Women's Democratic Union and Minister Kapera was held, the representatives of these organizations strongly and intensely asked the Minister about the content of the Report on the Situation of Polish Families, prepared by his office in June 1998. We were given scarce information about the Report, we were told that the results were confidential or that the right time to reveal such information has not yet come etc. However, despite the mysterious aura hovering over the report, the minister assured us that when the report will be finished, the representatives of NGOs will be able to read it. None of this has happened yet49.

Eventually, the confidential report proved that the programme has been implemented only to a minimal extent. The part presenting the accomplishment of tasks of the central agencies clearly showed that only the National Labour Office and the Central Statistical Office filled the liabilities assumed. Some ministries have not provided any information on the implementation of tasks entrusted to them. The report also did not mention a word about Plenipotentiary‟s participation in the programme. All this clearly demonstrated his attitude to the programme and undermined his credibility as a responsible coordinator of the activities of other central and regional agencies.

Plenipotentiary‟s competences did not include issues related to the advancement of women. Despite that he has been obliged to continue the initiated and pending work of his predecessor, including the National Action Plan for Women, which indirectly defined the duty of the Plenipotentiary regarding actions for the advancement of women. The initiative to develop a National Action Plan for Women, adopted in 1997, was the result of the ratification of the Final Document of the Beijing Conference (Platform for Action) by the Polish government. Representatives of women‟s organizations, including WDU, were incorporated in works on the document. The programme was meant to plan a long-term schedule of tasks for individual ministries, local authorities and third sector to improve the situation of women in regard to equal opportunities in all spheres of social life. A total of ten problem areas have been isolated.

Affairs. She belonged to the Polish Federation of Catholic Family Associations, and Polish Catholic Medical Association. 48 Urszula Nowakowska, Instrumenty na rzecz awansu kobiet, (Internet: http://temida. free. ngo. pl/rapawans. htm ) 49 29th Session of the Sejm of 3rd Term (22.09.199). During the same session Alicja Murynowicz asked: I don’t know why, but I get the feeling that you don’t like women. Why do you objectify them in you report, treating them as idiots, naive and shallow beings, or children studs? 26

In fact, the Platform for Action has been implemented only in a minor way and many of the conventions on the international human rights and women's rights ratified by Poland were infringed or not at all put into practice. Also the implementation of the National Action Plan for Women and the programme Against Violence: Opportunities equalization has been virtually halted, the same as the development of local structures that would work for the advancement of women.

The Association for Equal Status of Gender-Beijing 1995, founded in 1998, which included members of the WDU, tried to examine the extent to which the National Action Plan for Women is implemented at central and local levels. As it might have been expected, bearing in mind the observation and analysis of governments‟ and local authorities actions, the number of responses to the questionnaires addressed to the offices of the central and provincial administration has been negligible50.

The government has also rejected any action on women, women‟s advancement, gender equality and equal status. It refused to officially recognize violence against women as an important social problem requiring state intervention and institutional support. Global campaigns and European and local research in this regard were not taken into account.

After a long period of suspension of activity in this regard, the Office of the Plenipotentiary launched a modified programme Against Violence: Opportunities Equalization, which was meant to be implemented until the end of 1999. The programme, originally designed to help victims of domestic violence to free themselves from the offender by becoming economically independent, has been transformed into a Family, youth at risk and victims of interpersonal aggression support programme. The primary objective of the programme, according to the intention of its authors was prevention of pathology, manifested in domestic and juvenile violence, by removing its causes and strengthening the family.

Members of the Women's Democratic Union clearly stated that in some areas of social and political life Polish women were much worse off than in 1995 because their civic participation has been significantly limited in the context of equal opportunities51. WDU Clubs used various public campaigns to disseminate information about these problems and lead civic education connected therewith.

50 The Association disseminated over 80 questionnaires and received only 5 replies (from the Central Statistical Office, Ministry of Culture and Arts, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of the Treasury). Several other short answers from central state agencies confirmed the opinions of members of the Association about the ignorance and/or marginalization of the National Plan of Action. In fact, only the Central Statistical Office, Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy implemented (in a limited scope) the National Plan of Action. It is worth noting that minister K. Kapera issued a written recommendation to the local administration agencies that "it is not advisable to reply Women's Association for Equal Status survey". Lack of response from government agencies and local government to the Association‟s survey is only one of examples of their attitude to NGO‟s surveys, letters and petitions. The government ignored not only the Women‟s Association for Equal Status survey, but also to the UN questionnaire on implementation of the Platform for Action. The then Plenipotentiary, K. Kapera, also ignored both of the surveys.

51 Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Raport: 15 lat po Pekinie i co dalej, Wydawnictwo DUK, 2010. 27

Political speeches of deputies and members of Women’s Democratic Union

A heated discussion on the bill on equal status of women and men, prepared by the WDU and Polish Parliamentary Group of Women, has taken place in the Sejm. Women's Democratic Union activists, including Joanna Sosnowska, loudly expressed their opinion on this issue, defending women‟s dignity and opposing the right wing parties‟ beliefs. Jerzy Buzek‟s government declared parliamentary bill on equal status of women and men to be unwarranted. Yet, this bill was meant to fill a gap existing in this area, which has been one of Women's Democratic Union aims since inception of the organization.

Joanna Sosnowska (WDU) appealed: We, the Polish women, really deserve to be protected and treated the same as our colleagues from the European Union. Polish woman is not just a machine to produce children, as the male and female MPs, especially representing AWS, would like to see her. We have a dignity and we will fight for it. We do not agree to any form of discrimination. We protest against all forms of inequality and injustice52.

Danuta Waniek (WDU) in public speeches pointed to the need to increase women's participation in public life: much still remains to be done. We realize that the effective action for equality of men and women and the elimination of all discriminatory practices requires a change of social climate, and consequently – a change in the balance of power in parliament53.

In some of the voivodeships the offices of Plenipotentiaries for Family Affairs have been established, replacing the Plenipotentiaries for the Advancement of Women. These offices, however, did not take any action to promote equal status of women and men. Women‟s Democratic Union Lower Silesian Conciliatory Board and the participants of the Lower Silesian Women's Forum have issued in December 1998 a letter to then-Voievode of Wroclaw, Witold Krochmal (communicated to: Marshal of Local Assembly of Lower Silesia, Chair of the Parliamentary Group of Women, WDU National Conciliatory Council, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Jerzy Buzek) asking him to provide information on the implementation of programmes for women in Lower Silesia:

Witold Krochmal

The Voievode of Lower Silesia

Dear Sir,

Women's Democratic Union in Wroclaw together with the participants of the Lower Silesian Women's Forum would like to ask you whether a plenipotentiary for women’s status and family has been established or designated within the institutional framework. (...) We would also like to ask you whether a local action programme for women has been developed and if so, who is responsible for its implementation at the Provincial Office.(..) We have reason to

52 Joanna Sosnowska‟s (DLA MP and WDU activist) speech during the first reading of the Bill on Equal Status (04.03.1999, the session of the Sejm of 3rd Term). 53 16 pt. of the agenda of session of the Sejm of the 3rd term (04.03.1999). 28 believe that you have not undertaken appropriate action in this regard, and therefore we request:

 the appointment of Lower Silesian Voievode Plenipotentiary for the Women’s Status and Family;

 the development of Local Action Programme for Women adequately to the National Action Plan for Women;

 the establishment of the Consultative Council consisting of representatives of nongovernmental women's organizations and organizations working with the family issues who would cooperate closely with the Plenipotentiary and participate in developing the Local Action Programme54.

Ultimately, the Voievode has entrusted these tasks to the employee of School Superintendent Office, who has not taken any activities in this regard.

New initiatives and field activity

Women‟s promotion remained one of the most important tasks of the Women's Democratic Union. Direct contacts with the media and journalists have been established. Appeals addressed to the local media resulted in numerous radio programmes, television broadcasts and publications devoted to the status of women. In Wrocław Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz cooperated with local newspaper Gazeta Wrocławska, Piast55, weekly, Police dilemmas monthly, local journal Słowo Polskie and the Forum Europejskie. Representatives of the WDU, together with dr Elżbieta T. Woźniak from the Association of Active and Creative Women, took part in Jacek Wenzel‟s TV show Weekend z Piątką. The statutory tasks were carried out and numerous conferences and interviews were an opportunity to present women‟s positions. It remained consistent with the WDU programme56, stating that:

We can not be moved away from decision making processes regarding the social issues any longer. We aim to prepare women to participate in public life. We shall present our political programme and actively participate in elections to representative bodies at various levels. While doing this we do not want to duplicate the discredited ‘key formula’, we want to introduce of a new political culture, in which the decisive criteria will be professional and organizational ability, not gender.

54 Ośrodek Informacji Środowisk Kobiecych, OSKA (12/1998), p. 10 55 Women‟s Democratic Union had its regular column in Piast weekly. The readers were informed about the events, and WDU statements and resolution n a regular basics. The cooperation begun in 199 and lasted until 2002. 56 Women‟s Democratic Union Statute (WDU archive). 29

Women's Democratic Union has organized numerous trainings, courses and workshops on local topics, aiming to prepare women for effective competition for the mandate in local elections. Jolanta Banach, the then Governments Plenipotentiary, organized psychological and political workshops for representatives of women's organizations, including WDU‟s members, in Białobrzegi near Warsaw. They were the first professionally organized workshops for women in Poland with such a broad range.

The Association has also organized many local trainings improving women‟s political competences, with the purpose of forming a generation of the leaders of social change. Many of the activities carried out were related to overcoming barriers to women‟s participation in public life. One of the examples of such actions is the Studium for self – image, a programme conducted by the WDU in Wroclaw since January 1998. Training in the pro-European initiatives aimed at NGOs within the framework of the project called Together in Europe was carried out jointly with the University of Wroclaw. The workshop aiming to help women and equalizing opportunities proved to be very popular. WDU in Wroclaw organized an education course for students in 1999. Workshops on social communication prepared young people to work with local governments and for NGOs leadership. WDU in Wloclawek organized club meetings which gathered members of the association and its supporters. The meetings were devoted to discussions with experts, including the employment expert and health insurance representative. WDU members in Wloclawek also had the opportunity to participate in various integration meetings, such as the visit in museum Kłóbka, whose programme included sightseeing tour, regional cuisine tasting and meeting with regional MP E. Szparaga. Women's Democratic Union in Dąbrowa Górnicza launched a shelter for women - victims of violence and job clubs. Victims of violence had the possibility to benefit from accommodation in two apartments provided by the Centres of Social Welfare. Since 1996, a crisis intervention and social therapy centre Against Violence operated in Wroclaw, while the Blue Line functioned in Gdańsk. WDU in Gdansk launched courses for unemployed women who have had an opportunity to benefit from interpersonal training, legal and psychological advice. Clubs in Katowice and Gdansk carried out activities related to increasing women‟s professional competences (counseling, guidance and training). The Club in Wroclaw prepared a programme of legal education for rural women called Przystanek Gromadka, implemented in the communities of bolesławiecki and oławski provinces. Social prevention programmes for people over 60 years of age organized by many of the WDU clubs were also popular. They were focused on the issues of education, health promotion, culture, rehabilitation and participation in public life of the local community (e.g. subsequent editions of the Wroclaw Golden Age Academy project).

In June 1999, WDU in Wroclaw organized the 1st Lower Silesian Congress of Women and Women‟s Circles, aiming to develop a common position on the manner and scope of the implementation of the Platform for Action at the local level. The Congress was attended by Jolanta Banach, the then Government Plenipotentiary. The findings and conclusions of the Congress were presented to the United Nations as an independent local report on women‟s affairs. During the Congress the directions and opportunities for cooperation among Lower Silesian women's circles have been identified and cooperation within the European Union for the comprehensive advancement of women and combating all forms of discrimination has been agreed. The Association undertook several attempts to retrieve Polish women‟s situation and tried to equalize their opportunities through the implementation of various projects.

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In 1998 Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz was declared a winner of the local newspaper Wieczór Wrocławia plebiscite called The Great Wroclawska. The plebiscite was based on readers‟ propositions to award people engaged in social sphere, characterized by their outstanding social sensitivity. Two years later another representative of the WDU, Ewa Gąsowska, won the plebiscite.

The problem of financing and fundraising for projects and actions accomplishment remained the constant headache associated with association‟s activities. The funds possessed by the WDU came mainly from donations and members' own resources, as well as government subsidies and public administration. Large scale projects funded from various grants, prepared mainly by Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz, were implemented in Lower Silesia. WDU Club in Gdansk received funding from the Labour Office. A large grant from the Ministry of Agriculture was received by a club in Węgorzewo for a project aimed at children‟s supplementary nutrition and the mobilization of rural women, led by Grażyna Karpowicz (Secretary of the Presidium of the WDU National Council).

Women’s actions cross boundaries

An important event during the WDU‟s third term was the International Conference on Women’s rights and the European Union Standards, organized on 27 - 28 March 1998 in the Sejm by the Women's Democratic Union, the European Integration Committee and the UNDP57. The conference was attended by Professor Barbara Schaeffer Hegel, Professor Zdzislawa Janowska, Sonja Lokar, Nijole Steponkute, Weronika Hars, Dr. Ivan Ibragimova, Professor Renata Simieńska and Anna Raduchowska-Brochowicz. The aim of the conference was to acquaint its participants with the European standards regarding gender equality and systemic solutions related to the status of women in the candidate countries.

The statements presented by representatives of various women's circles have argued that they recognize the fundamental differences between the situation of women in Poland and in EU countries and pointed to the significant barriers to civic participation of women in Poland. Professor Zdzislawa Janowska in her speech opening the conference stressed that gender equality policy is a value implemented and recommended by both the Council of Europe and the European Union. We expect the Polish government to implement international instruments for the protection of women’s rights as human rights and especially to support the Additional Protocol to the Convention of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which provides for the introduction of individual and collective claims58.

Many problems and matters raised during the discussion appeared to be common to all countries represented at the conference. The approach to a lot of issues such as equal opportunities for women in access to employment and pay or women's participation in

57 UNDP, United Nations Development Programme, established in 1966 as a UN agency, creates a global development network. The tasks of the UNDP include providing technical and financial assistance to developing countries. 58 Conclusions of the working group on Legislation and women’s rights implementation in the context of equal status, under guidance of Joanna Banach (MP, Vice Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union). 31 lawmaking and the exercise of power were also present in the discourse outside the Polish borders59. Conference participants emphasized that depriving women of full participation in public life impedes the realization of a democratic model. They agreed that a democratic society can not be based on the exclusively male exercise of power and law-making. Discussions in individual thematic groups enabled the exemplification of major problems in countries aspiring to EU. The Conference considered that the most important issues were:  establishing the Office for Equal Status, and working on statutory guarantees of equality  women‟s promotion of and their proportional share in all spheres of social life including the exercise of power  equal access to the labour market and wages  combating violence against women, including sexual violence  activities aiming to introduce a quota system in all areas of public life to speed up women‟s advancement and gender equality  setting up a road map to define common issues, they perception and solutions

International cooperation has developed also at the local level. The Club in Gdansk began long - term collaboration with Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia and Russia. As a result, partners organized the cyclical International Women‟s Forum. It was held every year in a different country. It was designed to allow the exchange of experiences and to work out strategies for women‟s advancement in respective countries. From the very beginning, the Polish coordinator of these activities, has been Lucyna Orlowska, Chairperson of the Women's Democratic Union in Gdańsk.

Political change and Women’s Democratic Union’s stance

Political changes related to the termination of the Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland and the rise of a new political formation - the Democratic Left Alliance (DLA)60, in April 1999 were of great importance for further development of the Women's Democratic Union. In retrospect they should be assessed as negative. Unfortunately women issues did not find a deeper resonance in the activities of the new party and did not cause any political interest. DLA gradually turned into a virtually one - man – rule party at local and national level. Despite this, at the DLA First Congress in Warsaw in 1999, Danuta Waniek, doing her best to preserve the WDU members election chances called for women‟s inclusion in the process of creating a grassroots party structure in order to maintain influence on its subsequent activities. She argued that: The parliamentarians, female members of the DLA, on the basis of Article 13 of the party statute, call for the establishment of a female Plenipotentiary for DLA structures appointment in each voivodeship and each district. This decision will be an expression of the real, not the declared intentions of both the founders of the DLA and the Provisional National Council, to achieve equal representation of men and

59Conclusions of the working group on Women in public life: the actual model of women’s role, under guidance of dr Jolanta Gontarczyk, vicechairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union. 60 Democratic Left Alliance (DLA), Polish political party founded on the 15th of April 1999 by activists deriving from various member organizations of the Democratic Left Alliance. DLA used to be a wide electoral platform grouping several dozen of organizations politically connected with Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland, party founded in 1990 on the base of Polish United Workers' Party. 32 women in the party authorities. The coalitional DLA – Polish People’s Party government adopted the National Programme of Action for Women in 1997, implementing the Beijing Platform, the final document of United Nations conferences on women's issues in Beijing. Both the Polish and the international document, as well as European Union equality policy, give priority to the government’s obligations on the implementation of the principle of equal participation of women and men in politics and decision-making at all levels. It is the expression of a proper understanding of human rights in the late twentieth century civilization61

Unfortunately, these efforts have not changed the situation of women in the DLA and did not affect the implementation of the demands of left wing women, declared in the party manifesto and the party statutes. The party abandoned the declared value system, which was also expressed by undertaking the predominatingly unsuccessful attempts to qualify the WDU as a dependent unit. Parliamentarians with significant political positions, as well as members of the WDU intending to stand for parliamentary and local elections were in particularly difficult circumstances. Very often they were subjected to various discriminatory practices. The local party leadership showed a dismissive attitude to the problems of both equal opportunities and women working in the WDU. Many of the party structures cooperating at the time with the WDU withdrew from this cooperation. The structures of the Association, which since its inception existed and operated regardless of the party, despite numerous difficulties, relatively quickly adapted to functioning in the area of the third sector in Poland and strengthened its social position. Despite that its members were effectively restricted from variety of promotions and access to electoral rolls. Malgorzata Ostrowska assessed the party‟s behavior as follows: the DLA executives quickly quieted their activists: Danuta Waniek, Izabela Sierakowska and Joanna Sosnowska – as all of them boldly spoke about women's rights issues and the liberalization of the law. The views of the leadership of the party, undertaking personal and tactical decisions is not fully identical with the officially proclaimed programme.62

61 Danuta Waniek, Kobiety lewicy w polskim doświadczeniu politycznym. Tradycje, wartości i tożsamość. , Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, 2010 62 In her publication Politics is of feminine gender but there are no women involved in it (Lewą Nogą nr 16/04) Małgorzata Ostrowska considers the treatment of female leaders of the DLA as one of the major causes of their withdrawal to Social Democracy of Poland in 2004. Quoted by Danuta Waniek in Kobiety lewicy w polskim doświadczeniu politycznym. Tradycje, wartości i tożsamość (Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, 2010). 33

ON OUR WAY TO EUROPE

4th Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union

The one-day Congress held on 10th June 2000 in the Sejm was attended by 120 people, including 85 delegates. Danuta Waniek resigned from her further activity in the Women‟s Democratic Union and declared that she will not take part in the Chairperson elections for another term. She recommended Jolanta Banach for this position. As a result of the elections Jolanta Banach became the Chairperson of the National Council of the WDU, while Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Grażyna Karpowicz and Jolanta Gontarczyk became Vice Chairpersons, Anna Mackiewicz served as the Secretary General, Wieslawa Mielczarek – as the Treasurer.

During the 4th Congress the ten year activity of the Association was summarized. Many members were distinguished with honorary awards. Participants of the Congress unanimously decided to grant Danuta Waniek the title of Honorary Chairperson. The Congress initiated a debate on the future financing of the association and its activities. In connection with the revival of discussion about the future of the third sector in Poland, Women's Democratic Union faced two alternative visions of its further development: one proposing the reduction of association‟s activity only to the preparation of leaders for public office and elections, and the other focused on developing various forms of civic participation of women, including influencing local politics through various actions

Following this, the status of the Association and its financing was being considered. Back then, Women's Democratic Union has been in a very difficult situation, not only due to lack of funds for the statutory work, but also in terms of staffing, because it was a period of significant change and new challenges for NGOs. The Association had to encounter many external barriers, mainly due to lack of understanding of its political mission. Ever since its establishment, Women‟s Democratic Union has been striving for the increase of women‟s participation in decision-making areas and enabling them to achieve economic independence. By monitoring changes in legislation, which often meant a step backward rather than progress, the Association demanded political influence on the area of decision-making and social control. However, the public administration and other NGOs, including some women‟s organizations, spectacularly politicized WDU‟s activity in a negative sense, which often resulted in lack of funding or rejecting its applications in various calls for proposals.

The priorities of the 4th term included: strengthening local structures, new financial policy, the organization of the central seat in Warsaw (at Hoza 50 Street), applying for European funds and preparation for the EU integration process. After Danuta Waniek‟s withdrawal, the central seat in Warsaw lost its source of funding and the possibility to use the premises of the MPs office of the former Chairperson. Therefore a resolution on membership fee and voluntary „taxation‟ of the MPs and Councilors recommended by the WDU was undertaken. Unfortunately, in practice few of them have actually adopted this commitment, despite Jolanta Banach‟s attempts to promote this idea among MPs formerly recommended by the Association. Consequently, this decision did not have much of an effect on altering the financial situation of the WDU.

