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Gender Equality

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Gender Equality PES WOMEN CONTENTS OF TABLE 0408101214161820222426 Foreword by Zita Gurmai Bibiana Aído Almagro Ivana Bacik Emine Bozkurt Mercedes Bresso Helena Dalli Anna Diamantopoulou Franziska Drohsel Julia Gerber Rüegg Lissy Gröner 40 4244 464850525456586062646668707274 38 36 34 32 30 28 Pia Locatelli Lilly Gruber Jane Korczak Jongerius Agnes Jogan Maca Huitfeldt Anniken Harman Harriet Grzywacz Anka Wanja Lundby-Wedin Marusya Lyubcheva Roulla Mavronikola Marianne Mikko Laurette Onkelinx Ildikó Pécsi Tuula Petäkoski-Hult Rovana Plumb Barbara Prammer Dolors Renau i Manén Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues Laurence Rossignol Daša Šašic Šilovic Olga Sehnalova Virginija Sireviciene Ania Skrzypek Erika Szucs Women represent 52% of the European Union’s population (or 258 million). Despite this high Dear Sisters, dear friends, figure, I still do not see women’s representation reflected on the labour market, in politics, within I am honoured to present the PES Women the field of education, in top positions and well- publication “Europe through women’s eyes” and paid sectors. Women are still the largest group of FOREWORDto invite you to discover what socialist, social victims when it comes to domestic violence and democratic and labour party women consider human trafficking. as achievements and ongoing challenges in the European Union within different policies and at I want a Europe with better jobs for women, stron- different levels of decision-making. ger parity law throughout the EU, reconciliation of professional life and family responsibilities, In the last European elections and referenda including care-responsibilities shared between related to European issues, statistics showed women and men, gender mainstreaming in all GURMAI President of PES Women, that women are the most unsatisfied about the policies, including budgeting, empowerment Member of the European Parliament EU and its policies. Thinking about the upcoming of women in entrepreneurship, sound legal European elections, I asked myself “What do frameworks to combat all forms of gender- MSZP, HUNGARY women really think about the European Union; based violence and ensure the right to sexual what do they see as EU achievements for women and reproductive health. and what can we improve and what do we still need to fight for in order to achieve the best outcome for women?”. In order to answer these questions, I asked women representing different Member States and different professional backgrounds to share their experience and views on these questions related to specific ZITA topics. Europe through women’s eyes / 4 5 / Europe through women’s eyes This is why PES Women is ready to continue the fight in 2009-2014 and put the following points as our priorities: - Better jobs and economic independence - Balance of family life, care and work for women and men - Equal representation in all decision-making 52%OF THE EUROPEAN POPULATION but… - Right to sexual and reproductive health - Stop trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children …15% gender pay gap combat stereotypes to achieve gender equality …23% of national MPs stronger parity law throughout the EU …1 out of 3 European managers reconcile professional and private life Let us continue our work together and make women’s voice heard all over Europe. …29% of scientists and engineers challenge academic and professional disparities I would like to thank all the women who contributed to this publication and the women behind the scenes that made this publication possible. We often say “after each successful man, there is a strong woman”, and… but “after each successful woman, there is herself and a strong team”. * …21% at risk of poverty foster women employment With warm socialist regards, …2/3 of the housework even when workers involve men to achieve equality …59% of university graduates better jobs for women Zita Gurmai …500,000 annually trafficked into Western Europe stop violence against women …800,000 unsafe abortion implement sexual education and sexual rights …only 1 to 12% of reported cases of rape combat social pressure on gender stereotypes President …up to 50% victims of domestic violence strong legal instruments to condemn violence PES Women …50% of migrants to Europe gender mainstreaming in migration policies …39% of microcredit lending schemes empower women’s entrepreneurship ! * I would like to express my special thanks to Lesia Radelicki, Ghislaine Robinson, Chantal Katsilis and Pierrette Pape from PES Secretariat for contributing to making this publication a reality. Sources : EWL, EU, CATW, DW-world Europe through women’s eyes / 6 7 / Europe through women’s eyes For a better balance of power ender equality in the political ins- as belonging to the private or per- be permanent. Our double objec- titutions is a question of justice. It sonal sphere. It contributes to tive must be to get there and allows our democracies to be making these realities visible