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Two MPs, Renata Szynalska and Joanna Sosnowska (members of the WDU Presidium) actively participated in WDU‟s activities at the national level. They repeatedly represented stances and demands developed by the Association in the Sejm.

The activities of the Association were at the time focused mostly on the problem of gender equality and civic participation. The strategic objectives included, among others, impact on national policy, particularly policy related to EU issues. Organizations‟ interests have been focused on issues of equal treatment, above all on methods of increasing women's participation in public life and decision-making areas and on equal opportunities in all areas of social, political and economic life. Huge hopes have been associated with the negotiations on Polish membership in the European Union. Back then it seemed certain that the Polish government will be forced to pursue an active policy on gender related issues. Surprisingly, so far Poland has in fact done very little in this regard.

WDU position on this issue was reflected during the discussions on the Bill on Women‟s and Men‟s Equal Status. Women's organizations, including the Women's Democratic Union, demanded from successive governments since 1996 pursuing an active policy on gender equality which could be expressed at least in the proper name of the office of Governments Plenipotentiary. Equal treatment was and still is one of the foundations of the Community law. The European Union has undergone significant evolution in this area since the Treaty of Rome, introducing the principle of equal pay for work of equal value to the Amsterdam Treaty, which expanded the equality of men and women to all areas of public, professional and family life.

Jolanta Banach‟s speech in the Sejm concerned the issues of equal opportunities: Why do democracies ascribe such an important role to the issue of women's equal opportunities? Not only because it results from the essence of democratic governance, the principle of full participation and access to all the rights, but also because knowledge and not the strength of the muscles will be crucial for modern worlds’ development, and thus, it is important to provide for equal access to this knowledge, its proper use and equal sharing of parental responsibilities. Modern social security systems, ensuring equitable provision after retirement, need to assist women in gaining and maintaining employment for two reasons: the more people pay the premium, the greater the chance of maintaining a high level of funding retirement benefits; the more stable the employment is, the higher is the future women’s pension. For these reasons, and not for fashion or whims, equality between men and women became the basis of Community social policy, the so-called Lisbon Strategy and the European Social Agenda, the documents announcing the construction of a common European model of social policy in the name of perhaps the most noble of ideas, the idea of consistency. Honorable Marshal! Honorable Members of the Sejm! Poles generally accept the direction of the changes. Research conducted by OBOP in January 2002 showed that they unanimously stand for full gender equality in all areas of life: public, professional, domestic. Still, they have a sense of disparity between the postulates and the reality. 32% of men and as many as 50% of women believe that the difference between these two spheres exists63.

63 4th day of the 69 session of the Sejm of 4th Term (05.03.2004). 35

Together in Europe: opinions, positions, debates and the European referendum

The period between 2000 and 2004 was characterized by intense activity associated with preparations for the Polish accession to the European Union. The Association undertook a number of EU-accession related activities. The cooperation with Józef Pinior, the then Lower Silesian Voievode Representative for European Integration, was initiated and lasted for many years afterwards. WDU Club in Wroclaw has also established close collaboration with Ignacio Perez Nino - representative of the Spanish Government, delegated to Poland in order to prepare Lower Silesia for European integration. Together with Nino Ignacio Perez and Józef Pinior, WDU in Wroclaw has undertaken many activities aimed at education on European issues. In 2000 the Wroclaw club also initiated cooperation with the European Forum, under the direction of Małgorzata Dudek and Marek Adamski, which resulted in many important, jointly undertaken projects. In the same year WDU in Wroclaw organized European debates in various forms that took place both in the media and during different meetings. Similar actions were taken in Chrzanów (Franciszka Matuszewska), Sosnowiec (Barbara Cieślak), Gdańsk (Lucyna Orłowska), Świebodzice (Liana Pauletta- Sztor), Lubin (A. Sysak, E. Polak – Szpik), Wałbrzych (Władysława Wojcieszak), Bogatynia (Wanda Choma) and Bydgoszcz (Anna Mackiewicz).

The most important event connected with the pre-accession period undoubtly was series of European debates in Wrocław attended by Danuta Hübner. The first debate, devoted to problems of Polish accession to the EU, was held in the Assembly Hall of the Provincial Government of Lower Silesia. It has been attended by the Voievode. The second debate took place in the Oratorium Marianum of the University of Wroclaw. It was attended by over 200 representatives from academic and diplomatic circles. The debate was conducted jointly by Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz (WDU) and Marek Adamski (European Forum). The third debate was held at the Dorint Hotel. It was addressed to women's, pro-European, political, business and diplomatic circles. It attracted over 250 participants from around the voivodeship. Danuta Hübner, supported by the organizers and local politicians, aimed to convince participants of the debate to take part in the European referendum, pointing to the positive aspects of membership.

The impact on the wider social environment and inviting women from different backgrounds to work together could also be found among WDU‟s priorities at that time. In 2001 at the initiative of Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz the Lower Silesian Women‟s Political Salon has started its activity. It still operates, as an independent women‟s forum beyond political and ideological divisions. The creation of the Salon was noticed by many regional and national media. The initiator of the Salon recalls: I thought about organizing the Salon a few years ago, when women had again been deprived of a real impact on the fate of the state and local governments in the result of subsequent parliamentary and municipal elections, and this situation was connected with the fact that they could not cooperate with each other to achieve a common goal. In the male-dominated world of political parties, they played the roles of ‘ivies’, ‘polypodies’ or declared ‘anti feminists’. I thought that we need to meet somewhere, in the independent venue, free of partisan hatred and orders, so that by publicly discussing various topics and demanding social change we could oppose the prevailing stereotypes. I did not want to start another association, I wanted women to visit the Salon and participate in the discussions. Besides, I wanted this activity not to be dominated by laws, 36 resolutions and appeals, none of which are read. We did not ask and will not ask for permission, we have the right to do so, we are the citizens of this country, our attitudes will have a decisive influence on the results of the referendum on accession to the European Union, we are aware of all of that. I have invited Ewa Gąsowska to join the project, she agreed to cooperate and participate in the organization of next debates. We have launched a number of important disputes on international policy, gender mainstreaming, European Union and political mores.64 Organization‟s strong commitment was also demonstrated by expression of its views on issues relevant to women in Poland and Europe. WDU participated in the debate about the future of Europe and was one of the signatories to the Polish NGOs working for women stance addressed to the Forum at the Convention on the Future of Europe. The stance refers to such problems as the core values of the future of Europe, the equal status of men and women, economic status, unemployment, poverty, NGOs and the development of democracy and the simplification of the EU procedures.65 The following words can be found among its provisions: female and male citizens of the enlarged Europe should participate equally in the process of making any decision on the common social and cultural policy. In April 2003, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed the law on public benefit activity and volunteerism. Poland was one of the last European countries that have adopted the law regulating cooperation with NGOs. The Law also provided for the appointment of the Public Benefit Council, consisting of six NGO representatives. Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz, the then Vice Chairperson of the WDU, referring to the priorities of European policy, submitted a protest to Dagomir Dlugosz, the then Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Social Policy, referring to the absence of the representative of women‟s circles in the Council. Dagomir Dlugosz responded: : the choice I have made was not based on the sectoral, but the cross-sectoral representation. Organizational and sectoral diversity of subjects nominating candidates (which included organizations working in the area mentioned by Mrs. Chairperson) convinces me that the (personal) proposals put forward will fully represent the interests of all NGOs, including the ones dealing with the issues of anti-discrimination and equal gender status (...) Considering the issue raised, one can not omit the important fact connected with the very core of the NGOs. Among the applications submitted by NGOs, there were only 30% of women candidates’ applications. I would like to strongly emphasize that we provided that the created law assumed a far-reaching participation of representatives of organizations working in the areas of public benefit, not represented in the Council 66 The subsequent practice and activities of the Council have not confirmed the validity of Dagomir Długosz‟s choices and declarations. This example proves how women were in many ways excluded from the representation, civil dialogue and consultation also by representatives of public administration. This problem was perceived in the WDU activities. Between 2000 and 2004 many actions were undertaken in areas related to the Polish accession to the EU and the new statutory regulations concerning non-governmental sector. Major events include Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz‟s appointment, as NGO representative, to the National Council for European Integration. Participation in the works of the council had entirely a social character, which also manifested itself in such trivial and mundane issues as

64 Personal archive. 65 Projekt Futurum, Debata o przyszłości Europy – stanowiska pozarządowe. 66 Letter to Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz (25.11.2003). 37 reimbursement of travel expenses. It created numerous problems for NGOs, especially women's organizations, which due to the lack of funds could not often participate in various agencies and consultations.67

In 2003, within the framework of the European Year of People with Disabilities, WDU organized an international conference under the auspices of Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka on Double discrimination of disabled women in the labor market - barriers and opportunities. The conference, held in Wroclaw in the Debating Chamber of the Assembly of Lower Silesia was attended by Mika Larson, Cultural Counsellor Embassy of Sweden, a Swedish NGO delegation cooperating with the WDU, Józef Patkiewicz, President of the Society for the Eradication of Disability, Ryszard Juszczak, Plenipotentiary of Lower Silesian Voivodeship Marshal for the Disabled, Anna Kobel, director of the Rehabilitation Center in Mikoszowo, Barbara Pełczyńska from the Association Together (Kłodzko), Jakub Wisniewski from the Office of the European Integration Committee, many representatives of NGOs and communities of people with disabilities from different provinces. The problem of cross discrimination against women with disabilities discussed during the conference revealed numerous barriers in the labor market and social functioning in these people. The participants agreed that the omission of this problem in literature and social studies has multiple effects, including the lack of a comprehensive diagnosis of the phenomenon, which results in the inability to undertake proper supportive action, and in a wider scope: lack of any action in the sphere of social policy. Among other forms of activity, alongside the European debates carried out in various provinces and municipalities, picnics and European information points should be mentioned. Between 2002 and 2004 more than half the WDU clubs took action of this type. In Lower Silesia WDU actively participated in the European Picnic, organized by the Lower Silesian Voievode Stanisław Łopatowski, coordinating NGOs actions and initiating activities of the Lower Silesian Coalition for Women‟s Integration, which included, among others Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg - current Treasurer of the European Parliament. On this occasion, a beautiful poster and calendar were issued. WDU also implemented the Phare 2002 funded project Proeuropean Initiatives. Members‟ activity was reflected in the results of the referendum, as in Lower Silesia more women than men voted in favour of European integration. Minister Danuta Hübner and Lower Silesian Voievode Stanislaw Łopatowski, recognizing WDU‟s contribution and commitment to the process of preparing Polish society for accession and European referendum sent congratulatory letters and awards handed to Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz, the WDU National Council Vice Chairperson. From the perspective of European involvement debates organized for several months at the seat of local newspaper Gazeta Wrocławska were also important. They involved Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz, Ewa Gąsowska, Ewa Waszkiewicz (the future Lower Silesian Voievode Plenipotentiary for Women) and Barbara Wawrzyniak (Councilor of the City Council of Wroclaw). Debates in addition to their educational and promotional influence aimed to change the image of women in society, showing their participation in public discourse about European integration.

67 The National Council for European Integration was founded on 11.02.2002. as an advisory body at Prime Minister‟s Office. Its members were appointed from academic and opinion leaders circles. It consisted of 69 members. 38

Leaders of social change: local activities

Throughout the country, members of the WDU undertook various activities, as well as attempts to consolidate and integrate the actions of local sections. On 7 July 2000 the First Assembly of Women‟s Democratic Union Silesian Conciliatory Council was held in Katowice, with the participation of WDU Chairperson Jolanta Banach. Among other guests there were MPs: Andrzej Szarawarski, DLA MP and Chairman of the DLA Voivodeship Council, Agnieszka Pasternak, Zygmunt Machnik, Zbigniew Zaborowski, Andrzej Zajac and numerous representatives of women's NGOs, including Barbara Bara, Chairperson of the Women over 40 Association.

The Assembly established the WDU Silesian Conciliatory Council, selecting its President Sylwia Adolf, and spokeswoman, Małgorzata Piętka. The others elected members of the board were Grażyna Korek, Małgorzata Konewka, and Maria Szewczyk – Suchy. The Assembly endorsed the candidacy of Aleksander Kwasniewski in the presidential elections. WDU Club in Sosnowiec, chaired for many years by Barbara Cieślak, tackled many activities connected with culture and health education. The Chairs initiative resulted in organization of the White Sunday with the participation of physicians, gynecologists, cardiologists and technicians performing the blood test. She also animated many cultural activities, creating a folk group Zagłębianki. WDU in Sosnowiec proposed a series of meetings called Women in elections. Women in the European Parliament. Between 2000 and 2004 WDU in Oława organized psychological help. Club in Kielce offered legal advice in the field of housing and family law. Meetings with doctors and preventive mammographic examinations also attracted a lot of attention. At the same time WDU in Gdansk launched a consultation point for dysfunctional families.68

The nomination of Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz, Vice Chairperson of WDU National Council, among 10 Polish Women69 for the title of Women of Europe during the sixth edition of the Polish Women of Europe Award 2003/2004 should be recognized a great honour for the WDU.

68 OŚKA Events Calendar, October 2001. 69 Next to Halina Bortnowska, dr Zofia Chyra-Rolicz, Professor Ludmiła Dziewięcka-Bokun, dr Krystyna Gromek, Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, Dorota Kempka, Professor Maria Szyszkowska, Professor Anna Wolf- Powęska and Róża Woźniakowska-Thun. 39

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION – WORKING FOR A CHANGE

5th Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union

The 5th Congress of the Women's Democratic Union, convened as an extraordinary, was held on 20 June 2004 in Wroclaw. The Association has made several organizational and strategic changes. New national authorities have been elected and a long-term strategy for Association‟s development in the political, social and organizational sphere has been adopted. After the former Chairperson Jolanta Banach decided to leave the office, Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz had been chosen her successor. Anna Mackiewicz and Lucyna Orłowska were elected Vice Chairpersons. Ewa Gąsowska became the Secretary General. Wiesława Mielczarek served as the Treasurer. The Presidium of the Council was joined by Dorota Swęda and Dagmara Koluch.

From 1 February 2006, the seat of the National Office was moved from Hoza 50 Street to Marszalkowska 140 Street in Warsaw, next to the office of Deputy Prime Minister Izabela Jaruga - Nowacka. In 2007 WDU agency in Brussels started its activity. The head of the office was Lidia Urbaniak. The tasks of the agency included establishing a network of direct contacts with EU institutions and NGOs, representation of the WDU interests in the institutions and NGOs present in Brussels.

On the initiative of Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz significant changes in the statute were introduced. Thanks to that in 2004 the WDU National Council obtained the status of a Public Benefit Organization. On the basis of changes in the statute, all organizational units, local clubs and Voivodeship Conciliatory Councils operated in an uniformed way. WDU activity was carried out for the community in general, and its primary purpose was and continues to be the promotion and protection of women's rights as well as activities targeted to policy of equal opportunities in all areas of social life. The formerly adopted and implemented values of the Association remained unchanged.

WDU's values Independence - freedom to decide on the mission, its goals and methods of work; Tolerance - respecting each individual, institution, organization and partner; Transparency - making the work programmes and work rules available for all; Reliability - to take action consistent with available financial resources and competences; Frankness - cooperation and the search for social partners to solve the problems posed.

The main strategic objective of the Women's Democratic Union was influencing domestic and foreign policy regarding implementation of issues connected with equal status of women and men and activities aiming to increase women's participation in public life and

40 decision-making areas. Women‟s Democratic Union tasks undertaken in this term were adequate to the new development strategy, designed and adopted by the Council..

WDU continued to develop local structures, members raised their skills and prepared to apply for various funds intended for local action. A special project team focused mainly around WDU office in Wroclaw was created and began preparations to apply for funding from EU pre-accession and after accession funds. Until April 2010, the national coordination office was located in Wroclaw, at Ofiar Oświęcimskich 17 Street.

Conferences and projects: activities of Women’s Democratic Union

Strategic and statute goals were carried out through cooperation and the exchange of information with national, foreign and international non-governmental organizations and institutions with similar aspirations70. At that time some issues were given particular attention, including impact on national policy and foreign issues in the implementation of gender equality, action to increase women's participation in public life and decision-making areas, ensuring equal opportunities in all areas of social, political and economic life, countering social exclusion and monitoring the implementation of national and European policy of equal opportunities through social laboratories. Thus the WDU 5th term was marked by organization of thematic conferences and the implementation of many projects. In 2004, due to the contract with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the project Promotion of social employment and social cooperatives was implemented in the bydgoskie, świętokrzyskie and warminsko – mazurskie voivodeships. A year later, on 23 May 2005 an international conference on the Modes to Overcome Homelessness in European countries: standards and practices of working with the homeless with a special focus on women and children was held under auspices of Deputy Prime Minister Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka. The meeting was attended by 69 people, including five foreign guests, representing a network of European organizations dealing with the issues of homelessness and social exclusion. Among the participants were Ruth Ruiz (FEANTSA)71, who presented a report prepared by the consultant on homelessness of the Council of Europe, Dr. Stephen Schneider (director of the MOB Association from Berlin) who discussed the establishment of German social policy in the European context taking into account model solutions for the problem of homelessness, Dr. Peter Hermann (European Union consultant representing the European Social Action Network) who presented the report Homelessness from the Irish perspective: model solutions of overcoming homelessness. Paul Bridges (FOCUS FUTURES) presented the British models of support and overcoming homelessness. His speech opened a heated discussion among the participants, as the solutions presented by him have been assessed as innovative and very effective. This applied primarily to the model consisting of preventive actions and supporting those at risk of homelessness in their inhabitation environment. The conference was also attended by Monika von der Lippe, Commissioner for Equal Status at the PDS in Berlin, who during the panel discussion presented the guidelines and information on implementation of German social policy towards homeless women and children. Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka, Deputy Prime Minister of the Polish Government, Minister for Social Policy, presented

70 Women‟s Democratic Union National Council Annual Report on Activities. 71 European network connecting 90 organizations from 29 countries. 41 information on the activities of the Polish government in the field of homelessness and the National Programme for Overcoming Homelessness, comparing Polish actions with European standards. Professor Danuta Zalewska reported on the results of her sociological studies on homelessness, relating them to social exclusion indicators. Katarzyna Kądziela from the Office of the Prime Minister in her speech referred to the problem of homeless women and children in the context of social policy in Poland. The representative of the Society of Brother‟s Albert - Barbara Demidowicz shared the experiences connected with the implementation of model solutions in homes and shelters run by the organization. Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz presented the experiences of the Crisis Intervention Centre run for many years by WDU in Wroclaw.

The seminar Against violence: law, standards, good practice and presentations of support offers in the Municipality of Wroclaw held in December 2005 during the 16 days against violence campaign was an important event in WDUs organizational life. The meeting was attended by representatives of NGOs, institutions acting on behalf of victims of violence and Councilors of the city of Wroclaw.

The activities of WDUs National Council related to the creation of the nationwide organization Polish Women‟s Lobby demand particular attention. Between 2005 and 2007 the WDU undertook actions in order to set up a nationwide women‟s organizations association. At the beginning WDU along with other women‟s organizations committed to the creation of this association by implementing the project called Polish Women’s Lobby – Preparing the environment for women's organizations’ branch cooperation cofounded by the Civic Initiatives Fund (Fundusz Inicjatyw Obywatelskich, FIO). As a result, it led to the registration on 15 May 2007 of the Polish Women‟s Lobby Federation (Federacja Polskie Lobby Kobiet, FPLK). WDU acted as the project manager. The group of partner organizations included Association of Active and Creative Women (Wrocław), the Association Kujawsko - Pomorskie Center for Women‟s Promotion (Torun), Babiniec Women's Association (Legnica), Family Support Centre (Olsztyn), Polish Women's League - Regional Branch in Elblag, Foundation for Polish Women Always Healthy and Active (Radom), Gołdap Active Women's Association (Gołdap). In addition, the project also incorporated Silesian Centre for Equal Opportunities of Katowice and Women's Democratic Union Clubs in Poznan, Gdansk and Skarżysko - Kamienna. All organizations formed the founding group of Polish Women's Lobby. WDU, as the largest member organization, has been ensuring the organizational support, seat, substantive assistance and expertise for the Federation since its inception. In October 2008, at the general meeting of European Women's Lobby in Lyon FPLK acquired the status of a member organization and since then has been represented in the Board of EWL in Brussels by Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz and Malgorzata Tarasiewicz. More information about the activities of the Federation of PLK can be found on the Federations‟ website www. polskielobbykobiet. pl.

Under the auspices of the WDU the PHARE financed programme Academy of Entrepreneurship 50 + was implemented in 2003 in Pomeranian, Świętokrzyskie, Warminsko - Mazurskie and Silesian Voivodeships. The project involved 200 direct beneficiaries. The courses offered within the project included business counseling, training on starting and running business, psychological support and coaching workshop. Within the framework of the

42 project a competition for the best business plan was announced. The winning entries have received non-repayable grants for the project. In Gdansk, two groups were run, each of 22 people. The programme Small Entrepreneurship Course was recognized by participants as interesting and broadening knowledge of the functioning of the labor market, businesses and the use of marketing and practical tips on starting your own business. Due to their age participants preferred the practical workshops. The course atmosphere was conducive to the integration of groups. Informal support groups developed among the participants, which was an added value of the project. In Wroclaw 21 people completed the training. The Small Entrepreneurship Course, offering lectures on business law, computer, marketing, accounting, taxes and insurance was offered. The course was also extended to issues related to the use of EU funds and on financing instruments for economic activity. In Walbrzych 23 people finished the training. The offered courses were related to recruitment activities, career guidance and psychological counseling. In Boleslawiec 21 beneficiaries completed the course. Afterwards they met again in the District Labour Office, creating a support group and Entrepreneurs Club 50 +. One company offering travel services was registered, 3 participants decided to start their own business. In Kielce 25 people finished the training, in Skarżysko Stone - 19, in Olsztynek – 17. In relation to the objectives and outcomes specified in the agreement, the results have been achieved in 50 percent regarding the number of days of psychological counseling, the number of beneficiaries who have benefited from counseling and the number of bids in the form of developed business plans. The experiences of this project were transferred to the field of European policy through cooperation with the Universal Education Society‟s College of Education in Wroclaw.

European Year of Equal Opportunities for All72

Women‟s Democratic Union National Council was the first NGO that initiated in 2007 a public debate on the situation of disadvantaged groups and the cooperation of various circles in the context of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All, announced by European Parliament‟s Decision No. 771/2006/WE of 17 May 2006. On 10 February 2007 a nationwide conference on Equal opportunities as a political priority of the European Union, just and solidary state was held in Warsaw. It was attended by 238 people, including 77 representatives of 30 NGOs from around the country and representatives of parliament, academic and cultural milieus. The conference adopted a Civic Resolution on the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All and created the Honorary Committee for Equal Opportunities in Poland. Participants of the conference submitted an appeal to MPs via members of the Women's Democratic Union, expressing their opposition to the idea of introduction of constitutional changes violating the fundamental rights of women. The Appeal stated that:

Introduction of the provision on the protection of life from conception to the art. 38 of the Polish Constitution deprives women of civil rights, equating their status with the status of fetuses and depriving them of their right to health care for 9 months of pregnancy. The people have a right to decide whether they want to have children, and if so, how much, when and in what intervals. The Constitution can not take this basic human right away. The life and health

72The kick-off meeting of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All was held on 30-31 January 2007 in Berlin under the aegis of the German Presidency. The main objective of the celebration was to strive to raise awareness among EU citizens about their right to equal treatment in all areas of life by all institutions.. 43 of pregnant women must be constitutionally protected. The Constitution was adopted 10 years ago in a national referendum. Parliament has no right to change it without public acceptance.73

The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All provided a new impulse in the struggle against discrimination. It helped to pave the way toward more diverse and just society in Europe. A result of the conference Equal opportunities as a political priority of the European Union, just and solidary state was the Civic Resolution, signed by all of its participants.

Afterwards the WDU National Council has organized a national conference in celebration of European Year of Equal Opportunities for All entitled Equal opportunities as EU political priority on 28 September 2007 at the Faculty of Law of University of Gdansk. The conference was attended by Izabela Jaruga- Nowacka, Deputy Prime Minister in Marek Belka's government, responsible for anti-discrimination and equal opportunities policy, Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz, Chairperson of the WDU National Council, dr. Elżbieta T. Woźniak, President of the Association of Active and Creative Women and Vice President of the Federation of Polish Women's Lobby, Professor Joanna Senyszyn, DLA MP, Ewa Kaminska, Pomeranian Voievode Plenipotentiary for Family and Women, Joanna Gwiazdecka of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and Malgorzata Tarasiewicz, Director of the Association of Women‟s Cooperation NEWW Poland. In the framework of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All Women‟s Democratic Union organized a series of thematic workshops dedicated primarily to the issue of equal opportunities. The psychological and political workshops Indicators of equality - how to pursue a policy of equal opportunities by increasing women’s political influence held in Mragowo involved 65 women from across Poland.

Conclusions reached by the participants of numerous conferences and training courses organized by the Women‟s Democratic Union had always intended to raise awareness of Polish citizens about their rights to equal treatment and a life free from discrimination. Bearing in mind numerous examples of the activities of the Women's Democratic Union, including those that were presented in this publication, one must agree with the conclusion of the book by Danuta Waniek that women of the left had the courage to overcome insurmountable barriers. A concrete example of this attitude and commitment is Maria Szyszkowska who during her activity in the Senate between 2001 and 2005 submitted the bill on civil partnerships.

Governments’ Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Women and Men

In 2004 Izabela Jaruga - Nowacka still served as the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Women and Men74. Therefore the government could take action concerning

73 Women‟s Democratic Union and participants of nationwide conference on EYOEOFA appeal to Members of Parliament (10.02.2007). 74 Izabela Jaruga Nowacka began her work as Plenipotentiary in December 2001 and finished it August 2004. Ethnographer, entered the political sphere as a member of the League of Polish Women (from the mid-1980s). Member of the Labor Union Party. Deputy prime minister for social communication in Marek Belka‟s government. Member of the Sejm of 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th term. II, IV, V and VI of the term. 44

Polish participation in EU Community Programmes on equal opportunities for men and women, in which Poland had not taken part so far. Members of the Women's Democratic Union were coauthors of some of these projects, implemented within the EU. The projects were used to disseminate the principle of equality of all citizens and non discrimination against them for any reason. They strengthened institutional infrastructure for compliance with the legal and factual equality of citizens, led to the harmonization of national law and social practice with the required EU standards and fulfilled international recommendations on anti-discrimination. After Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka‟s appointment for the post of Minister for Social Policy in the government of Prime Minister Marek Belka 75 a possibility to coordinate these areas appeared, which positively affected the quality of submissions by government and implementation of equality policy in close cooperation with our organization. Together with the association she led to the multiplication of state aid for the poorest people, by implementing the supplementary nutrition programme. Her efforts increased governmental resources for the homelessness eradication programme and significantly reduced social security contributions for those starting their own business.

Izabela Jaruga - Nowacka repeatedly stood up for human rights and those discriminated against, for which she was honored by organizations working for women's rights with the nomination among 1,000 other women for the Nobel Peace Prize. Women's Democratic Union believes that the existence of the office of plenipotentiary definitely had a positive effect on raising awareness on gender equality, allowing Poland‟s participation in international, especially EU pre-accession and structural programmes, conducting training and creating the possibility to apply for grants for organizations dealing with the issues of human rights and anti-discrimination. Unfortunately, the demands of women's circles, including the Women's Democratic Union, were not adopted. Therefore, Plenipotentiary‟s competences and position in the organizational structure once more were not stabile, which did not allow the transformation of this institution into a constant element of Polish political and legal system. After the following parliamentary elections, marked with right wing parties‟ victory (Law and Justice / League of Polish Families / Self-defense, then the Civic Platform / Law and Justice) in 2005, the government decided to liquidate the Office of Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Women and Men. On 24 October 2005 over 80 NGOs, including the Women's Democratic Union, signed an open letter in defense of the Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Women and Men. The letter was addressed to the new Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, who after Law and Justice‟s victory decided to relegate the issue by placing it among the other responsibilities of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

Women’s Democratic Union and politics

The 3rd Women's Congress of the Democratic Left Alliance was held in Warsaw on 11 December 2004 and has been prepared by the DLA Forum for Equal Chances and Women's Rights. Its subject matter concerned Openness, Tolerance, and Equality. It has been convened to take stock of the party achievements regarding gender equality. Findings and conclusions were sad. The priorities of the organization, which has always been associated with the left, have been totally ignored. A group of politically aware women, working for change and not

75 Marek Belka, economist, professor, lecturer, politician, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland (2004 -2005) 45 for the spectacular interests, admonished for their rights. In the letter addressed to the delegates of the 3rd Congress, participants called for the introduction of the ban for candidates, deputies and senators, who by their attitude and ballots did not prove fidelity to ideological declaration and electoral programme of the party, in particular, supported the laws of fundamental importance for the whole of European social democracy. The main point of interest regarded particularly three laws: on the equal status of women and men, on conscious parenting and the on partner relations. Thus a process of exclusion from the political association began, leading to situation when some activists tried to destroy rebellious hags from the WDU76. As a result, the Women's Democratic Union terminated the contract agreed with Leszek Miller. As the excluded rebellious hags proved to be important during the next election, the new leader, Wojciech Olejniczak tried to re-regulate the relations, via an agreement providing for WDU's subjectivity and sovereignty of decisions. The Association worked with the DLA Equal Opportunities Platform. The WDU National Council Chairperson Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz recalls these events: when I have decided to withdraw from the party, Krzysztof Janik77 asked me for a conversation. He said that among all the people who resigned in the Lower Silesia region, he regrets the withdrawal of two activists: he meant me and Bartek Kicki, a young history teacher, highly committed ideologically. He proposed me to work within the Platform of Women, but I eventually refused.

Excerpts from Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz‟s letter to Krzysztof Janik, the leader of DLA: I shall never agree to be a name sponsor to activities of a party with apparent internal democracy, which uses its members only to ensure the support for leaders. Therefore I believe that there is no place left for me in the ranks of DLA, as well as there is no place left for many of my colleagues, and some of them shall withdraw from membership, just like I did, any time soon. One should not regard this an expression of cowardice or treachery of ideas, but an expression of great determination and protest against the current internal situation in the party, whose members lack influence on its actions simultaneously sharing full responsibility for them just because of their membership. Yours faithfully, Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz78

Central authorities: Chairperson: Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz Vice Chairpersons: Anna Mackiewicz, Lucyna Orłowska Treasurer: Wiesława Milczarek Members of the Presidium: Dorota Swęda, Dagmara Koluch

76 Danuta Waniek, op. cit. 77 Krzysztof Janik, politician, leader of the DLA (March – December 2004), Member of the Sejm of 2nd, 3rd and 4th term. 78 Quoted from Wieczór Wrocławia newspaper (2004), personal archive. 46

WOMEN’S DIALOGUE BEYOND BOUNDARIES IN A NEW EUROPEAN HOME

6th Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union

The Reporting and Election Congress of Women‟s Democratic Union was held on 28 June 2008. The gathered delegates have selected statutory authorities of the Association. Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz has been reelected Chairperson of the WDU. Anna Mackiewicz and Lucyna Orlowska were elected Vice Chairpersons. Elżbieta Przychodzeń became the Secretary General. Functions of Treasurer were fulfilled by Władysława Wojcieszak. Daria Mieszczanowicz and Ewelina Szynkler were also elected to the Presidium of the WDU National Council. Danuta Skórczyńska, Rosłaniec Teresa, Teresa Gołembiowska, Teresa Kolodziejczyk, Danuta Andrzejewska were elected members of the General Audit Commission.

Over 105 local clubs of the Women's Democratic Union, operating in voivodeship and provincial cities, municipalities and rural centers, currently bring together more than four and a half thousand women in Poland79, which are invariably guided by the objectives of:

• Increasing women‟s participation in public life and decision-making areas; • Representing women‟s rights on the national, international and global level; • Equalizing opportunities in the areas of discrimination and under-representation; • Combating social, professional, cultural and political discrimination against women; • Increasing women's economic independence; • Supporting the development of civil society.

From the perspective of the organization of leftist feminist identity, the 6th term of the WDU National Council proceeds in extremely difficult conditions. Since 2005, the Polish political scene has considerably shifted to the right, the helm is wielded by politicians of conservative views on the place and role of women in society. The strongest left-wing group, the Democratic Left Alliance, can expect support reaching at most about a dozen percent. The Civic Platform remaining in power since 2007, further strengthened by the victory in the last presidential election, completely ignores the issues related to areas relevant to women. It remains the most anti-feminine and anti-feminist party, which, in the opinion of Professor Magdalena Środa, is characterized by a complete lack of sensitivity to the gender issues, even among members.

Currently there are fewer women in the parliament than in the previous term. After the elections in 2007, out of 460 seats, only 93 were held by women (19.7%). Only 9 women out of a total of 100 members were elected to the Senate. At the same time, however, especially in recent months, one can sense a growing unrest and hopes for the upcoming profound social change in the Polish society. The media frequently and boldly explore the problems of disadvantaged groups, the minorities louder (although this does not mean more effectively) demand respect for their rights. It seems that

79 Data from the Women‟s Democratic Union National Council Annual Activity Report 2009 (Women‟s Democratic Union archive) 47 the Polish men and women gradually gain awareness of the lack of equality between women and men in economic, political and social life, and they are increasing efforts to change this situation.

The challenging reality is further complicated by friction within the Polish feminist movement, or perhaps more correctly the movement of articulation and protection of women's rights in the opinion of some: caused, and according to others: disclosed during the two consecutive Congresses of Polish Women. The words about the non-existence of the women's movement before the Congress must have sounded particularly painful for women engaged for a couple of decades in the struggle for women‟s rights at various levels and in different environments. Both Congresses (June 2009 and June 2010) met critical reception of feminist circles, including the WDU, not only because of the failure to notice, or even depreciation of current achievements of Polish women's organizations, but also due to the usurpation of the right to make meaningful political statements on behalf of women without their consent (as the decision to support Bronislaw Komorowski in the presidential election).

Multidimensional activity in the political arena

As an NGO with a specific ideological identification, present and acting in the name of defending the rights and fullfillent of women's interests, WDU observes with particular attention the actions of the Polish authorities at all levels regarding the gender policy. In the case of irregularities, errors or omissions in the policy conducted by the Polish authorities, WDU is trying to undertake appropriate interventions. During the 6th term our particular concern aroused (and, unfortunately, still raises) due to lack of implementation of EU equality directives by the Polish government, which explicitly avoids making political decisions aimed at effective problem solving both in the area of equal treatment and anti-discrimination80. In January 2008, WDU was one of the signatories of the letter sent by the Polish Women‟s Lobby President to Anna Zaborowska, Chairwoman of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the European Parliament, on the implementation of European Union provisions on equal treatment in Poland. It included a description of the current situation in Poland in this area, with particular emphasis on actions taken by the Polish government and a request for European Parliaments intervention. Weaknesses of the Polish authorities in this regard were also presented by the WDU Chairperson at the April meeting with Vice Chairperson of the European Commission Margot Wallstrom organized in Warsaw by the European Commission. WDU representatives alarmed also the Polish MEP Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg who on their request organized a meeting with the Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Ńpidla in April 2008. Representatives of Polish women's organizations and circles, among them members of the WDU, asked the Commissioner to monitor and observe how the Polish government is implementing European standards and recommendations on gender equality and combating violence against women. In January 2009, they issued a letter to Commissioner Ńpidla on the situation of women in Poland and the non-execution of directives on equal treatment by the Polish authorities of European Union. They categorically declared: We shall not give our permission to treat Polish women as citizens of a worse category, we shall not agree to be the

80 Excerpt from the letter to Commissioner V. Ńpidla, January 2009 (Polish Women‟s Lobby archive). 48 redundant in the decision-making areas and disregarding of our aspirations and needs in state policy.81

The monitoring of unrealized declarations of the Polish authorities was also one of the reasons for the organization of a conference in Warsaw on Gender equality in Poland: The debate on the eve of elections to the European Parliament in March 2009, under the auspices of the MP Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka. The meeting was devoted to the analysis of the activities of the Polish authorities in the terms of gender equality and women's situation in contemporary Poland in the context of the forthcoming European Parliament elections.

In addition to EU equality directives, WDU also closely follows progress in the implementation of other agreements and international conventions ratified by the Polish authorities, such as, inter alia, The Beijing Platform for Action, CEDAW, the European Charter for Equality Between Women and Men in Local Life. The project Gender Civic University was connected with this type of actions. WDU also participated in the Polish Women‟s Lobby project Working for a Change: 15 Years after Beijing and then what? by submitting papers and other documents to the report, which was one of the project results.

WDU got also particularly engaged in the struggle with the problem of violence (primarily violence against women, domestic violence and elderly people abuse). Activities in this area in addition to the direct actions of intervention and awareness-raising (e.g. work with victims of violence) also assume a more indirect, systemic nature.

In a resolution prepared by the participants of the International Conference Solving the problems of violence in European perspective organized by the WDU with the financial support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, they appeal to the authorities of the Republic of Poland (...)to recognize violence against women as one of the most important social problems, and acknowledge the fight against violence as public policy priority for upcoming years (...)We demand that fighting violence against women in and outside the household was a primary task in the field of public safety. Combating violence should be incorporated into the basic obligations of States’ authorities responsible for ensuring the implementation of the citizens’ right to safety, both in the public and in the private sphere.82 This meeting was held in Warsaw in December 2009, under the auspices of MP Izabela Jaruga - Nowacka. The conference presented the EU policy aiming to reduce the problems of violence, initiatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, the United Nations and adopted by the European Women's Lobby, the Polish government and NGOs. The project director of the European Observatory on Violence Against Women Colette de Troy, representing the European Women's Lobby, attended the conference. Participants of the conference adopted a resolution demanding recognizing the fight against violence a priority in the policies pursued by the Polish authorities. They also developed and adopted a plan of campaign connected with the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action 15 years of the Beijing Platform for Action: Stop violence Against Women. In January 2009, the WDU and the Polish Women's Lobby have initiated the creation of Polish Observatory on Violence Against Women, aiming to monitor the phenomenon of

81 Excerpt from the letter to Commissioner V. Ńpidla, January 2009 (Polish Women‟s Lobby archive). 82 Resolution of the International Conference Solving the problem of violence in European perspective, Warsaw, December 2009 (Women‟s Democratic Union archive). 49 violence in the Republic of Poland, and report on the scale of the problem in our country, then submit it to the European Women's Lobby European Observatory on Violence Against Women. The observatory will operate according to the EWL Charter of Principles on Violence Against Women.

WDU got also actively involved in actions regarding the fight against violence initiated by the European Women's Lobby. In March 2009, Women's Democratic Union was a signatory of the letter of Polish Women's Lobby addressed to the Polish MEPs asking them to support the declaration of MEP Eva-Britta Svensson Say NO to Violence Against Women, which calls for the establishment of the European Year Against Violence Against Women. A similar appeal for support of the proposal establishing the European Year for Combating Violence Against Women expressed in the declaration 0020/2010 by MEPs: Barbara Matera, Marija Cornelissen, Ilde Figueiredo, Antonyia Parvanov and Marc Tarabella, was submitted by the WDU to members of the European Parliament in July 2010.

The year 2010 has been declared the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. One of the WDU initiatives associated with this event was an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Women's Day, written in the form of a psalm:

Excluded from history and school textbooks, Underestimated in the Fourth Republic, forgotten in a democracy Without prospects for the future Absent in the Report Poland 2030. We ask you Sir:-what’s next? What shall you do with us Dear Prime Minister .... So many of us .... but it still feels like we were gone… The eternal debate Between the Lord, Commune Chief and the Priest Which roles should be designated for women How to take away the last outposts of their freedom Dear Prime Minister, you fear no one, You don’t remember about the international obligations, You disrespect EU policies and European Court of Human Rights You ignore the global debate on women's rights and their development Despite that, you say with a smile: I support parity. Us, the daughters of the Polish nation We cry you out loud today We don’t need your wishes on Women’s Day We don’t need your promises of a better Poland - you provided no space in your strategy for women So many of us .... but it still feels like we were gone…

In the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day POLISH WOMEN 2010 – 2030 Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz

This action has had a fairly strong resonance in political and parliamentary circles. Some of the MPs have congratulated the author, stressing the accuracy of associations. Some of them even presented the letter on their blogs. 50

Policies and actions to eradicate poverty and its dangerous effect - social exclusion - also are within the range of WDUs interest. In the opinion of the Association, poverty and social exclusion of marginalized groups are issues inextricably linked to the unequal relationship between men and women, and for proper understanding of their extent and forms it is necessary to adopt the gender analysis perspective. Analyzing the problem of poverty from the feminist perspective was one of the objectives of the series of conferences organized by the WDU with the support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in April 2010. Meetings on the Problems of women’s poverty and social exclusion in the regional and state policy were held in Wrocław and Bydgoszcz within the project Equality Policy in Poland implemented in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Active participation: WDU & public debates

The political commitment and active participation in public debate which addresses the key challenges faced by Poland in the short, medium and long term are other important dimensions of WDU‟s activity. Inclusion in this debate is possible inter alia through the organization of wide meetings providing a forum for discussion on current political issues. These include the WDU conference What to do after the parliamentary elections? Unresolved issues of women's circles, which took place after the last parliamentary elections in February 2008 and was attended by representatives of Polish women's organizations, such as OSKA, the Foundation for Women and Family Planning, the Foundation Women's Rights Centre, Polish Women's Lobby.

Participation in public debate also means a strong reaction to the emergence of overtly anti-feminine threads. After the Jaroslaw Gowin‟s (Civic Platform MP) speech expressing disregard for women's issues in state policy, Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz sent him an open letter, a copy of which was distributed to parliamentarians and other representatives of the governing bodies. The letter called on Civic Platform MPs, both female and male, and representatives of other parliamentary environments, decision-makers and opinion leaders to start a solidary struggle for ideologically neutral state and to guarantee the constitutional rights of women in the field of human rights83. In the letter, entitled Where are the men, where are the fellows- pre-Christmas message to Jaroslaw Gowin, MP WDU Chairperson stated: you declare that the Government, in order not to spoil the relations with the Church, shall not appoint a representative for equal status of men and women. Honorable MP, by saying that you continue the infamous political tradition of alleviation of relations with the Church by restricting the freedoms and rights of one of the most vulnerable social groups. The MP, who has received the mandate from the people must serve the whole society, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. A real man does not hide head in the sand, but solves problems. Please treat this as a challenge. The glove has been thrown, will you raise it...?