and remain there! more representative because therefore, to implement political they integrate the whole popula- measures. The political agenda of Thanks to its socialist govern- G tion of each society. women is thus enlarged, as is the ment, Spain has become a political agenda in general. beacon for European women in Europe cannot be built on a single the field of equal political power point of view: in our governments Equal representation also allows and representation. For years and parliaments, masculine and women to have their talents and European socialist women have feminine points of view should creativity integrated in politics. identified themselves with the Minister of Equality of converge and meet. If the Euro- The balanced presence of women advances of the Northern Euro- the Government of Spain pean political power organizes in politics makes it possible to pean social-democracies. Today itself on an equal basis, it will be adopt legislative, political and we can all be proud of having PSOE, SPAIN a model and a mirror for all other economic measures to correct contributed to giving a new impe- bodies in charge of organizing our inequalities. Laws are the best tus to equality from Spain, a AÍDO ALMAGRO social and economic life. instruments to integrate women Southern country of Europe. This in the decision-making process; will be the contribution of Social Women’s participation in the the Spanish law for the effective Democracy in the 21st century to decision-making process allows equality between women and our huge project of the European the community at large to be men adopted in March 2007 is a Union. aware of different social realities good example. However, this does that are traditionally considered not mean that gender equality will BIBIANA Europe through women’s eyes / 8 9 / Europe through women’s eyes Let us take the chance of a Europe with potential for progressive change level, and the move towards a and seek to develop that. I want to “fortress Europe,” I know that in a work within an expanded and globalizing world, governance be- expanding European Union to believe in the ideal of a Social yond the State is a necessity. ensure that it moves in the direc- Europe - a European Union which Without the European Union, we tion of a Social Europe, a citizens’ is more about people than profit. would see intergovernmental Europe based upon principles of I strongly support the way the ex- bargaining behind closed doors, equality, peace, and justice for all. cesses of the free market have but without any mechanisms to BACIK I been curbed by EU laws on the ensure transparency or legitimacy. environment, on equality, on women’s and workers’ rights. In The European Union as an entity 2004, when we welcomed the is best understood as being built accession of ten new Member upon ambivalence and contradic- States to the European Union, to tion. Born from a dream of make a total of 455 million EU transnational peace, justice and citizens, I felt that the deep reconstruction, it quickly became divisions of twentieth century a bastion of economic rationality, Europe were being finally laid a common market based upon to rest. money. This divided foundation Reid professor of Criminal Law, means that it cannot be seen as Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin While I am critical of the “demo- either entirely negative or posi- LABOUR PARTY, IRELAND cratic deficit” that characterizes tive. Rather, we should see the the way decisions are taken at EU potential for progressive change IVANA Europe through women’s eyes / 10 11 / Europe through women’s eyes Women want to be proud of Europe’s diversity about one European identity in combat this discrimination which others such as Muslims constantly and fiercely. Because have no place. We have to realize we need successful teachers, nited in diversity”: a well-known that identities are dynamic. Mus- entrepreneurs, businesswomen, European slogan. But what does it lims have been part of Europe’s politicians, etc. with a Muslim mean seen by women’s eyes? history and will be part of its background. They can act as role Since the beginning of the Euro- future. This is why we need to models for future generations of pean Union, diversity became share responsibilities for the new European citizens. We need Europe’s strong point; a unique future of Europe. to encourage this development characteristic by which the Euro- by offering training, especially for pean Union was and is known for Europe seen through Muslim women, and we need to make around the world. And which we women’s eyes offers challenges, election lists as diverse as possi- deserve to be proud of: proud of perhaps even obstacles, just as it ble. And when Muslim women do our cultural diversity, our respect offers for all European women. We participate fully in society, BOZKURT for differing opinions and our as women still have to fight for we should welcome them, not Member of the European multilingualism, among so many equal opportunities such as equal fear them.
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