Women's Democratic Union has once more joined the discussion on parity, which after long years of absence, recently again warmed Polish public opinion. The Association for many years continued to support quotas as a necessary instrument for the equalization of opportunities of women, the only majority discriminated against. in September 2008, long before the actions taken in this regard by the First Congress of Polish Women, Women's

83 Przegląd, Poseł Gowin chowa głowę w piasek. 51

Democratic Union together with the Polish Women's Lobby joined the European Parity Campaign 50/50 by organizing the first public debate on women's participation in civil society, held during the V Forum of Non-Governmental Initiatives at University of Warsaw. The meeting brought together parliamentarians, representatives of academia, former Government Plenipotentiary for the Family and Women, media, and NGOs. As outlined during the lecture inaugurating the session Under the present social, economic and political conditions the unequal participation of women and men in public life is not acceptable. Lack of acceptance for this state of affairs results in the constructive reflection on the changes of women’s under-representation in decision-making bodies undertaken by different countries and the implementation of actions aimed at counteracting women’s exclusion from decision- making bodies.84

The upcoming first Polish Presidency of the European Union has mobilized the Women‟s Democratic Union, in cooperation with the Polish Women's Lobby, to initiate discussion on the challenges associated with it. A public debate on Women’s affairs during Polish presidency: new initiatives, questions, fears and recommendations was held in June 2010. Then, on behalf of the participants a letter containing recommendations for the Polish Presidency was sent to Radosław Sikorski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The recommendations included: noticing the importance of the issue of gender equality during many past presidencies, including Swedish and Spanish, and giving this issue a similarly significant place during the Polish presidency; working closely with communities representing women's organizations in Poland, to utilize their knowledge and experience to determine the priorities of the Polish presidency and their effective implementation; implementation of gender mainstreaming in all activities related to the Polish Presidency of the EU Council; striving to ensure that all the Community countries, especially Poland, adopt EU equality directives, actually implement their provisions and take care of the results monitoring with the participation of NGOs (...) organizing a meeting of European scope in Poland on the implementation of equal opportunities policy, which would be the attended by women’s circles, political activists, representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations, academic circles as well as independent experts.85

Participation in the conference Poland 2020. Why does the European Union need a new strategy?86 in May 2010 resulted in cooperation with the Polish Women's Lobby in the preparation of opinions on the guidelines associated with this strategy, which were forwarded to the Minister of Finance and Minister of Labour and Social Policy. In a letter addressed to the Minister Jacek Rostowski, referring to the macroeconomic framework of the EU Strategy Europe 2020, WDU postulates: we expect that macro-economic guidelines will be built in accordance with the principle of gender mainstreaming and will not remain indifferent to gender in order to ensure equality between women and men, which should be the ultimate aim and result of the implementation of socio-economic strategy of the EU in the next decade87. It also points out the need to introduce gender budgeting to ensure a stable and sustainable

84 Excerpt from the inauguration lecture Men, women, parity (Women‟s Democratic Union archive). 85 Polish Women‟s Lobby‟s letter to Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski, June 2010 (personal archive). 86 attended by Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski, Michał Boni (Head of Prime Minister‟s Strategic Advisors) and Professor Michal Kleiber (President of the Polish Academy of Sciences). 87 Letter to the Minister of Finance, Jacek Rostowski, June 2010 (personal archive). 52 social development strategy, beginning with the division of public financial resources (...) an immediate reference to the gender pay gap and the need to pay special attention to the development of women entrepreneurship by, among others, facilitating access to credits and supporting small and medium enterprises beyond the start-up phase.88

A similar opinion relating to the employment guidelines under the EU Strategy Europe 2020, was handed to Minister Jolanta Fedak. It has been stressed that: we expect that macro- economic guidelines will be prepared in accordance with the principle of gender mainstreaming and will not remain indifferent to gender in order to ensure equality between women and men, which should be the ultimate aim and result of the implementation of socio- economic strategy of the EU in the next decade89. It also includes other demands, including providing access to affordable, high quality, flexible care for dependents, especially for children90 and the full implementation of the principle of equal pay for equal work 91.

The struggle to increase women's participation in public life in Poland. Beyond demands and discussions

Measures to increase the number of women involved in social and political life undertaken by the Women‟s Democratic Union have always ranged beyond discussion. During the 6th term of the WDU National Council opportunities for direct personal involvement in the electoral contest appeared in June 2009, in connection with elections to the European Parliament. We have signed a declaration of cooperation with the Women's Party (Partia Kobiet, PK) during the election campaign. We have recommended candidates in constituencies throughout Poland, often regardless of their party affiliation. During the campaign WDU supported different candidates, such as Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg, Genowefa Grabowska, Róża Thun, Anna Mackiewicz, Joanna Senyszyn, Magdalena Środa and Danuta Hϋbner. On the eve of local elections, in May 2010, the National Council of Women‟s Democratic Union passed a resolution on the rules for accession and participation of Women's Democratic Union related candidates in the local elections 2010.

The prospect of obtaining a real impact on the change of reality was also provided by participation in the bodies of an advisory nature, such as Wroclaw Council of Women. Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz was appointed one of the members of the Council in February 2010. Members of WDU were also involved, as experts, in preparing bills, which was expressed by their access to a group of social partners, consulting a new draft law on equal treatment of 7 February 2008, or the participation in work groups on labor market and violence appointed by the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment Elżbieta Radziszewska.

Civic education: more than women's issues

For the last twenty years one of the most important areas of activity of the Women's Democratic Union was the development of knowledge and awareness of the urgent social problems. Women's Democratic Union has been working on civic education with an emphasis

88 Letter to the Minister of Finance, Jacek Rostowski, June 2010 (personal archive). 89 Letter to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jolanta Fedak June 2010 (personal archive) . 90 Letter to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jolanta Fedak June 2010 (personal archive). 91 Letter to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy Jolanta Fedak June 2010 (personal archive). 53 on political, economic, civil, as well as sexual and reproductive rights of women. In the 6th term actions of this nature have also covered the popularization of new trends in analysis and study of gender issues (gender index, gender budgeting, gender mainstreaming, gender impact assessment).

Association‟s educational activities channels took on different forms, ranging from information campaigns, seminars, debates to numerous conferences, often going beyond the stereotypical framework for action of women's organizations. Women's rights, issues of poverty and social exclusion (analyzed not only from a feminist perspective), violence, and international cooperation for development belonged all to Women‟s Democratic Union scope of interest. The Association organized or co-organized the following meetings: Women – leaders of social change (October 2008, Warsaw), Solving the problems of violence: the European and Polish perspective (December 2008, Wrocław), public debate with the participation of Commissioner Danuta Hübner No gender equality equals no European democracy (May 2009, Warsaw) followed by the series of meetings with the same title in 6 cities (Wrocław, Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Krakow, Golub-Dobrzyn, May 2009). In early June 2009 in the European Women's Salon in Wroclaw we discussed What did we get from the European integration? New chances and threats and on the topic of Women in action, new challenges: leadership, influence, solidarity and constructive cooperation. In December 2009 the WDU clubs (Elbląg, Chrzanów, Gdańsk, Brodnica, Legnica, Opole, Dębica, and Bydgoszcz) prepared a further series of public debates Working for a change: 15 years after Beijing and then what? completed with the elaboration of the report with the same title.

The participation of the WDU representatives in the international conference on Women's rights protection in contemporary world (May 2010) is also worth noting. During the meeting, intended to provide legal protection of women's issues in over twenty countries around the world, one of the founders of the WDU, Danuta Waniek, presented a speech on Austrian women's rights movement and the current legal status of this country in the context of women's rights. The conference was attended by prominent academics and lawyers from and outside Poland.. WDU has also offered the opportunity to participate in seminars on various subjects, among them Lessons in gender - gender equality in a nutshell (November 2008, Wrocław), co organized with the House for Polish – German Cooperation, PTSD and the victims of violence: diagnosis and therapies (December 2008, Wrocław), regular seminars on topics related to the local community (WDU Gdańsk). Our meetings were also devoted to the analysis of the Poland 2030 Report (The government does not notice poor women), European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion or the Organization‟s Gender Equality Analysis.

Developing the skills of leaders of social change

In addition to actions aimed at expanding knowledge, WDU also provided the possibilities to participate in activities which enable the construction and strengthening of personal, political and civil skills. Various projects allowed for, among others, the mobilization at the local level (Local project leaders of Professional Activation: Udanin and Local leaders of Professional Activation: Malczyce and Miękinia, implemented from September 2009 under the Human Capital Operational Programme Priority VI Action 6.3) or

54 increasing women‟s participation in public life (Gender Civic University: the effective methods of increasing women’s political influence, implemented since November 2009, co financed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy).

WDU near women: interventions

During the current term of the National Council we used the experience we have gained and good practices we have developed to directly support those in need. For many years Women's Democratic Union clubs have offered free legal and psychological advice for women (e.g. in Gdansk: citizens advice, free legal advice, social, health and psychological support, the Blue Line; Wroclaw regularly hosts experts in civic and legal advice, psychology, victims of violence and unemployment and provides counseling for people with disabilities).

Immigrants can also be found among the beneficiaries of the projects the Association. From September to December 2008 Women's Democratic Union together with NEWW implemented the project Equal rights. Equal votes. Immigrants in the European Union, aiming to create a database of immigrant women's organizations, along with an indication of the scope of their activities and organizing in late October/November 2008 a meeting of immigrant women and their organizations. The project To get to know means to understand, conducted from September 2009, also fits in this trend. It aimed to provide legal and psychological support, conduct integration activities and support development of intercultural dialogue thanks to the Clubs for Civic Integration created during the project in Warsaw, Wroclaw and Gdansk.

WDU also has put into practice programmes activating the unemployed women, in 2008 the implementation of a two-year programme Equalizing inequality was finished, WDU in Gdansk has been offering trainings (Labour Club for unemployed women), vocational courses (carer, nanny, elderly persons assistant) and skills development courses (computer skills).

Particular emphasis was placed on programmes equalizing educational opportunities for children in rural areas. Due to the three consecutive projects (Action: Preschooler, March 2007 – May 2008; I’m also a preschooler92 August 2008 – August 2009; Join us, preschooler93 2009-2011) the creation of dozens of preschool education centers in Warmia, Mazury, Pomorze and Kujawy was possible. We could share our experiences in June 2009 during the Lower Silesian Debate on Pre - School Education under the auspices of Marshal Marek Łapiński held in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Office. In June 2010, WDU representatives participated in the third national conference Prophylaxis of young children’s abuse organized by the Nobody's Children Foundation in the framework of the programme Good Parent Good Start.

WDU representatives make use of their experience during their work in the regional committees and steering groups for the advancement of a regional development strategy, in

92 Project co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Human Capital Operational Programme 2007-2013, implemented in the Warmia – Mazury. 93 Project co-funded by the European Social Fund, implemented in the Kujawsko - Pomorskie. 55 their expert work under the Civic Initiatives Fund and the EQUAL Community Initiative or in the governmental forums of cooperation with third sector organizations.

Multidimensional intensification of cooperation in the 3rd Sector

WDU cooperation with other NGOs took place primarily within the feminist Federation of Polish Women's Lobby. The organization, which today is one of the largest NGO cooperation forums, was an initiative of Women's Democratic Union (among others) and a result of the implementation of Civil Initiatives Fund cofounded project Polish Women’s Lobby – Preparing the environment for women's organizations’ branch cooperation.

Our closest partners include: NEWW – Polska, LORGA Foundation, efka Foundation, Centre for Family Support, Gołdap Active Women's Association, The Association for Women‟s Promotion in Toruń, Silesian Centre for Equal Opportunities, Women Online, Women TEŻ, Women‟s League, Women‟s Rights Centre, Foundation for Health Protection and Family Planning, OŚKA, Lower Silesian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations "WROS", Lower Silesian Federation of Women‟s Associations and Organizations, National Federation of NGOs, WRZOS, Victoria Association94. New challenges are associated with the beginning of cooperation within the framework of Leftish Feminist Network Rozgwiazda (Starfish) in 2010.

Women's Democratic Union in the international arena: successes and challenges

The current term of the WDU National Council is a period of particular intensification of activities at regional, European and international level. After twenty years of activity it can be determined that building women's movement in Poland is definitely not easy, but the opportunity to participate in joint actions with foreign partners opens up a whole new perspective. A good example in this regard is the cooperation with the European Women's Lobby (EWL), the most powerful European feminist umbrella organization, bringing together women's NGOs from across the European Union.

In Autumn 2008, the above described WDUs child, the Federation of Polish Women's Lobby was granted the status of a member organization of the European Women's Lobby. Since then, representatives of Polish Women's Lobby, among them representatives of Women‟s Democratic Union, participate in initiatives and meetings of the European Women's Lobby.

Besides the EWL, WDU cooperates at international level with various organizations such as Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Terapeutische Frauenberatung 95, Frauen - Zimmer e.

94 Cooperation with the latter resulted in two joint projects implemented in 2008-2009: Building a network of structures to support women affected by domestic violence and their children in the region of Poznan and Wroclaw and Task-Force to support the development of adequate concepts and networking for families affected by violence. 95 Implementation of a series of projects, among others the Polish-German project in the Wielkopolskie Voivodship: Auf einer Task-Force und Entwicklung adaquater Unterstutzungskonzepte und Grundung eines Netzwerkes fur gewaltbetroffene Familien in Grosspolen (October 2009). 56

V., Weltgebetstag, Parity Association of Social Organizations of Lower Saxony, FEANTSA, European Social Action Network, MOB Association, Focus Futures, Federación de Mujeres Cubanas, the European Policy Action Center, Europe External Policy Advisors, or the Social Watch Coordinating Committee.

In addition, the Women's Democratic Union is proud be a partner of leading European politicians, which significantly expands the capabilities to achieve our objectives. Our associates include, among others: Britta Thomson (Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality), Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg (MEP, Questor of the European Parliament) and Joanna Senyszyn (MEP, participating in the works of the Committee on the Rights and Gender Equality in the European Parliament).

During 6th term of the National Council, WDU representatives attended numerous conferences and international meetings. The most important included the participation of the WDUs representatives - Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz (accredited by the European Women's Lobby) and Daria Mieszczanowicz (representing the Democratic Union of Women) – in the Governments of the UNECE Regional Conference in Geneva (November 2009), in preparation for the Beijing World Conference 15, during which the countries of the region presented a report on the implementation of actions arising out of the Beijing Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals in the area of gender equality and the elimination of all forms of discrimination; participation in the Polish-Austrian conference Equal Opportunities for Woman and Men – Gender Mainstreaming In the Austrian and Polish Labour Market (July 2009); as well as participation in the international meeting of activists Connect! (May 2010).

CENTRAL AUTHORITIES: Chairperson: Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz Vice - Chairpersons: Anna Mackiewicz, Lucyna Orłowska General Secretary: Elżbieta Przychodzeń Treasurer: Władysława Wojcieszak Member of the Presidium: Ewelina Szyndler Member of the Board: Daria Mieszczanowicz

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20TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN’S DEMOCRATIC UNION Warsaw, September 11th 2010

Warsaw, 11th September 2010

Jubilee Toast

Twenty years ago we believed that democracy is a just system, that we have a chance to develop and broaden our participation in the decision- making areas. We worked hard with a great commitment. Many of us have succeeded, but in general at the political level the situation of women in Poland has not changed for the better.

Fireworks are still audible, toasts are proposed all around, but in the crowd celebrating you will not find women: 20 years of Polish transformation have just passed. We have been forgotten. Again.

I wish you health, optimism and female solidarity. I wish you fulfillment ideas and everyday respect. I wish you beautiful days, which will occur after the gray ..

So I rise a toast for your health, for your presence in Europe, for the immense effort and commitment to the implementation of large and small enterprises, for the beauty that you do every day, for your presence wherever it is extremely difficult.

With jubilee greetings Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union

JUBILEE CONFERENCE

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the activities of the Women's Democratic Union, an international conference entitled Women’s social exclusion and poverty and the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion was held on 10 – 11 September 2011 in the Sejm, under the auspices of Deputy Marshals of the Sejm – Jerzy Wenderlich and Ewa Kierzkowska. Danuta Waniek, who now serves as Women‟s Democratic Union Honorary Chairperson, was the guest of honour during the meeting.

The Column Hall of the Sejm was filled to the brim which testified that the WDU is recognized in many environments. Over 200 guests, including politicians, scientists, media representatives and many friends, watched with interest the short multimedia presentation dedicated to the activities of the Association. Women's Democratic Union presented itself as an organization actively involved in the process of socio-political transformation, acting on behalf of civil society development, courageously undertaking the organic work for social change. As emphasized by WDU Chairperson, Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz, the history of the Association is a kind of mirror of the Polish transformation, which reflects more than two decades of difficult transition. The current leader of the WDU noted in her speech that::

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Twenty years ago we have believed that democracy is a just political system, that human rights are women's rights. Democracy gave us the opportunity to increase women's participation in the decisions and social participation. We have survived the time trial.

The first Women‟s Democratic Union Chairperson, Danuta Waniek estimated that twenty years of the WDU activities are unique in the history of the women's movement in Poland after 1989, stating that:

Few of the organizations have survived the time trial. Women are paid less. Even if they had a job in the most difficult times, it was difficult to expect that they will maintain the contributions to their organization. WDU is an exception in this regard, perhaps because it was created, in fact, as an organization of intellectuals, and because of that its members were employed and have thus provided the social base.

MEP Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg was also among the speakers. She delivered her message to the participants via new technologies. Chairperson of the European Women's Lobby Brigitte Triems sent an occasional letter in which she urged:

Feminization of poverty observed in European society indicates that both the current framework and the basis for the existing system of social protection as well as EU social, economic and employment policy are not tailored to suit the needs of women. Many women lack proper social protection and because of that are economically dependent on their family or partner. In order to make these social policies actually successful in the fight against European women’s poverty and social exclusion, it is necessary to identify the structural causes of feminization of poverty. I am confident that your conference will have a significant impact on the activities of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

The meeting on the twentieth anniversary of the Women's Democratic Union was divided into two parts. In the first one, of a jubilee character, after a series of occasional speeches, the Chairperson of Women's Democratic Union granted the honorary award Sapphire Rose to persons of particular merit for the construction of Polish women's movement in the last two decades, among which there were also WDU activists. The group of awarded includes Barbara Cieślak, Lucyna Czupryńska, Mieczysława Łoń, Anna Mackiewicz, Wiesława Milczarek, Teresa Nawrotkiewicz, Lucyna Orłowska, Maria Osmolak – Redo, Teresa Rosłaniec, Maria Szyszkowska and Elżbieta T. Woźniak. The culmination of this part of the celebrations was the discussion moderated by Elżbieta T. Woźniak attended by Danuta Waniek, Jolanta Banach, Renata Siemieńska (University of Warsaw), Danuta Zalewska (University of Wrocław), Lucyna Orłowska (WDU Gdańsk) and Wiesława Taranowska (OPZZ) on women‟s participation in civil society construction, and thus one of the priority issues in the operation of WDU, both throughout the last two decades and now.

The following part of the celebrations was the international conference in the Column Hall of the Sejm, dedicated to problems of social exclusion of women. Introductory lecture was delivered by Professor Jolanta Supińska, who proved, by a combination of Polish and international statistical data on poverty (in particular on women‟s poverty) that gender

59 equalization is a factor connected with economic growth, allowing for better exploitation of the potential of the whole society.

Next of the invited guests, Simon Williams, a political advisor in the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, argued that the achievement of the MDGs is not solely in the interest of the countries of the Global South. For example, the actions taken by his department presented the feasibility of the so-called twin track approach, simultaneously focused on aid and continuous awareness raising campaigns aimed at broadening public consciousness and constructing cultural changes. This way of recognizing the problems of the MDGs is a new paradigm in European politics and thus confronts many challenges to the women's movement.

Afterwards a representative of the Dutch organization TYIE International, Rita Naloop, presented its achievements in the fight against social inequality and poverty of women. The first day of the meeting in the Column Hall has ended with a panel discussion moderated by Katarzyna Kądziela on the challenges of development contained in the Europe 2020 Strategy. Among the panelists were Dariusz Szwed (Green Party 2004), Iwona Piątek (Women's Party) and Mika Larsson (feminist, a Swedish journalist). The participants agreed that the planned activities do not concern women‟s issues in sufficient measure. The major criticism from the participants of the discussion was targeted towards significant challenges in terms of narrowing the issues of equality, which were discussed mainly in the context of a shrinking workforce in Europe and the need to include women, remaining outside the labour market, in the base of employees.

The second day of the conference was primarily devoted to the analysis of the state and the desired direction of changes in government policy towards women - first and foremost in Poland, although the presence of guests from Sweden and Ukraine provided a more international perspective. European context of the considerations was inspired by the speech of Karolina Kędziora, the President of Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law, who presented the tools, procedures and institutional mechanisms shaping the situation of women in Europe.

Polish governments‟ policy towards women over two decades of political and economic transformations was analyzed by Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz and Piotr Szumlewicz. In their speech they proved the extent to which women had to suffer as a result of transformation, both as individuals and as a social group. They also emphasized how much the years of political neglection and the current government policy in relation to equality and social affairs, or rather lack of any policy, contribute to the growth of poverty in Poland, including its feminization. The speakers also announced the forthcoming WDU publication: Losers of the transformation. Women’s poverty and social exclusion after 1989.

On the second day of the conference the leader of the Democratic Left Alliance, Grzegorz Napieralski, declared in his speech that his party does not intend to turn their heads away from difficult social issues, and that he treats issues of poverty and gender equality as priorities. It should be recalled that during the last presidential campaign Grzegorz Napieralski was the only candidate who has prepared and presented a programme relating to gender issues.

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Major excitement was caused as a result of a clash of two alternative visions of Poland, Strategy for Poland 2030 presented by Paweł Kaczmarczyk and its critical analysis by Dr. Ewa Charkiewicz. Political considerations were closed with the panel discussion with the Chairman of DLA Grzegorz Napieralski, Jolanta Plakwicz (PSF Women's Center), Anka Grzywacz (Executive Secretary of the DLA International Secretariat) and Anna Mackiewicz (WDU Bydgoszcz), moderated by Dr. Joanna Gwiazdecka, Director of the Polish branch of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The participants referred to the issue of European equality policy in the context of tackling the social exclusion of women.

In order to prove that women are not only subject to politics but also active creators of social change, the last part of the conference took a different nature, compared with the considerations preceding it. It was focused on the presentation of profiles of prominent and active women, their paths, involvement, activities for the empowerment and social participation.

Introductory lecture was conducted by Dr. Anna Pacześniak (University of Wroclaw). Another participant of the session, Elizabeth Blania-Kacprzyk, presented the activities of Polish Women's Association in Sweden and the inspiring role of the leader of Polish organization. Afterwards Yga Kostrzewa presented the silhouettes of LGBT activists. She was followed by Ewa Miszczuk representing the Women's Commission OPZZ, who pointed to the role of women in the struggle for workers' rights. Celina Stasiak of Polish Teachers' Union presented the activities of women in the struggle to improve the situation in this extremely feminized professional group.

One of the most interesting voices was Kateryna Levchenkos speech. Levchenko is an Ukrainian social activist, a member of La Strada, who sued the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov for his sexist statement about women's participation in politics. Prime Minister publicly stated that some say that our government is too big, others complain that no women are included and because of that there is no one to look at during the Cabinet meetings. This is boring. With all due respect that I have for women - introducing reforms is not their thing. And again - the people who were elected to parliament must be able to operate 16 hours a day, without a day off, they must be able to take responsibility and should not be afraid to say "no" to their boss.

Deliberations were closed with the speech of Professor Małgorzata Fuszara, who synthetically addressed the issue of development of women's rights in Poland, especially their participation in public life. A clear assessment of the situation in this field is hampered by the fact that the diverse applications of analysis are not conclusive. On the one hand, both issues are subject to the undeniable and visible changes, at the same time, however, women's and equality activists may still have the feeling that for many years they have been fighting for the same thing, and the barriers instead of disappearing, have multiplied.

The 20th Anniversary of Women's Democratic Union was an opportunity not only for celebration and a summary of the activities of the Association. The meeting on the occasion of two decades of organizations‟ activity has become primarily an incentive to start a public debate on the role and place of women's organizations in shaping civil society and public

61 discourse in the area of rights, recognition and sustainable development. Numerous voices of the invited guests, speakers, panelists, but also regular attendees of the conference show how much still remains to be done in this regard.

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Post scriptum…

CELEBRATIONS

Celebration of twenty years the Women's Democratic Union took on a more intimate and reflective nature during the anniversary evening organized on 10 September 2010. Among the guests who graced the meeting with their presence were not only members of various WDU clubs, but also academics, representatives of NGOs, politicians and family of one of the greatest friends of the Women's Democratic Union: Izabela Jaruga- Nowacka, who died in a tragic plain crash on the 10th April 2010. The evening began with memories of Iza Jaruga – Nowacka. Occasional performance I’m looking for your traces... of two actors: Agnieszka Curyło and Dariusz Lech, was accompanied by The Wellness Sound with the soloist of The Spirituals Singers Band Marek Dygdała. Acknowledgments for the long-term cooperation, and above all for the great friendship, in the form of poetic presentation accompanied by the sounds of John Lennon's music, combined with beautiful photographs, provided the accumulated amount of emotions. After the presentations and speeches devoted to the memory of Iza, the current WDU Chairperson Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz and the first Chairperson of the organization, Danuta Waniek, sublimed anniversary toast, which is presented in the introduction to this chapter. Afterwards the time for the clubs, the Women‟s Democratic Union local organizations, has come. Both these active since the inception of WDU, as well as those that arose later, presented their activities, achievements and described many different barriers for the realization of principles of social justice and equal treatment. Lucyna Orlowska, representing WDU in Gdansk, paid particular attention to the tragic economical situation of many women and lack of their economic independence, discouraging the spread of public activities and citizenship. Meanwhile, Barbara Cieślak from Sosnowiec stressed in her speech the particular importance to cooperation in the local environment. The next element of the anniversary evening was the opening of the art exhibition Women's Impressions, presenting the works of artists – friends and participants of the Women‟s Democratic Union activities. Hanna Bakuła, well known Polish painter, stage and costume designer, presented her beautiful, pastel landscapes and oil paintings inspired by the Tarot cards. In addition to her great artistic achievements, she is also known for her social activity - helping orphanages and organizing the annual festival of Franz Schuberts music - and active participation in public debate, especially on gender equality and democratization of political life. The presence of this artist, characterized by Izabela Jaruga - Nowacka as still undiscovered talent, soft-feminist, supporting women and their action was a great honour for the Women's Democratic Union. Barbara Guichard, a painter living and working in German Göttingen has also presented her works. After completing her studies in Warsaw she went to Paris, where she began to attend courses in act painting, which took place in a studio in Montparnasse. At that time she also began to draw fantasy themes, mainly figures. Her works, largely watercolors and oil paintings, characterized by bold, intense colors, can be described as feminine impressions. Among her works we find The scream of a feminine soul, Despair enslaved, Bird woman, or True love. She presented her works in Berlin, Kassel, Göttingen and Heidelberg. The artist, who for many years worked closely with the Democratic Union of Women, prepared a special series of works on the occasion of the jubilee evening..

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Wroclaw artist Jolanta Wasilewska-Gieras presented her watercolors. Paintings and miniatures, very classic, yet sensuous, full of ineffable mystery and fleeting romance, delighted the guests. Sensitivity to the depth and multi-dimensional color make her works very delicate and lyrical. This effect is further strengthened due to the technique used - the penetration and the blurring of color patches in painting watercolors, especially fine to express the mood of indetermination and mystery. A different branch of art was represented by Wroclaw sculptor and simultaneously a member of the Women's Democratic Union for 11 years, Krystyna Strużyna–Kunecka, who presented her Madonnas painted in sculpture. A graduate of Fine Arts in Wroclaw, winner of many awards and honors, including a prize for a statue of Winged Poland at the International Symposium of Sculpture - Hoyerswerda (1989), and a gold medal at the National Review of Polish Sculpture in Warsaw (1994). As the only Pole she participated in the VI International Biennale of Ceramics - Cairo 2002, where she received a medal for her sculpture Bird of freedom. She had 160 national, international and foreign exhibitions, including 28 solo exhibitions. Her works can be found in many national and international museums and private collections. Her effort and activity have permanently etched into the calendar of Polish cultural events and the world. The evening also provided an unique opportunity to listen to the concert by The Wellness Sound under the direction of Marek Dygdała, soloist of The Spirituals Singers Band. Besides well-known and popular jazz standards in original arrangements with a new fresh sound, the repertoire of the Wellness Sound also included songs prepared especially for the WDU jubilee.

Quiet conversations were accompanied by sounds of music. It was almost midnight. The participants, guests and members of the Women's Democratic Union slowly left the room. Above their heads a strange aura arose, a mixture of sadness, melancholy, but also good memories...

But it's already gone and will not ever come back Though so much had happened my heart still bursts to the front

But it's already gone, disappeared somewhere with us Although we grew older We really are still the same

(Andrzej Sikorowski)

Twenty years have passed …. But there is still a lot ahead of us...

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LAUDATION FOR THE JUBILEE OF THE WOMEN’S DEMOCRATIC UNION

Warsaw, 10th September 2010

Every major event that we participate in, forces us to stop for a moment and to embrace with our reflection both the event and the period of time that led us to it. The twentieth anniversary of Women‟s Democratic Union, an organization of high merits for the development of women's movement in Poland, celebrated on the 10th September, definitely is such an event. The WDU is known all over the country for its determination to struggle for women's rights, gender equality and women's participation in democratic processes, and above all - fighting for women‟s place in public life. Twenty years of functioning of a non-governmental organization in our country can undoubtedly be called a success, given that most associations are ephemeral: they appear and quickly, without a trace, disappear out of sight. For me the Jubilee is not only the time for memories. I consider it rather a moment of deeper reflection on what this women's organization brought in our, my life and what I brought to the organizations‟ life.

Let me begin with some memories. I have been cooperating with the Women‟s Democratic Union for 17 years. Our collaboration went through different phases. At first there have been mainly personal contacts directly related to the activities of the WDU in Wroclaw. Afterwards institutional contacts between two independent women's organizations in Wroclaw – the WDU and the Association of Active and Creative Women - developed. We began cooperation in concrete actions and issued mutual invitations to participate in the socially important projects. In the last five years we started a real cooperation focused on creating a new entity: the first Polish association of Polish women's organizations, to realize new missions and face new challenges on a principle of partnership. By total coincidence at the end of 1993, I read press information about the activities of the Wroclaw Club of Women‟s Democratic Union. The way in which the actions of club members were presented aroused my curiosity and encouraged me to contact them. As a social pedagogue and also an academic, I got really interested with the possibility of direct meeting with a group of women forming a new feminist environment on the threshold of the Polish transformation. It is worth recalling that at that time only one women organization, the Polish Women‟s League, existed in Poland. Thus, this new feminine initiative must have aroused curiosity. I decided to accept the invitation of the Chairperson of the organization, Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz. I was surprised with the reception. The speakers openness, cultural atmosphere and remarkable discussion on different everyday women‟s issues and the need to help in overcoming the difficulties women face in their everyday life in the era of total transformation convinced me that it is worthwhile to look at this new organization, to join her and therefore be able to share my social experiences and scientific achievements, especially the results of research on family functioning and the roles exercised by its members, a topic I researched during one of my seminars.

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The subsequent meetings were often of social character, as Chairperson Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz was able to create almost a family atmosphere. As a result of several joint meetings and discussions an idea to include WDU in Wrocław in the celebrations of the UN Year of the Family (1994) appeared. We came up with the idea to organize a national conference in Wroclaw dedicated to the issues connected with contemporary Polish family. The preparations took several months, and the result was impressive: massive media attention, positive feedback from different circles, all of this was over our expectations. The conference was attended by many eminent scholars from the University of Poznan, Warsaw and Wroclaw, many local practitioners, teachers, inspectors, local authorities and a large group of high school students. In a result, the conference gave rise to serious debate among the Councilors on the actual functions of the family and helped to start research on family - friendly policies of Wroclaw.

Participatory observation in the activities of the WDU Wroclaw Club during the first years of my contacts (1993-1996) convicted me that women‟s activity requires not only strong incentives and support but also a good dose of modern education. During this period I cemented my belief in the need for a new definition of women's emancipation, and this led to a focus on both the underlying organic work in the broader female environment and on the new perspective of the social movement with active participation of women.

As I have mentioned before, I am a social pedagogue. The idea of promoting human development with his active participation is crucial for this profession. I always tried to implement this scheme equally in my professional (scientific) and social activity. I realized many actions targeted to women: women's semestral studies, conversations in foreign languages, internships and study visits, psychological trainings, encouraging them to join various projects, to edit the magazine, I encouraged them to independent, public speeches, etc. Together we became more competent, independent, open. We eventually gained more confidence and belief in the possibility to achieve success in any field. "Together we attached wings to our lives." Among the thousands of women gathered around the Women‟s Democratic Union, many of them are activists - leaders of the Polish reality changes. Just a little look closer at ones surroundings gives the possibility to notice the changes in ourselves and in local communities under the influence of various activities of these women. The road to self- realization and creative activities in the new reality was and is shared by many thousands of Polish women.

I can not predict the future of women's organizations in our country and whether the Women's Democratic Union in its present form will be able to reach the 50th anniversary of its activities for the benefit of women in a democratic country, such as The German Association of Women acting more than 100 years, but I would like to wish her more meaningful work for many years and many successful initiatives and achieving her dreams. Women! Let us be realists, let us ask for what is impossible.

To all of the present here today I would like to dedicate a message by Albert Schweitzer

To those who were on your way, or to those you have found: give from your spiritual essence

66 as much as you can. And from those who give to you, accept everything as a precious gift

Dr. Elżbieta Teresa Woźniakowa former President of the Association of Active and Creative Women in Wroclaw, Current Vice President of the Federation of Polish Women's Lobby in Warsaw

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ON THE WAVE OF MEMORIES - LAST INVITATION!

March 2010 is symbolic for Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw, as it is inseparately connected with the closure of a certain stage of activities run at Ofiar Oświęcimskich 17 Street. We created the atmosphere of this place from the very beginning: we designed it, adaptated it and repaired it. We rearranged everything according to our own needs and ideas. Then you, our most welcomed guests, appeared. You participated in various actions and projects. Alongside the myth of the last bridgehead of liberty, of flying civic university, of a tribune of rebellious women or even of the shelter, where every guest is welcomed with coffee and friendship, was built. Sometimes our friends – musicians – played until our sols wept… Do you remember? For five years dozens of different people have paid us a visit: Prime Ministers, Ministers, Ambassadors, priests, politicians, MPs and councilors, foreign guests, academics, social activists, participants of our projects and members of the Women‟s Democratic Union from all over the country. We hosted the 6th Congress Women's Democratic Union. We often described Ofiar Oświęcimskich 17 as a place with a soul, under the auspices of the Civic Lady, referring to the painting that our great friend Bogusław Litwiniec gave us some time ago. Today, we have to abandon this place and our souls are filled with nostalgia. Before saying a final goodbye we would like to bring back the memories together. Therefore we kindly invite you to participate in a farewell meeting, debate and the Clove Concert on the 7th of March 2010. We shall take our legend to our new seat at Zelwerowicza 16/18 Street. Feel invited to visit us there from 10th April 2010.

Warm regards, Women‟s Democratic Union Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz

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TWENTY YEARS OF WOMEN’S DEMOCRATIC UNION IN WROCLAW

The Women‟s Democratic Union Club in Wrocław is, next to WDU in Gdańsk, one of the oldest, most active and fastest growing local structures. It initiated its activities with the rise of the Women's Democratic Union at the national level. From the very beginning of its activity it has been directed by Renata Berent - Mieszczanowicz. Broad autonomy, independence and commitment characterizing the local structures of Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw are on the one hand associated with strong and active personalities of its members, on the other hand are the result of extremely difficult cooperation with local structures of the Democratic Left Alliance. In contrast to many other regions of the country, despite the agreement and WDU cooperation with the DLA at the national level, Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw practically from the beginning was self dependant. Despite the strong commitment and willingness to cooperate with the local party structures, despite a successful campaign, resulting in obtaining the mandate of the Councilors by members of DUK, the organization was not only ignored but actually formally marginalized by the partner organization, especially after the departure of President Uczkiewicz. Despite the adverse conditions, by two decades of activities the club was involved in the implementation of various initiatives and projects at local, national and international levels. They were directed to different groups of beneficiaries, including activities in diverse areas, from education and civic and political mobilization, through health protection and social support up to involvement in international cooperation. The period of twenty years of activity and development is simply too long to mention and describe in detail all the initiatives joined by WDU in Wrocław. At the same time, the jubilee provides an excellent opportunity to recall some of the most important achievements of the Club in various fields of activity.

The actions implemented in the last two decades by the Club Wroclaw were particularly strongly focused on the issues of women‟s empowerment and developing women‟s competences and skills in all areas of life, including personal development. Many projects carried out by the club were focused on education and civic mobilization of women resulting in an increase in their participation in public affairs. In addition to popularizing and awareness raising activities, members of the Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw were regularly involved in the practical struggle for greater participation of women in political life, taking part in the parliamentary and municipal elections. Moreover, programmes developed and implemented by the club in the area of civic education and self-development included lifelong learning, adult education (with particular emphasis on groups of seniors, women and the unemployed), and supplementary training courses. These include, inter alia, the Golden Age Academy, aimed at people aged over 60, comprising of diverse activities such as organizing self-help groups, education, health education, rehabilitation, participation in public and community life. The innovative University for Civil Society, under which twelve generational debates with the participation of philosophers were conducted (Around Descartes: Cogito ergo sum) provided the award for the most active participants: a free visit to the European Parliament. Its goal was to conduct civic education in preparation for active participation in the local community and in the life of the region, state, and the implementation of standards of civil society. During the campaign before the referendum on the accession to the European Union, the WDU in Wroclaw realized a training project

69 addressed to leaders and NGO leaders from the Lower Silesia: Together in Europe. Club in Wroclaw, just as the Democratic Union of Women at the central level, was also involved in organizing numerous conferences, debates and seminars. Among the most important events of this type the following should be indicated: The First Lower Silesian Congress of Women and Women's Circles, nationwide conferences devoted to various topics (Family in contemporary Poland - questions, fears and hopes; Increasing women's participation in decision-making areas by increasing economic and political independence; Civil rights in the constitution of the European Union) as well as international conferences (The chances of disabled women in the labor market - the phenomenon of double discrimination; The European Union social policy in the context of social exclusion; Common strategy of gender equality in European Union countries). These events gave an opportunity to become actively involved in public debate, providing a forum for exchange and presentation of views on crucial issues. They allowed to represent the interests of women, and - more broadly - a variety of NGOs, while providing the chance to influence system change. The conference organized with the support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Increasing women's participation in decision-making areas by increasing economic and political independence, was attended by 110 people and eight experts in the field of gender issues, and its results have been disseminated in the parliamentary, academic and NGOs circles. The result of the nationwide conference Civil rights in the constitution of the European Union was developing a common position on the start of a nationwide campaign to adopt the European constitution. International conference organized in the Oratorium Marianum Common strategy of gender equality in European Union countries, thanks to numerous participation of MEPs including Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg (Poland), Iratxe Garcia-Perez (Spain) and Constanze Krehl (Germany), was a significant contribution to the discourse of emancipation at the European level. Improving the situation of women and other marginalized groups, requires not only a practical grassroots initiatives of social, assistance, or educational character, but also courageous involvement in the political sphere, because only the activity in this area creates a real opportunity for a systemic change. Therefore, the Club in Wroclaw, since the beginning of its operation, has been actively engaged in this area - from active advocacy in defending the interests of the victims of exclusion (including the elderly, the disabled, women) through the civil and legal advice, providing support to other institutions and non-governmental organizations active in electoral campaigns for the representative bodies at both local and central levels to the organization of the Lower Silesian Women's Political Salon and the Lower Silesian Coalition of Women for European Integration.

WDU in Wrocław permanently inscribed itself in the landscape of local NGOs also because of the intense involvement in the field of assistance and social services. Individuals and families in difficult life situations, which could not effectively deal with the use of their own resources and capabilities could always count on the support of the Club. Activity in this field was carried out since the beginning of the Club‟s activities in partnership with the municipality of Wroclaw. Actions taken by the Club in Wroclaw have included conducting or supporting orphanages and foster families, adoption services, support for people with foster care dysfunctions; programmes for people with disabilities, elderly assistance, aid to the homeless, including shelters, and finally help to victims of natural disasters and random events. The most important projects in this area undoubtly include the support center for girls and women with psychiatric disorders Daissa, implemented in cooperation with the German women's organizations of Göttingen (Therapeutische Zimmer and Frauenberatung), with

70 support from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. During its implementation, participants had the opportunity to participate in social activization programmes and professional courses using different methods (such as psychotherapy, music therapy, workshops, training) as well as preparing for the implementation of social and professional roles. One of the most important outcomes of the project was the creation of self-help groups. The experience gained during its implementation allowed to start work on the model and the standardization of operation of a support center for women and girls with mental disorders.

The groups enjoying special attention and interest of the Club Wroclaw undoubtedly were also victims and perpetrators of crime. In 1996 the Sociotherapeutic Centre Against Violence for homeless women and children - victims of violence, was established in Wrocław. It works according to Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz‟s project. The therapeutic programme implemented in the centre allowed many people to overcome personal crisis. They could count on a multi-faceted psychological and psychiatric therapy and treatment as well as legal and social counseling. Obtaining funds from the Phare programme for the implementation of the project allowed to implement the programme the Centre for Prevention and Social Therapy. In addition to the activities of a preventive nature, conducted in environments vulnerable to crime or working with addicts, the project included therapeutic activities targeted to victims and offenders (including inmates in correctional facilities) and counseling. The tasks of the project included, inter alia, counseling for prisoners preparing to leave prison or training in social cooperation and psychological workshops for perpetrators of violence. Another project of this nature was the programme against social exclusion, aiming at a multi-faceted assistance to victims of domestic violence and dysfunctional families and helping addicts.

Club of the Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw initiated and was also actively involved in activities related to the issue of prophylactic and health protection, especially regarding women, youth and seniors. Educational and preventive actions were supported by a variety of projects related to the promotion of healthy lifestyles, such as the Green colonies with a programme of prophylactic health care and treatment of aggression for children and youth from the province of Lower Silesia with elevated aggression level.

Many of the programmes implemented by the Club of Wroclaw were targeted at the unemployed. In cooperation with the municipality of Wroclaw a project directed to the unemployed over 40 years of age, including activities such as counseling, career counseling, psychological support computer courses, and workshops on coaching was implemented. Programme Together we have a chance funded by the Phare 2002 was addressed to long-term unemployed at particular risk of permanent exclusion. The project aimed to prepare participants for re-inclusion in the labor market with the use of social self-employment and volunteering. During the implementation varied trainings were put into practice, including of palliative care, entrepreneurship, self-employment and self-organization in the labor market, job opportunities in NGOs, or job search techniques and social skills training. As a result of the project activities New opportunities in the labor market, unemployed women from small towns of major civilization negligence, and also from the area of the former PCRs, were granted the possibility of retraining. Another example of action in this area is Access 2000 - Small grants: small family businesses an opportunity for unemployed women, aiming to conduct training for unemployed women in order to prepare them for self-employment and

71 self-organization. The Club regularly organized exchanges and work clubs for unemployed women and also received broker authorization from the National Labour Office agency. Although the nature of the Club, as the local branch of a nationwide organization, in a sense restricts its activities, international cooperation was another important dimension of its actions over the past two decades. Women‟s Democratic Union in Wrocław has engaged in programmes for the exchange of experiences, cooperation with foreign organizations (e.g. Parity Association of Lower Saxony) and the European activities related to the protection of human rights at international level.

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OUR FRIENDS

Friends- you can always count on them In the most difficult matters they have always been with us Offering their support and a cup of warm tea With their authority and personality they assisted our values and actions

The unforgettable Izabela Jaruga–Nowacka …

Unsent letter

To the memory of Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka

I did not want to say goodbye this way, It was not meant to happen. Only yesterday we planned together And emptiness, death already today. And despair so great that it pains, It was not meant to happen, You closed the door too early. You will never phone, Never send a letter. I am searching my memory For old images and sounds Of our shared twenty years. Obsessive thoughts in my mind Teem at a mad gallop Through time and space. I hold in my open hand ‘Alphabet by Jaruga’– seeking Your marks. I am looking for You at Parliament In ideological disputes, On my way to Manifa, But You are not there…. I am looking for You in unreal world, In a smell of thyme, In a web of apple tree in bloom, In a morning coffee aroma, But You are not there, either… You were so unusual, You were so pastel. Without any limits of mercy and political courage Left-wing identity. I did not want to say goodbye this way, It was not meant to happen, but I thank You: - for a white blouse feminism - for bloody battles with Odysseus and twilight over the oak wood, - for words, so great and beautiful 73

- for morning arrivals in Wroclaw - for understanding and friendship, - that you were here…..

Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz

Wroclaw, 10th of April 2010

She has not only been one of the initiators of Women's Democratic Union, which for many years cooperated with the association at different levels.

First of all - she has been our friend.

Always willing to participate in the projects organized by the Women's Democratic Union. We could count on her, regardless of the place - she has been with us not only in Wroclaw, Gdansk and Warsaw but also in Nysa or the small villages of Podkarpackie. She participated in various events organized by the WDU, including those beyond boundaries, even during her work as the Deputy Prime Minister, when she had many other duties.

Not so long ago, during her speech in the Sejm she said something that were meant to encourage us to continue our activities: one cannot trim the wings of the steadfast.

When she passed away, she left behind not only sorrow but also a great void in the political scene among those who were close to leftist ideas and issues of equal treatment.

For us, cooperation with Iza has been invaluable. Her kindness and political support helped to strengthen the political and social position of Women's Democratic Union.

When I look at her photo, every single time I would like share my warmest words, send my best wishes, but ... she is no longer here…

However I can still hear her saying: you have little time you must give testimony (…) let your helpless Anger be like the sea whenever your hear the voice of the insulted and beaten (…) go upright among those who are on their knees (...) without unnecessary pride…

We remember, Iza!

(quoted exerpts by Zbigniew Herbert, Envoy of Mr Cogito)

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Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg

MEP. Monitors European gender equality policy from the perspective of women‟s equality in Poland. Supports us in various activities at the European Parliament. For several years now she has been organizing study visits to Strasbourg and Brussels, attended by members of the Women's Democratic Union.

With the support of Lidia, Women's Democratic Union and other organizations launched a public debate about the situation of women in Poland from a European perspective..

Thank you, Lidia!

Professor Maria Szyszkowska

She taught us the daily life philosophy and participatory democracy. Eternally young, with a girly soul, discovering the world anew every single day. Honorary member of the Women's Democratic Union. Once, she had participated in the activities of the association, today she supports its activities. Attending the most important debates, even those held in remote locations away from the center.

Bearing in mind her activities, we supported her in the 2005 presidential elections without any hesitation. During our conversations and meetings she teaches us social sensitivity, humanism, great citizenship, sustainable development and how to fight for the people considered unnecessary by the society.

Always active, affirming the beautiful and just world, initiates the civil discourse about freedom and humanity in our milieu. With a philosophical perspective Thank you, Maria!

Doctor Elżbieta T. Woźniak Academic teacher, conducts research on the effects of civilization on the quality of family life and change of women‟s status. Cofounder of the Association of Active and Creative Women (1966-2009). Member of the Council of Cultural Non-Governmental Organizations at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Cofounder of the Federation of Polish Women's Lobby and its Vicepresident. Associated with the WDU for many years.

She infects us with her vitality and enthusiasm to work. She disciplines us when we become too nostalgic. She comforts us when the world seems hopeless.

She has been cooperating with the Women‟s Democratic Union since 1993, at the time she is an expert on equal opportunities and problems of civil society development.

We have organized many joint ventures at different levels. Our friendship with Ela is an example of true feminine solidarity.

Thank you, Ela!

Doctor Józef Pinior

The legendary activist of Solidarity, a man who never forgets about the principles of democracy and civil society development. Józef has been connected with the Women‟s Democratic Union from the very beginning. For the first time he invited us to cooperate in 1990, so this year we celebrate the second decade of our collaboration.

He actively cooperated with the association, even at the time when he was charged with numerous duties of the Lower Silesian Voievode Plenipotentiary for European Integration or during his work in the European Parliament.

An aware and involved man. Faithful to his convictions, but ready to compromise when it is necessary.

Together, we implemented the many projects in the field of civic education and European issues. We frequently exchanged our views during debates and conferences organized by the Women's Democratic Union.

Thank you, Józef!

Krystyna Strużyna – Kunecka

Artist and sculptor. For many years she has been documenting various events and activities of the Women's Democratic Union. Willingly participates in our enterprises.

Her work is characterized by the presence of subtle female threads. For many years she has accompanied our actions with an artistic perspective.

Thank you, Krysia! 76

Professor Danuta Zalewska

For many years, she has been working as WDU‟s expert in the field of European social policy.

Always present in our enterprises. She supports WDU‟s activities with her research and the voice of the sociologist. For many years, she has been handling the issues of obstacles to women‟s development and causes of social exclusion.

Thank you, Danusia!

Doctor Holger Politt & doctor Joanna Gwiazdecka

The directors of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Poland. Without their commitment and kindness we could not carry out many of the crucial projects and campaigns related to the problem of exclusion, social justice, civic education and the level of women‟s political competences.

All of these activities were possible primarily thanks to the support of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Thank you!

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THE CHRONICLES OF WOMEN’S DEMOCRATIC UNION

ACTIONS TO INCREASE WOMEN‟S PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING AREAS

Participation in public debates

Photo no 1. Radio interview with the participant of the conference Woman at work in Gdańsk (September 2006).

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Photo no 2. Public debate in Women‟s Democratic Union seat in Wroclaw. Among the participants (from the left): Professor Ludwik Tomiałojć, Bogusław Litwiniec, Józef Patkiewicz, Ewa Polak, Liana Pauletta-Sztor..

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Photo no 3. Nationwide Women’s Forum and the opening of Women‟s Democratic Union‟s new seat in Wroclaw on Ofiar Oświęcimskich 17 (October 2005). (from the left) Professor Danuta Zalewska, Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz, Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka..

Participation in expert groups and advisory bodies

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Photo no 4. The meeting of Wrocław Women’s Council, established at the initiative of Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, with the President of Wroclaw Rafal Dutkiewicz (February 2010).

Political and civic education of leaders of social change

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Photo no 5. Participants of workshops from the Warmia – Maury and Kujawsko - Pomorskie voivodeships (March 2007)..

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Photo no 6. Participants in the public debate during political workshops in Duszniki Zdroj (November 2007)

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Photo no 7. Public debate attended by Michal Syska during political works hops in Mrągowo (June 2007).

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Photo no 8. Participants of the conference Gender equality in Poland-The debate on the eve of elections to the European Parliament, held in the Sejm (March 2009).

Cooperation with politicians in Poland and Europe 85

Photo no 9. Meeting: Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz and Commissioner Vladimír Ńpidla (April 2008). Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz was the initiator of the leaders of women‟s organizations meeting with the Commissioner. The meeting concerned the lack of implementation of European Union directives on equal treatment and the lack of progress in women‟s policy in Poland.

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Conference Gender equality in Poland-The debate on the eve of elections to the European Parliament, held in the Sejm (March 2009). (from the left) Roma Cieśla from Polish Women‟s Lobby; Izabela Jaruga - Nowacka: conference‟s patron, MP, Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union, President of Polish Women‟s Lobby; Władysława Wojcieszak, Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union in Wałbrzych.

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Photo no 11. Conference on Women’s rights and their participation in social and political sphere (October 2005). Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz and MEP Lidia Geringer de Oedeneberg..

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Photo no 12. Debate Women – leaders of social change during the National Forum of Non Governmental Initiatives (October 2008). Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska

Photo no 13. Participants of the conference Women – leaders of social change (October 2008). Joanna Senyszyn (Democratic Left Alliance) and Anna Grzywacz (General Secretary of DLA Equal Opportunities and Women‟s Rights Forum).

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Photo no 14. Deputy Prime Minister Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka cutting colorful ribbons symbolizing the values of WDU while opening the new seat of Women‟s Democratic Union (October 2005) On the right: Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, in the back: Professor Danuta Zalewska.

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED GROUPS

Monitoring the activities of the authorities

Photo no 15. Leaders of women‟s organizations meeting Commissioner Vladimír Ńpidla at the seat of European Commission (April 2008).).

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Photo no 16. Representatives of Polish women‟s organizations and milieus meeting Commissioner Vladimír Ńpidla (April 2008).

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Photo no 17. Conference on Women’s significance in the world of politics, held in the Sejm (July 2005). Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz (Women‟s Democratic Union National Council), Grażyna Stolarz (Association of Active and Creative Women), Professor Maria Szyszkowska. .

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Photo no 18. Conference on the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All - Recommendations for the Future (December 2007). dr Joanna Gwiazdecka from Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska.

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Photo no 19. Political debate What to do after the parliamentary elections? Unresolved issues of women's circles, held in the Sejm (February 2008)

Education, dissemination and awareness-raising activities

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Photo no 20. Conference Woman at work in Gdańsk (September 2006).

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Photo no 21. Participants of workshops in Mrągowo (June 2007).

Photo no 22. Meeting immigrant women in the seat of Women‟s Democratic Union in Warsaw (October 2008).

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Photo no 23. Participants of the conference held in the Sejm (December 2007).

Interventions

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Photo no 24. Participants of computer workshops in the seat of Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw, project cofounded from the European Social Fund (November 2007).

Photo no 25. Presentation of one of the 40 preschool education centers run by the Women‟s Democratic Union in the Warmia and Mazury during two projects between 2007 and 2009.

Photo no 26. Training for teachers from preschool education centers in the Warmia- Mazury (March 2007).

WOMEN‟S COOPERATION

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Women‟s cooperation in Poland

Photo no 27. Workshops for teachers in Święta Lipka, Warmia- Mazury (June 2007).

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Photo no 28. Participants of political workshops in Mrągowo (July 2007).

International cooperation

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Photo no 29. Meeting with MEP Lidia Geringer de Oedeneberg at the seat of European Parliament (April 2008).

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Photo no 30. Conference European Year of Equal Opportunities for All - Recommendations for the Future, held in the Sejm under the auspices of Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka (December 2007). From the left: Holger Politt – President of the Polish section of Rosa Luxemburg Foundation; Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka- Vice Prime Minister, Deputy to the Sejm; Kristii Kalthof- President of European Women‟s Lobby

Photo no 31. Meeting of regional women‟s organizations leaders in the seat of WDU‟s National Council in Warsaw (October 2008).

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Photo no 32. Conference European Year of Equal Opportunities for All - Recommendations for the Future, held in the Sejm (December 2007). Kristii Kalthof- President of European Women‟s Lobby; Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz-Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union, President of Polish Women‟s Lobby, Teresa Murphy-Vice – President Chairperson of European Women‟s Lobby(Ireland).

WOMEN OF THE WDU

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Photo no 33. Members of Women‟s Democratic Union in Włocławek with local chairperson Wiesława Milczarek (January 2009)

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Photo no 34. Ela Przychodzeń (General Secretary of Women‟s Democratic Union) and Anna Mackiewicz (Vice- Chairperson Women‟s Democratic Union) before the 6th Congress of WDU in Wroclaw (June 2008).

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Photo no 35. Unusual artist: Maria Olczak- Strawińska from Women‟s Democratic Union in Warsaw, presenting her programme during the creativity evening within the political workshops in Duszniki Zdrój (November 2007).

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Photo no 36. Members and employees of Women‟s Democratic Union in Wroclaw with the WDU international trainee Amanda Humiński from Washington (Summer 2008).

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Photo no 37. Creativity evening within the political workshops in Duszniki Zdrój (November 2007). Dorota Wysoczańska, Darek Lech, Ewelina Pukalak, Liana Pauletta- Sztor.

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Photo no 38. Anna Mackiewicz (Vice - Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union) congratulating Wieslawa Milczarek (Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union Club in Wloclawek) during the 10th anniversary of WDU‟s activity in Włocławek (January 2009).

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Photographies from the 20th anniversary of Women’s Democratic Union September 2010, Sejm of the Republic of Poland

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Photo no 39. Danuta Waniek‟s speech during the Conference on the occasion of 20th anniversary of Women‟s Democratic Union.

Photo no 40. Celebrating 20th anniversary of Women‟s Democratic Union. Conference on Women’s social exclusion and poverty and the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. From the left: Karolina Kędziora, President of Polish Association of Anti-discrimination Law; Danuta Waniek – Honorary Chairperson of WDU, Lucyna Orłowska, Vice - Chairperson of WDU, Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Chairperson of WDU..

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Photo no 41. Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union National Council.

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Photo no 42. Jubilee: Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz, Agnieszka Curyło and Dariusz Lech

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Photo no 43. Lucyna Orłowska Vice - Chairperson of Women‟s Democratic Union during her jubilee speech.

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Photo no 44. Professor Jerzy Nowacki and Katarzyna Nowacka – family of Izabela Jaruga Nowacka, talking to Dariusz Szwed, leader of the Green Party.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank…

Everybody who helped me to write down the history of the first twenty years of Women‟s Democratic Union.

I sincerely thank…

Dr Elżbieta Woźniak for substantive consultation, patience and correcting me everytime I wrote „me” instead of „us”

Lucyna Orłowska for her help in verifying historical facts

Agnieszka Curyło for daily cooperation and her help in editing the diary

My daughter Daria Mieszczanowicz, Daria Mielczarek, my daughter in law Małgorzata Mieszczanowicz, Teresa Gołembiowska and Anna Radłowska for substantive help in description, material selection and technical support.

I have not written everything down, I do not remember all activities and activists, As human‟s memory is fleeting…

It is a challenge for you: continue my work and complete the missing parts..

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APPENDIX

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A 1. Initiators of Women‟s Democratic Union

1. Stanisława Adamczyk 33. Katarzyna Ludwiczak 2. Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz 34. Maria Norin 3. Anna Bilska 35. Lucyna Orłowska 4. Alina Bisz 36. Lidia Palestyńska 5. Halina Boratowicz – Siek 37. Tamara Paulińska 6. Hanna Borgosz 38. Teresa Polecka 7. Krystyna Buda 39. Ruta Pragner 8. Zuzanna Celar 40. Krystyna Precewicz 9. Anna Cichoń () 41. Zofia Sak 10. Anna Czapnik 42. Barbara Sieradzka 11. Łucja Dąbrowska 43. Halina Siunikowska 12. Łucja Daszkiewicz 44. Wanda Sokołowska () 13. Irena Dudak, 45. Halina Stańczyk 14. Janina – Duska-Janakowska, 46. Ewa Spychalska 15. Sonia Gam, 47. Olga Szumlewicz 16. Jolanta Gontarczyk 48. Anna Szymańska-Kwiatkowska 17. Czesława Górska 49. Joanna Szynkowska 18. Danuta Gruniewska 50. Irena Trepka 19. Irena Holbe 51. Barbara Tretter 20. Albina Chojak 52. Teresa Tulska 21. Urszula Iwan 53. Maria Tymoszuk 22. Teresa Janiszewska 54. Grażyna Ulicka 23. Hanna Jankowska 55. Krystyna Usarek 24. Bożena Janowska 56. Emilia Wajner 25. Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka () 57. Maria Wałęska – Siempicz 26. Alicja Jaszczuk 58. Danuta Waniek 27. Hanna Kistowska 59. Dorota Wróblewska 28. Ewa Kłosiewicz 60. Wisława Zakrzewska 29. Iwona Konarska 61. Maria Zawitkowska 30. Janina Kowalska 62. Lidia Żabińska 31. Genetta Kubińska 63. Halina Żmuda 32. Bożena Lewandowska

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A 2. Representatives of Women‟s Democratic Union awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland

Representatives of Women’s Democratic Union awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland

COMMANDER'S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF POLONIA RESTITUTA Bronisława Borówko

OFFICER'S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF POLONIA RESTITUTA Apolonia Janowska Lidia Kaletyńska Krystyna Majchrzykiewicz

KNIGHT'S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF POLONIA RESTITUTA Barbara Majorek Lubomira Muszyńska Jadwiga Pauter Barbara Sobocińska Maria Tymoszuk

GOLD CROSS OF MERIT Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz Halina Chromik Halina Raczyńska –Liesius

SILVER CROSS OF MERIT Jadwiga Czapkarska Halina Daniel Jolanta Gontarczyk Alicja Jura Grażyna Karpowicz Halina Krywak Zdzisława Krzyk 120

Anna Mackiewicz Lucyna Orłowska Krystyna Oswald Elżbieta Rusiniak Marianna Skrobiszewska Marzena Sosnowska Maria Taraszkiewicz – Gurzyńska

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A 3. People honored with the Sapphire Rose Award.

Warsaw, 10th September 2010

On the 20th anniversary of Women’s Democratic Union the distinction of “Sapphire Rose” Award

La Pasionaria of Polish transformation - for their commitment, for the implementation of various projects, for the beauty of created every day, for their presence everywhere where it is extremely difficult is awarded to:

Barbara Cieślak Lucyna Czupryńska Mieczysława Łoń Anna Mackiewicz Wiesława Milczarek Teresa Nawrotkiewicz Lucyna Orłowska Maria Osmolak – Redo Teresa Rosłaniec Maria Szyszkowska Elżbieta T. Woźniakowa On behalf of the Jury of „Sapphire Rose” Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz

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A 4. Major resolutions and stances

Resolution on the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All proclaimed by Decision No 771/2006/EC of the European Parliament (17 May 2006)

We recognize the unique importance of the idea of the "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All". Its rationale forms the most important elements of the new framework strategy, aimed at promoting equality and combating discrimination in European Union countries.

We support the initiative of the European Commission concerning the issues of equality and tackling discrimination. We hope that this action will not limit itself merely to the creation of EU documents. We expect that the member states, especially Poland, will implement and enforce Community legislation, as low social awareness constantly causes discriminatory behavior and attitudes of minorities. Developing the National Programme of Commemoration of "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All", including actions on equal opportunities in all areas of social life, will be an important step aiming to improve the present status quo in this regard in Poland. The programme will create a base for establishing institutional mechanisms and providing resources for the implementation of tasks related to it. In our opinion, the Programme will encourage actions affirming diversity, respect and tolerance as core values of civil society. The lack of participation of different social groups in decision-making processes and their under-representation in public life undermines the principle of social solidarity. Respect for diversity is a real need of our times, resulting from the rising aspirations of women and men, European multiculturalism and demographic trends.

We appeal to governments of all member states, especially to the Polish Government, to undertake constructive action to support institutional and social initiatives in the field of civic education, including the monitoring and enforcement of equality legislation.

We believe that without a true will to implement the common strategy for gender equality developed in the European Union at the national, regional and local level, the strategy will remain just another unrealized postulate. Conference participants declare their readiness to support the “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All" and to promote the actions on equal opportunities for all citizens. The participants of the conference Wrocław, 21 October 2006

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Civic resolution on the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All

Civic resolution on the “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All” proclaimed by Decision No 771/2006/EC of the European Parliament (17 May 2006), the appointment of Honorary Citizens Committee for Equal Opportunities in Poland and developing a framework for cooperation in the dissemination and implementation of “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All” ideas.

Strengthening efforts in the anti – discrimination sphere is essential both for the functioning of the civil, just and solidary state and for NGOs activities. The “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All” aims to promote equality and prevent discrimination in the EU countries at national, regional and local level. Civic circles, especially non-governmental organizations, support the initiative of the European Commission on “European Year Equal Opportunities for All”. We believe that low social awareness, causing discriminatory attitudes and behaviors of minorities, still exists in Poland.

We argue that developing the National Strategy "European Year of Equal Opportunities for All" will be an important step improving the present status quo in this regard in Poland. The strategy should promote actions on equal opportunities in all areas of social life, and its main aim should be the social change regarding the most important values of civil society. The most important condition for achieving the expected results is the cooperation of NGOs and civic communities on information, promotional and educational campaigns, as well as in other activities connected with the “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All”, including cooperation with government institutions.

We believe that actions related to the promotion of values and ideas of the Common European strategy should be included in the annual strategies of cooperation between local government institutions and NGOs. We appeal to the local representatives of the Polish Government, local government institutions as well as other regional institutions and decision-making bodies to undertake constructive action to support institutional and social initiatives in the field of civic education, including the monitoring and enforcement of equality legislation.

We are confident that the National Strategy “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All” will not remain another unrealized postulate, but will actually affect the real participation of different social groups in decision- making processes. Their under-representation in public life undermines the principle of social solidarity. We believe that promoting the idea of a more cohesive society by building ties between different social groups and

124 the elimination of stereotypes and prejudices is crucial.

Participants of the meeting declare their readiness to support the “European Year of Equal Opportunities for All" and to promote the actions on equal opportunities for all citizens.

On the 10th of February 2007 we solemnly initiate the activities of the Honorary Citizens Committee for Equal Opportunities in Poland, aimed at monitoring the implementation of the National and Local Strategy and preparing proposals in this regard for the national and European policies.

Honorary Citizens' Committee for Equal Opportunities in Poland and the participants of National Conference “Equal opportunities as a political priority of the European Union, just and solidary state”, organized by the National Council of Women's Democratic Union

Warsaw, 10 February 2007

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Letter issued to the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk by participants of the Strategic Conference of Women’s Circles and NGOs What to do after the parliamentary elections? Unresolved issues of women's circles.

The Honorable Mr. Donald Tusk Prime Minister of Poland

Dear Prime Minister,

On the 7th of February 2008 the Strategic Conference women's NGOs and political circles, “What to after the parliamentary elections? Unresolved issues of women's circles” was held in Warsaw. The aim of the conference was to discuss the current political situation and a to develop a common strategy for action for the coming years. Women‟s organizations have actively participated in the creation of the crucial element of democratic order – the independent NGO sector – from the very beginning of the transformation. At the moment they face an incomprehensible disregardful treatment from the Polish Government, which does not respond to their demands. We are concerned about the condescending manner of conduct of the Government of the Republic of Poland, resulting in women‟s exclusion from decision- making areas and civic participation. On behalf of NGOs and political circles, representing the interests of women in Poland, we expect the introduction of modern political and legal solutions, consistent with EU directives, ensuring equal treatment of men and women in our country. Considering this postulate a priority of state policy will allow the effective enforcement of constitutional rights. We specifically demand:

1. In the area of institutional mechanisms - Establishment of the constitutional Equal Treatment Authority for implementing and monitoring anti- discrimination policies and the establishment of its provincial branches, as well as ensuring adequate budgetary resources for their activities.

2. In the area of gender mainstreaming: - Taking into account the EU's policies equalizing the status of women and men (gender mainstreaming) in all decisions and acts, as well as the introduction of national and regional budgets analysis taking into account the specific needs of each gender (gender budget).

3. In the area of social policy:

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- Implementation and widespread use of gender budget analysis in the division of the resources intended for social assistance; - Implementation of changes in legislation resulting in equalizing women‟s and men‟s pension and retirement benefits; - Enforcement and monitoring of the implementation of tasks included in provincial social policy strategies, referring to the prohibition of all forms of discrimination and promotion of civil society development taking into account the specific activities for women; - Obligatory introduction of priorities supporting actions connected with the policy of equal treatment and civic education for equal rights to the programmes of cooperation with NGOs; - Improvement of children‟s access to care and education services (nurseries, kindergartens, youth centres, additional educational activities), creating new institutions with the use of EU funds; - To guarantee the maintenance payments under the new rules in line with the demands of women's circles; - Improvement of elderly citizens‟, particularly women‟s, access to care services and social integration programmes; - Dissemination of good practice in the field of local partnerships and public-social partnerships in the context of implementation and monitoring of equal treatment;

4. In the area of employment: - Taking action aiming to activate, integrate and reintegrate women into professional life (with particular emphasis on the needs of middle-aged and elderly women); - Improvement of women‟s access to modern technologies and strengthening women's entrepreneurship; - Spread of flexible forms of women‟s employment (enabling parents to take care of their children) - Strengthening the role of social dialogue, including the tripartite talks, aimed at full implementation of European women‟s employee rights; - Introducing changes in legislation on parental leave for fathers to motivate greater responsibility for childcare

5. In the area of educational policy: - De-politicization, ie. reducing the impact of politics on Polish educational system; - Elimination of harmful stereotypes of social roles of men and women from school textbooks and ensuring that their content accepts and promotes social world diversity; - Introduction of civic education in schools at different levels of education; - Integration of knowledge about human sexuality in the curricula.

6. In the area of health policy: - Strict observance of the legislation on family planning and the protection of the human fetus (introducing, among others, recommendations of European Court of Human Rights ruling concerning Alicja Tysiąc‟s suit), in

127 particular: guaranteeing access to means and methods of pregnancy prevention, prenatal diagnosis, infertility treatment and in vitro fertilization; - Universal access to modern methods of preventive examinations (particularly endocrine and gynecological) for women.

7. In the area of financial policy and to support the development of NGOs: - Equalizing opportunities for women's organizations and organizations working for equal treatment in funding projects related to civic education and raising women‟s individual competences;

8. In the area of increasing women's participation in public life: - Implementation of the principle of participatory democracy, involving the creation of mechanisms for integrating women and other under – represented social groups in decision-making areas; - Implementation of solutions supporting women‟s participation in politics (among others: introducing changes in the electoral law) and in public life (among others: introducing parity during appointment for public administration posts). - Establishment of National Council of Women involving representatives of social partners, acting as the consulting – advisory institution at the Prime Minister's Office

9. In the area of combating violence against women: - Full implementation of the National Programme for violence prevention, monitoring of these activities at regional and local level; - Introducing legislation and regulations on the warrant to leave the house for the perpetrator of violence; - The introduction of effective civil and criminal legal measures prohibiting the offender from contacting the victim of violence; - The introduction of accelerated procedures for dealing with cases of domestic violence; - Ensure earmarked budgetary funds to combat violence and the effects of violence.

Dear Sir, While submitting these proposals, we would like to stress that we continue to await for Your meeting with our representatives, enabling us to discuss and agree on a cooperation strategy in this area.

Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz President of Federation Polish Women‟s Lobby Chairperson of National Council of Women‟s Democratic Union and

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Representatives of NGOs and political circles, working on women‟s issues and equal treatment policy in cooperation with:

Federation Polish Women‟s Lobby „Ośka” Foundation NEWW – Poland Polish Women‟s League Civic Initiatives Association

The letter was also adopted by the participants of the political debate "Time for a change - gender equality and women's rights as one of the Priorities of state policy", held on 8 February 2008 in the Sejm of Republic of Poland. The debate was attended by parliamentarians, representatives of academic circles and independent experts.

A total number of 250 people attended both of the projects

Warsaw, 7 February 2008

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Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz’s letter to Henryka Bochniarz

Dear Madam,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your activity and the idea of organizing the Congress of Women. It is an interesting project and a great concept indeed. I believe that it is expected that the Congress of Women will initiate a public debate on women's contribution to the development of civil society and that it will result in increasing women‟s participation in the decision – making areas. I hope that all of this comes true and that is what I would like to I wish the originator, organizers and above all - the participants. I trust that you would allow me to share some of my views on this issue. Please don‟t treat them as reproach, but rather as a starting point for discussion.

I represent the Federation of Polish Women's Lobby and the National Council of Women‟s Democratic Union. Federation of Polish Women's Lobby is an association of women's organizations, affiliated with the European Women's Lobby, uniting over 4,000 women's organizations from across Europe. Women's Democratic Union has been founded in 1990, during the socio-political transformation. The organization operates all over Poland, has local branches and over 5000 members. I would like to emphasize that this is the only women's organization in Poland, that demanded political rights for women and the increase of their participation in public life from the beginning of its existence. We cooperated with Barbara Labuda, Olga Krzyżanowska, Anna Popowicz, women‟s section of the "Solidarity" and continue to actively cooperate at the international and national level on the issue of policy of equal opportunities. I had the honor to meet you several times at various political and social events. I was also involved, as a representative of women's circles, in your presidential campaign in Lower Silesia.

I decided to present these information in order not to remain anonymous to you. I thoroughly analyzed the list of the organizing committee as well as the programme of the Congress, both of which were a subject of much discussion in the women‟s and NGO‟s circles. The absence of women's issues in public discourse commits to take actions that affect positive change in this regard. These actions need be consistent, reliable and including women's circles. Three First Ladies have been invited but the first female Prime Minister and female Deputy Prime Minister have been omitted. It is particularly puzzling, as the latter (invited as an MP) has been and still is principally involved in the affairs of women since the beginning of the transformation. I was unpleasantly surprised to note that the debate concerning women‟s involvement and their impact on the process of transformation in Poland has been planned without the participation of a large group of women - representatives of women's 130 organizations and other civil communities. You will probably reply that the guest list included Ms. J. Ochojska, Ms. P. Plakwicz, Ms. A. Piotrowska, and several others. I shall respond on spot: I am really happy about that, but still none of them was a member of circles representative for the Polish women's movement during transition. I decided to issue this letter, because the whole situation is not adequate to the standards applied by you in public and professional life.

Women's Congress is a project of great scope and importance and should therefore meet its primary goal: enable women to public debate, to point out to their huge involvement in the process of transformation and development of civil society and above all, to consolidate the women‟s environment. Pursuing these goals however is impossible without the participation of all actors involved. From the perspective of my twenty years‟ serious commitment to the area of human rights, women's rights and my activities in national and international women's organizations, it is important for me that your initiative would have a broad social resonance, strengthening the milieu of few Polish women's organizations. As for now, women‟s organizations represent less than 1% of all registered NGOs in Poland (this applies to women's organizations, excluding organizations that undertake actions targeted to women from time to time).

I decided to draw your attention to the underrepresentation of women's movement in this venture as well as mainly passive role of its representatives, as there was no space for discussion provided either in Congress Programme or in the Regional Conferences. Women's organizations (active) have significant organizational and substantive potential and extensive experience, that could strengthen the Congress and emphasize its democratic character. Regardless of the fact that we were not invited for cooperation or any engagement, I still would like to congratulate you on the idea, hoping that the generated results will have a positive impact on changing political situation of women in Poland.

Sincerely, Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz

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RESOLUTION International Conference Solving the problems of violence in European perspective Warsaw, 8 December 2009 Column Hall, Sejm (Parliament) of the Republic of Poland

Bearing in mind the international documents signed and ratified by Poland regarding the compliance and protection of human rights including United Nations Conventions, Conventions and Resolutions of the Council of Europe and European Union legislation, related to the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls, it is stated as follows:

Recognizing the basic provisions of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the final documents of the UN Fourth World Conference - Beijing 1995, which states:

• Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace. Violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. (Article 112). • The term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. (Article 113). • Violence against women is a manifestation of the historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of women‟s full advancement. (Article 118).

Therefore:

We demand that, in accordance with those provisions, the authorities of the Republic of Poland recognize violence against women as one of the most important social problems, and acknowledge the fight against violence as public policy priority for upcoming years.

We appeal to the Members of Parliament to improve the legal instruments aiming to protect women, victims of all forms of violence. We look forward to the acceleration of work on the amendment of the law "On combating domestic violence". It is vital to create the necessary protection for women victims of domestic violence through the legal and economic instruments, enabling the immediate isolation of the perpetrator

132 from_the victims during the police intervention (similar to those used in many European countries and the USA).

We urge the Government of the Republic of Poland to take more effective action to eradicate all forms of violence against women. We demand that fighting violence against women in and outside the household was a primary task in the field of public safety. Combating violence should be incorporated into the basic obligations of States‟ authorities responsible for ensuring the implementation of the citizens right to safety, both in the public and in the private sphere.

We demand more public funding for all actions aiming to eliminate violence against women.

We urge local authorities to create a network of local systems to combat specific forms of violence and assist its victims. We demand the local authorities to work together with NGOs to eradicate all forms of violence against women,

We demand the establishment of the National Authority/ Council for the Prevention of Violence, and developing a system to collect data about the issue of violence in Poland. (signed by)

Participants of the International Conference "Solving the problems of violence in European perspective"

Warsaw, December 8, 2009

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A 5. Major projects implemented between 1990 and 2010

Summary of projects implemented between 1994 and 2010

Nr Title / Name Issues Implementation Scope Financing source Beneficiaries Results period 1. Creation of a coherent Psychological, legal & Round-the-clock Centre for Between 1996 and Wrocław and comprehensive therapeutic support for Crisis Intervention And 2003 twenty-four- Local municipality & other system of assistance victims and 8400 Social Therapy „Against hour centre, from (Wrocław) funding sources for victims of perpetrators of Violence” 2003 day centre domestic violence violence

2. Regional (municipaliti Limiting social Legal and es and exclusion, enlarging psychological support Lower Silesian communities the possibility for Przystanek Gromadka for the inhabitants of 1996-1998 Marshal Office & 250 of social re- adaptation Bolesławiec and own contribution Bolesławiec of people in difficult Oława districts and Oława situation districts) 3. Socio - therapeutic The PARP, Rodzina Misiów Local Therapy rooms for support for children in 1997-2000 Municipality of 216 Parpusiaków (Wrocław) children difficult situation Wroclaw 4. Exchange of ideas and views of young people from Poland, Germany, Lithuania Preparing youth Youth workshops: common and Slovakia leaders to act as the causes, new chances: 2001 International Ministry of Foreign 60 regarding European ambassadors of Vilinius 2001 Affairs Integration and the European integration. indication of the opportunities provided to young people by 134

the process of European integration 5. Regional Computer and Socio – cultural (Wrocław, Golden Age Academy 2002-2009 Different 1020 language skills, activation of seniors Lower declining loneliness Silesia) 6. Training concerning the pro-European Increasing participants initiatives aimed at Regional Together in Europe: Pro- knowledge of the NGOs, carried out 2003 (Lower Phare 2002 180 European initiatives functioning of the jointly with the Silesia) European Union University of Wroclaw 7. Regional (bydgoskie, Conducting Information campaign świętokrzys conferences and Promotion of social about the specifics of kie and Ministry of Labour workshops, employment and social social employment 2004 315 warmińsko- and Social Policy disseminating cooperatives and social mazurskie knowledge of social cooperatives voivodeship employment s ) 8. Regarding the objectives and Regional outcomes specified in (Pomeranian the agreement, the , results have been business counseling, Świętokrzys achieved in 50 percent training on starting kie, of: the number of days Academy of and running your own 200 direct 2006 Warmia- Phare 2003 of psychological Entrepreneurship 50 + business, beneficiaries Mazury and counseling, the psychological support, Lower number of coaching workshops/ Silesian beneficiaries who voivodeship benefited from s ) psychological counseling and the number of bids in the 135

form of developed business plans. The experience of the project have been transferred to the field of European policy through cooperation with the College of Education of the Universal Knowledge Society in Wroclaw. 9. Debates, conferences and workshops to Supporting the increase women's development of civil European Women’s participation in public July – December Civic Initiatives Fund National 149 society by organizing Academy life and their 2005 (FIO) space for public participation in the debate development of civil society 10. development of personal and Centre for the development aimed at women Regional October - Civic Initiatives Fund professional and promotion of women’s returning to labour (Lower 198 December 2005 (FIO) competences and entrepreneurship "Success" market Silesia) managerial capabilities 11. Targeted at Polish women‟s Polish Women’s Lobby – Registration of the organizations and Preparing the environment August -December Civic Initiatives Fund Federation Polish milieus promoting the National 118 for women's organizations’ 2006 (FIO) Women‟s Lobby idea of equal gender branch cooperation (15.05.2007) status and prevention of women‟s exclusion 12. Psychological – political Increasing women's Gaining and workshops Indicators of Rosa Luxemburg participation in public June -July 2007 National 65 developing political equality - how to implement Foundation life skills equal opportunities policy by 136

increasing women’s milieus political influence 13. Targeted to Social change in the unemployed women perception of over 30 years of age; Regional women‟s roles in Project aimed to (Lower society, increasing increase women‟s Silesian and European Social Equalizing inequality 2006-2008 270 women their participation in employment, enhance Opolskie Fund economic life, their professional and voivodeship awakening the social status by s) professional acquiring new aspirations professional skills 14. alignment of women‟s increasing women‟s and men‟s status the competences area of influence and Women – leaders of social Rosa Luxemburg regarding exerting decision-making, 2008 National 484 change Foundation influence, effective raising the level of leadership and women‟s civic management subjectivity 15. equalizing educational opportunities for children aged 3 to 5 years from the rural Creating preschool areas unprovided with Regional March 2007 – May European Social education centres in Action: Preschooler preschool facilities, by (Warmia 450 2008 Fund 30 communities in allowing the region's Mazury) Warmia and Mazury youngest residents to participate in alternative forms of preschool education 16. equalizing educational Creating a network of opportunities for 41 preschool Regional children aged 3 to 5 August 2008 – European Social education centres, I’m also a preschooler (Warmia 646 years from the rural August 2009 Fund working o he base of Mazury) areas unprovided with developed standards preschool facilities, by of education services, 137

allowing the region's methods, tools and youngest residents to materials. For participate in technical reasons alternative forms of Women‟s Democratic preschool education Union closed the centre in Slawkow at the request of the project‟s monitoring team. 17. equalizing educational opportunities for children aged 3 to 5 years from the rural Regional areas unprovided with (Kujawsko Creating preschool European Social Join us, preschooler preschool facilities, by 2009-2011 Pomorskie 220 education centres in Fund allowing the region's Voivodeship 14 communities youngest residents to ) participate in alternative forms of preschool education 18. WDU and Polish Women‟s Lobby (PLK) initiated the creation of Polish Observatory on Violence Against Women, aiming to Networking experts Polish Observatory on monitor the and NGOs working on January 2009 National Own resources 420 Violence Against Women phenomenon of the issue of violence violence against against women women in Poland, preparing a report on the scope of the problem and submitting it to the European Women's

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Lobby‟s European Observatory on Violence Against Women. The observatory will act according to the EWL Charter of Principles on violence against women 19. Political mobilization of women; raising Women‟s and their awareness and women‟s developing their skills Women’s Political Institute: August - December Rosa Luxemburg organizations‟ to effectively increase National 135 Equal Rights, Equal Chances 2009 Foundation inclusion to the public their impact on discourse of equality decision-making areas issues in the political, social, economic sphere 20. raising the level of knowledge and skills of the target-selected group of local leaders (village administrators, representatives of Social and Human Capital Village Councils, Local leaders of Professional professional activation Operational other interested September 2009 Regional 19 Activation: Udanin of Udanin community Programme Priority inhabitants of Udanin inhabitants VI Action 6.3 community); acquiring additional organizational and social skills of animators of social life; development of dialogue and cooperation for the

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human resources development at the local level; increasing professional activation skills, improving the ability to find or change a job 21. raising the level of knowledge and skills of the target-selected group of local leaders (village administrators, representatives of Village Councils, other interested inhabitants of Malczyce and Social and Miękinia Human Capital Local leaders of Professional professional activation communities). Operational Activation: Malczyce and of Malczyce and September 2009 Local 19 acquiring additional Programme Priority Miękinia Miękinia communities organizational and VI Action 6.3 inhabitants social skills of animators of social life; development of dialogue and cooperation for the human resources development at the local level; increasing professional activation skills, improving the ability to find or change a job 22. Gender Civic University: the increasing women‟s Minister of Labour Creating a network of November2009 National 28 effective methods of activity and and Social Policy leaders; signing a

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increasing women’s political participation in public Cooperation influence life Declaration regarding monitoring and implementing gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting on local level 23. increasing women‟s gaining skills and Gender Civic University: activity and knowledge to monitor spring and summer session participation in March 2010; May Rosa Luxemburg National 80 gender equality during the Project Women in equalizing political 2010 Foundation strategies on local Communal Politics opportunities on local level and region al level 24. wide range of legal Civic Counseling: Women’s Local advice for people in a Legal support 2001-now Municipal Office 1500 ?? Democratic Union in Gdańsk (Gdańsk) difficult professional situation 25. Acquisition of labour training and courses Employment Club: Women’s Local market knowledge and for unemployed 2001-now Municipal Office 500?? Democratic Union in Gdańsk (Gdańsk) skills by unemployed women women. Besides that Women's Democratic Union Club in Kielce, led by Katarzyna Majchrzykiewicz has organized summer colonies for children from the poorest families in collaboration with Mrs Zofia Grzebisz-Nowicka. Between 1990 and 2007 Women's Democratic Union Club in Wroclaw organized various forms of recreation for children and young people (including innovatory projects as ART Academy: therapeutic stays for ADHD children) and for persons with disabilities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, PARPA, PFRON, Regional Board Lower Silesian Regional Board and Municipality of Wrocław. All in all, about 6500 people benefited from these forms of recreation.

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A 6. Conferences organized by Women‟s Democratic Union

Summary of conferences between 1990 and 2010

Nr Year/ Venue Title Scope & Patronate & major Results participants guests

1. Under the auspices of conclusions and demands related to National (during Women‟s state social policy, specifying the Family in Contemporary the celebrations of Parliamentary Group, condition, needs and aspirations of 1994, Poland - questions, International Year Professor Danuta Polish families and their place in Wrocław concerns, hopes of the Family) Waniek- Chairperson society - addressed to Marshal of 106 participants WDU, Vice – Minister the Sejm Wlodzimierz of National Defense Cimoszewicz 2. Professor dr Barbara Schaeffer Hegel, Professor Zdzisława The aim of the conference was to Janowska, Sonja Lokar, familiarize participants with 27 – 28 March Women's Rights and the Nijole Steponkute, International, European standards regarding 1998, Warsaw, standards of the European Weronika Hars, dr 72 participants gender equality and systemic Sejm RP Union Ivana Ibragimova, solutions on the status of a women Professor Renata in candidate countries Simieńska, Anna Raduchowska- Brochowicz 3. The aim was to develop a common position on the manner and extent of implementation of the Platform 1st Lower Silesian Congress June 1999, National, for Action at the local level. The of Women and Women's Jolanta Banach Wrocław 114 participants documents agreed during the Milieus Congress were presented to the United Nations as an independent, local report. 4. 2000, Local Representatives of The integration of women‟s issues European Debates Wrocław, 602 participants women's organizations, into public discourse at the local Chrzanów, leaders of non- level Sosnowiec, governmental Gdańsk, organizations, Świebodzice, representatives of local Lubin, authorities and Wałbrzych, academic circles. Bogatynia, Bydgoszcz 5. The 1st (held at the Assembly Hall of Lover Silesian Provincial Government of Lower Silesia; attended by the Voievode) was devoted to the problems of Polish accession to the EU. the 2nd (held at the Oratorium Marianum of University of Wroclaw) was attended by over 200 representatives from academic and diplomatic circles. The 3rd (held at A series of three public Dorint Hotel) was addressed Regional 2003 Wrocław European Debates debates attended by women‟s pro European, political, 525 participants Danuta Hübner business and diplomatic circles. communities of women pro- European political, business and diplomatic. It attracted over 250 participants from all over the province. Danuta Hübner, supported by the organizers and local politicians, convinced participants to attend the European referendum, pointing out the positive aspects of EU membership. 6. 2003, Double discrimination of Mika Larson, The discussion on the issue of International Assembly Hall disabled women in the labor representative of the intersectional discrimination of 117 participants of Lower market - barriers and Swedish Embassy, disabled women discussed during

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Silesian opportunities within the delegation of Swiss the conference revealed various Regional European Year of People NGO cooperating with barriers on labour market and in Assembly, with Disabilities the WDU, Józef their daily life. The gathered Wrocław Patkiewicz the agreed that omitting this issue in president of Society for literature and social surveys has the Fight Against multiple effects, including the lack Disability, Ryszard of a full diagnosis of the Juszczak Marshall phenomenon, resulting in the Plenipotentiary for the inability to undertake appropriate disabled persons, Anna action. Conclusions from the Kobel, director of the conference were sent to the Center for Parliamentary Commission for Rehabilitation in Social Policy and the Regional Mikoszowo, Barbara Centres of Social Policy. Pełczyńska Together Association (Kłodzko), Jakub Wiśniewski Office of the Committee for European Integration, and numerous representatives of NGO‟s and disabled pepole organizations. 7. Deputy Prime Minister Izabela Jaruga – Nowacka, Józef Pinior, Professor Danuta 12 March Including women‟s issues in public National, Zalewska, Lidia 2005, National Women’s Forum debate, Launching the Don 112 participants Geringer de Oedenberg, Wrocław Quixote Club in Wroclaw Maria Szyszkowska, dr Elżbieta Woźniak, representatives of women‟s organizations 8. 23 May 2005, Modes to overcome International, Ruth The conference was attended by 69 Warsaw homelessness in European 69 participants Ruiz(„FEANTSA”), dr participants, including 5

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countries: standards and Stefan Schneider participants from abroad, practices of working with („MOB" Association, representing European networks the homeless with a special Berlin), dr Peter working on the issues of focus on women and Herrmann (EU homelessness and social exclusion. children, under auspices of consultant, representing Deputy Prime Minister the European Social Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka Action Network), Paul Bridges („Focus FUTURES”), Monika von der Lippe (PDS Plenipotentiary for equal status, Berlin), Izabela Jaruga- Nowacka –Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Policy, Professor Danuta Zalewska, Katarzyna Kądziela, The Office of Prime Minister 9. Professor Maria Szyszkowska, Lidia 9 July 2005, Women’s significance in the National, Conference was supported by the Geringer de Oedenberg, Warsaw world of politics 106 participants Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. leaders of women‟s and political circles 10. The debate aimed to point out the small proportion of women in Debate From Bussiness to Henryka Bochniarz, economic life and analyze the 22 September politics: women’s Local, representatives of skills helping in achieving success 2005, preferences (Lower Silesian 63 participants NGOs and women‟s in professional life and political Wrocław Women‟s Political Salon) organizations activity. The participants agreed that women constitute an untapped potential for Polish economy. 11. 22 October Debate Women's rights and Local, Lidia Geringer de Recommendations and conclusions 2005, their presence in the socio- 71 participants Oedenberg, regarding women‟s participation in

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Wrocław political sphere in the new representatives of the socio – political sphere situation NGOs and women‟s organizations 12. Seminar Against violence: representatives of December law, standards, good NGOs, institutions Local, establishing a local network to 2005, practice and presentations working with the 73 participants prevent violence Wrocław of support offers in the victims of violence and Municipality of Wroclaw Councilors 13. , conference organized in cooperation with MEP Lidia Geringer de 21 October Oedenberg, Association The final Resolution on supporting 2006, of Active and Creative the European Year of Equal Oratorium A common European International, Women and the Opportunities for All was Marianum of strategy for gender equality 250 participants Institute of Political disseminated in Polish and the University Science of University European media of Wrocław of Wrocław, The conference was attended by MEPs and Polish MPs 14. Seminar Implementation of representatives of 12 December Conclusions on effective violence a national program for Regional, NGOs, local 2006, prevention on local and national preventing violence at 83 participants authorities, academic Wrocław level national and local level circles 15. The conference was attended by 238 people, including 77 representatives of 30 Polish NGOs, Equal opportunities as a MPs, and representatives of political priority of the representatives of academic and cultural circles. The European Union, just and 10 February National, NGOs, academic Civic Resolution on the European solidary state, Conference 2007, Warsaw 238 participants circles, leaders of Year of Equal Opportunities for organized in the framework women‟s organizations All was adopted and the Polish of European Year of Equal Honorary Citizens' Committee for Opportunities for All Equal Opportunities was created. The participants of the conference, via members of Women‟s 146

Democratic Union, addressed an appeal to the Polish MPs discouraging them to introduce changes in the Polish Constitution, violating women‟s basic rights. 16. Izabela Jaruga Nowacka, Deputy Prime Minister in Marek Belka‟s Government, responsible for preventing discrimination and equal opportunities policy, Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz, Chairperson of WDU 28 September National Council, dr 2007, Faculty Elżbieta T. Woźniak, Developing the common stance of Law and President of addressed to the Pomeranian Equal opportunities as EU National, Administration Association of Active Voievode on the local activities to political priority 70 participants of the and Creative Women, equalize opportunities for University of vice President of disadvantaged groups Gdańsk Federation Polish Women‟s Lobby, Professor Joanna Senyszyn DLA MP; Ewa Kamińska Pomerania Voievode Plenipotentiary for Family and Women, Joanna Gwiazdecka, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Małgorzata Tarasiewicz, NEWW- Poland.

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17. Equal opportunities as a The Civic Resolution on the political priority of the The conference was European Year of Equal European Union, just and attended by MPs, and 10 February National, Opportunities for All was adopted solidary state, Conference representatives of 2007, Warsaw 212 participants and the Polish Honorary Citizens' organized in the framework academic and cultural Committee for Equal Opportunities of European Year of Equal circles was created Opportunities for All 18. Protection of human rights local politicians, against poverty and social 28 April 2007, Regional, representatives of Establishing local cooperation for exclusion in the context of Olsztyn 64 participants NGOs, feminist preventing social exclusion the Equal Opportunities organizations Policy96 19. Professor Maria Szyszkowska, local 27 May 2007, Debate On the need to Local, Adopting a common stance on the politicians, Wrocław include values in politics 86 participants meaning of values in politics representatives of the NGOs 20. Presentation of actions aiming to Protection of human rights prevent social exclusions of against poverty and social representatives of 31 May 2007, Regional various groups (the disabled, exclusion in the context of NGOs, academic Bielawa 70 participants unemployed women, the homeless, the Equal Opportunities circles, local politicians the poor) undertaken in Bielawa Policy were presented 21. Joanna Gwiazdecka, Lithuanian state Equal opportunities as a institutions monitoring The cooperation with Lithuanian 4 października political priority of the gender equality policy governmental office for equal International, 2007 European Union, European and anti discrimination opportunities and Association of 64 participants Kretinga Union, just and solidary policy, local authorities, Polish women in Lithuania was state, Women‟s Information initiated 97 and Training Centre in Kretinga, Jurgita

96 Similar conferences have been organized in Chrzanów (27. 06. 2007), Łódź (31. 08. 2007), and Gdańsk (28-29. 09. 2007). 97 Association of Polish women in Lithuania works on the empowerment of Polish women in public life, active participation in addressing issues concerning women, family and current social affairs. 148

Cinskienė, Men‟s Centre for Self- support in Kretinga, The Association of Polish women in Lithuania 22. The conference was attended by MEPs, The aim of the conference was to European Year of Equal EWL authorities, 14 December summarize WDU‟s and Polish Opportunities for All - International, representatives of 2007, Sejm Women‟s Lobby‟s activities during Recommendations for the 225 participants Polish and international RP, Warsaw the European Year of Equal Future NGOs, representatives Opportunities for All of Polish government and academic circles 23. representatives of Polish women‟s Strategic organizations, including What to do after the 7 February conference of OŚKA, Foundation for Issuing a letter with women‟s parliamentary elections? 2008, Sejm women‟s circles, Women and Family circles postulates to the Prime Unresolved issues of RP, Warsaw National, Planning, Women‟s Minister and parliamentarians women's circles 97 participants Rights Centre Foundation, Polish Women‟s Lobby 24. representatives of Polish women‟s organizations, including OŚKA, Foundation for What to do after the Debate of women‟s Women and Family Discussion on the letter with 8 luty 2008, parliamentary elections? circles, Planning, Women‟s women‟s circles postulates to the Sejm RP, Unresolved issues of National, Rights Centre Prime Minister and Warsaw women's circles 148 participants Foundation, Polish parliamentarians Women‟s Lobby, Jerzy Szmajdziński, Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, Nelli Rokita 25. October 2008, Women – leaders of social National, Joanna Kluzik – Launching the parity campaign in Warsaw change 84 participants Rostkowska, Organized Poland; Including women‟s issues 149

in cooperation with in the NGO inner debate women‟s NGOs, the conference was connected with the information campaign on women‟s participation in the absorption of European funds. Added value was created by organizing a debate on Women's participation in the development of civil society - thresholds, barriers and challenges for the future during the 5th National Non Governmental Initiatives Forum in Warsaw 26. The conference included five main thematic sessions: Tackling Problems of Violence in the European Union; The implementation of the December Solving the problems of Common conclusions on the NGO Bill and the National 2008, violence: the European and Local Cooperation Programme on Programme on the Wrocław Polish perspective Violence Prevention Prevention of Domestic Violence; The practical perspective on violence prevention: Lower Silesian police; Psychological Perspective on Solving

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Problems of Violence; United Against Violence - Panel Discussion 27. adopting of the resolution Izabela Jaruga- „Sustainable development of Gender equality in Poland- Nowacka, Marek 12 March Europe is impossible without The debate on the eve of National, Borowski, Joanna 2009, Sejm modernizing the political system elections to the European 167 participants Kluzik-Rostkowska, RP, Warsaw by equal inclusion of men and Parliament representatives of women into the decision making academic circles, NGOs areas” 28. public debate attended 20 May 2009, No gender equality equals National, conclusions on equal opportunities by Commissioner Warsaw no European democracy 45 participants in the context of social policy Danuta Hübner 29. May 2009, Wrocław, Warsaw, Debates No gender equality Local, local politicians and recommendations for local Bydgoszcz, equals no European 240 participants women‟s organizations authorities on equal opportunities Kraków, democracy Gołub- Dobrzyń 30. Women‟s European Salon: Lidia Geringer de recommendations for local .5 June 2009, What did we get from the Regional, Oedenberg, authorities on equal opportunities Wrocław European integration? New 86 participants representatives of in the context of social policy chances and threats NGOs, academic circles 31. Women‟s European Salon: Izabela Jaruga- Women in action, new Nowacka, Professor 12 June 2009, Local, Aims and rules of women‟s circles challenges: leadership, Danuta Zalewska, Wrocław 85 participants constructive cooperation influence, solidarity and representatives of constructive cooperation NGOs, academic circles 32. December Local, in The debates aimed to Preparation of the report 2009, Elbląg, Public debates, Working for cooperation with include the issues summarizing the implementation Chrzanów, a change: 15 years after Polish Women‟s connected with gender of the Beijing Platform-Working Gdańsk, Beijing and then what? Lobby, equality to local and for social change - 15 years after Brodnica, 352 participants national public debate Beijing and then what? Legnica, 151

Opole, Bydgoszcz 33. International conference Izabela Jaruga – resolution addressing the European 8 December Solving the problems of National, Nowacka, Colette de Commission and Polish Prime 2009 violence in European 195 participants Troy, Profesor Jerzy Minister perspective Mellibruda 34. The participants agreed a common statement addressing the Minister of Labour and Social Policy and Professor Danuta The Marshall of Lower Silesian Problems of women’s Zalewska, Ewa Voivodeship Marek Łapiński. The 19 April 2010, poverty and social exclusion Regional, Charkiewicz, Izabela resolution called for effective Wrocław in the regional and state 86 participants Desperak, Piotr actions concerning limiting policy Szumlewicz poverty, with particular attention to the phenomenon of the feminization and inheritance of poverty 35. President of Bydgoszcz The debate, related to the European Problems of women’s Konstanty Year for Combating Poverty and April 2010, poverty and social exclusion National, Dombrowicz, Anna Social Exclusion, was attended by Bydgoszcz in the regional and state 106 participants Bańkowska, Dorota representatives of local authorities policy Doktór and academic circles. 36. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of self-government in Wroclaw, Women‟s Democratic Union and the Wrocław Women's Wrocław Female Rafał Dutkiewicz, the Council prepared a presentation Councilors 1990 – 2010: President of Wrocław, out silhouettes of women who held 26 May 2010, Leaders of social change, Regional, Józef Pinior, local the mandate of the councilor in the Wrocław under the auspicies of Rafał 51 participants politicians, Professor last two decades. The aim of the Dutkiewicz, the President of Danuta Zalewska, dr event was to raise the social status Wrocław Elżbieta Woźniak of women through the promotion and recognition of their contribution to the development of civil society. 37. June 2010, Public debate Women’s National, representatives of the Issuing a letter to Radosław 152

Warsaw affairs during Polish 36 participants Ministry of Foreign Sikorski, Polish Minister of presidency: new initiatives, Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, containing questions, fears and Labour and Social recommendations for the Polish recommendations Policy, member Presidency of the EU. organizations of the Polish Women‟s Lobby, academic circles 38. Grzegorz Napieralski, leader of the Democratic Left Alliance, Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik, Dariusz Szwed (Green Party 2004), Yga Kostrzewa (Lambda), Elizabeth Women’s social exclusion Blania-Kacprzyk and poverty and the (Polish Women's Expert discussion with Polish and European Year for Association foreign experts on the European International, Combating Poverty and International), Simon Year for Combating Poverty and 197 participants, Social Exclusion. under the Williams (United Social Exclusion; Panel debate on 10-11 conference auspices of Deputy Kingdom‟s Ministry for European equality policy and September combined with the Marshalls Ewa Kierzkowska International preventing women‟s social 2010, Warsaw WDU Jubilee (20th and Jerzy Wenderlich Development political exclusion; Presentation of to anniversary) . advisor), Kateryna famous and influential Polish and

Levchenko (LaStrada European women and European Ukraine), Mika women. Larsson, Ewa Charkiewicz, Jolanta Plakwicz, Jan Guz (President of the All- Poland Alliance of Trade Unions), Iwona Piątek (Chairperson of Women‟s Party), representatives of Prime

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Minister‟s Strategic Advisors, the Office of Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment, the Ombudsman, the PNA, the Polish Labour Party, Members of WDU Clubs, Professor Danuta Waniek, Professor Małgorzata Fuszera, Professor Renata Siemieńska, Professor Renata Stupińska, dr Elżbieta Woźniakowa, dr Ewa Charkiewicz.

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A 7. Partners of Women‟s Democratic Union

The following organizations are Polish, foreign and international partners of Women‟s Democratic Union. By close cooperation for many years we aim to realize our common goals.

POLISH ORGANIZATIONS FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Federation Polish Women‟s Lobby European Women‟s Lobby Family Support Centre Lower Silesian Federation of Women‟s Organizations Rose Luxemburg Foundation and Milieus Lower Silesian Association of Non-Governmental Terapeutische Frauenberatung Organizations WROS efka Foundation Frauen – Zimmer e. V. LORGA Foundation Weltgebetstag Foundation for Health Protection and Family Planning Gołdapia Association of Active Women Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Niedersachsen e.V. Women Online Women TEŻ FEANTSA Left Feminist Network “Starfish” Women‟s League European Social Action Network NEWW Poland National Federation of Non-Governmental MOB Organizations OŚKA Foundation Focus FUTURES Kuyavian-Pomeranian Association Center for Women‟s Promotion European Policy Action Center Association of Active and Creative Women Women‟s Rights Centre Europe External Policy Advisor Silesian Centre for Equal Opportunities Worker‟s Community Association of Social Social Watch Coordinating Committee Organizations WRZOS

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A 8. Women‟s Democratic Union: outsiders perspective

WDU helps the youngest: acknowledgments from the Gdańsk pre school (November1994) and Gdańsk elementary school (1995 r. )

Representatives of the WDU actively develop their skills: the diploma certifying completion of the INSTRAW training program (September 1996)

Information about honoring Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz with the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs award for outstanding achievements in the field of social policy (October 1998)

Acknowledgments from the representatives of Cooperation Fund for active engagement in pre- accession campaign (November 2000)

Recommendation for Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz (2001)

Information about Renata Berent – Mieszczanowicz‟s appointment to the Consultative Council for Non-Governmental Organizations (September 2002)

Correspondence with the Chancellery of the President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski concerning the formation of the Lower Silesian Coalition of Women for the European Referendum (February 2003)

Congratulations from the Representative of the Sejm in the European Union Convention, Józef Oleksy, for the establishment of the Lower Silesian Coalition of Women for the European Referendum (February 2003)

Acknowledgments from the Secretary of the Committee for European Integration Danuta Hubner for activity during the pre – accession campaign (March 2003)

Acknowledgments from the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Women and Men Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka for commitment to promoting equality and European initiatives (March 2004)

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Acknowledgments from the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Men and Women Magdalena Środa for the WDU support(January 2005)

Acknowledgments from the Lower Silesian Voivod Stanislaw Łopatowski for commitment to the work of the Regional Committee for Social Dialogue (August 2005)

Acknowledgments from Lower Silesian Vice Marshal Piotr Borys for the work in Consultation – Advisory Section of the Department of Cooperation with NGOs (March 2008)

Information about Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz‟s appointment to the Women's Council of Wroclaw (February 2010) Katarzyna Kądziela‟s reflections on the 20th Anniversary of Women‟s Democratic Union (June 2010)

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A 9. Women‟s Democratic Union and the media

Interview with Lucyna Orłowska (Gazeta Gdańska, July 1992)

WDU celebrating the International Year of the Family (Wieczór Wrocławia, May 1994)

Information about the debate on gender equality (Kobiecym głosem, January – February 2002)

Account of the international conference Women‟s European Meetings (Gazeta Wyborcza, April 2002)

Women‟s European Meetings in Forum Europejskie (Forum Europejskie, April 2002)

Interview with Lucyna Orłowska (Tygodnik Wieczór, August 2002)

A word about discrimination and parity (Forum Europejskie, November 2002)

Press accounts of the international conference The chances of disabled women in the labor market - standards and EU directives and Polish experience (Tygodnik Piast, April 2003, Agnieszka Curyłło and Dodatek promocyjny dla osób niepełnosprawnych i zakładów pracy chronionej, April 2003)

Women‟s circles engagement in pre-accession activities (Tygodnik Piast, May 2003)

A glance on the activities of Women‟s Coalition for European Referendum (Tygodnik Piast, June 2003)

Maria Szyszkowska and Lower Silesian Women‟s Political Salon (Super Piast, March 2004)

Interview with Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz about the Lower Silesian Women‟s Political Salon (Kobiecym Głosem, March – April 2004)

Journalists views on the end of WDU‟s and DLA‟s cooperation (Gazeta Wyborcza, October 2004)

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Press account of the conference Women‟s political activation in Włocławek (Puls Regionu, August 2006)

Interview with Renata Berent- Mieszczanowicz (Nasz Głos w Europie, June 2007)

Article about the activities of Women‟s Democratic Union in Gdańsk, Nasze Miasto

Article about the international conference Guarantees of women’s and men’s rights’ equality in Wrocław

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