Directorate-General for Internal Policies Directorate C - Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

10/05/2011

Report on the FEMM Committee delegation visit to Budapest, Hungary, 16 - 18 March 2011

COMPOSITION Eva-Britt SVENSSON (GUE/NGL, Sweden), Chair of the FEMM Committee Lívia JÁRÓKA (EPP, Hungary), Vice-Chair of the FEMM Committee Edit BAUER (EPP, ) Zita GURMAI (S&D, Hungary) Ilda FIGUEIREDO (GUE/NGL, Portugal)

Members were accompanied by Sabina Magnano and Zoltán Pethő from the committee secretariat, Ákos Madari (EP Office in Budapest) and Valborg Linden- Jonsten (S&D group advisor).

PURPOSE The delegation visit took place in the context of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the . The aim of the visit was to learn about gender equality policies in Hungary and exchange views about the implementation of the Presidency Programme in the field of gender equality.

PRESS A Press Conference was held at the conclusion of the visit and a press statement was issued by the Committee Chair.

MEETINGS (See full programme in enclosed Annex I)

17 March 2011

1. Minister of National Resources

Mr Miklós Réthelyi, Minister of National Resources is responsible for a broad portfolio of policy areas, including gender equality. The meeting with the Minister

- 1 - and further representatives of the Ministry covered gender equality issues on European level in the context of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as the domestic situation of gender policies. The Minister highlighted the following three gender issues which are dealt with during the Hungarian Presidency:

The European Pact for gender equality for the period 2011 - 2020 was adopted as a result of the revision of the previous gender pact. In addition to the commitments of its predecessor, the revised Pact also includes the issue of violence against women and the protection of victims.

The Minister emphasised the need for a European Anti-discrimination Directive, with a particular focus on people living with disabilities.

Concerning the maternity leave Directive, the Minister explained the difficulties that some Member States had with the Parliament's position. The Hungarian Presidency continues to work on this dossier in the Council working groups, where the amendments are carefully examined. Mr Réthelyi added that the work would then be taken over by the Polish Presidency.

After the Minister's presentation he exchanged views with Members of the delegation, who put further questions about the lack of the gender aspect in the EU 2020 strategy, the European Observatory on Gender Violence, the Barcelona objectives regarding child-care, the poverty of women and about women in political and economical decision-making.

In the second part of the meeting, the Minister gave an introduction to the situation of gender equality in Hungary. Mr Réthelyi mentioned the low employment rate for women, the under-representation of women in decision-making and the persisting phenomenon of violence against women.

After this part of the meeting, Members of the delegation discussed with the Minister about the impact of the new Constitution of Hungary (in effect from 1 January 2012) on gender equality, the situation of prostitution and trafficking, access to childcare and the gender pay gap.

2. Committee on Human Rights, Minority, Civic and Religious Affairs (committee in charge of gender affairs)

Mr. Tamás Lukács, Chair of the Committee, met the delegation and briefly presented the Committee, which amongst other fields is also responsible for gender equality. In addition to the Chair a number of other Members of the Committee from different political parties were present and contributed to the presentation.

The presentation was followed by an exchange of views between the Hungarian and European Parliamentarians. The discussion covered the issues of the new Hungarian Constitution from the gender perspective, the role of women in political decision- making, gender mainstreaming in Hungarian politics, as well as the issues of prostitution and abortion.

- 2 - 3. State Secretary for Social, Family and Youth affairs and representatives of the Department for Equal Opportunities and the Department for European Union and International Social Affairs, Ministry of National Resources

The committee delegation met Mr. Miklós Soltész, State Secretary for Social, Family and Youth affairs, and senior representatives of the Department for Equal Opportunities and the Department for European Union and International Social Affairs of the Ministry of National Resources. The State Secretary spoke about the revised European Gender Pact, women's labour force participation, the gender aspects of the EU's Roma strategy and different EU funded programmes targeting the promotion and implementation of gender equality. Following his introduction, Mr Soltész gave the floor to Ms Ildikó Bernáth, Ministerial Commissioner, who further illustrated issues related to female employment, reconciliation and the gender pay- gap. Following questions from Members, the State Secretary asked the experts of the different ministerial departments, to give more detailed answers about the specific items, such as reconciliation policies, boosting women's employment and the revised European Gender Pact.

4. President of the Equal Treatment Authority The delegation visited the Hungarian Equal Treatment Authority and met Ms Dr. Ágnes Honecz, President, together with the Vice-President and three experts of the authority. The President gave a presentation about the role and activity of the institution, with the support of the experts, who spoke about the specific fields of responsibility of the authority. This was followed by a series of questions from the Members of the delegation, particularly about gender discrimination and how the authority can deal with the different cases.

18 March 2011

5. Round-table with representatives from civil society

The delegation met the representatives of the following non-governmental organisations:

 Association for Women’s Career Development in Hungary (Magyar Női Karrierfejlesztési Szövetség) represented by Ms Andrea Ferenczi, President; Ms Rita Rónyai Secretary General, and Ms Valéria Farkasné Molnár  NANE Women's Rights Association (Nők a Nőkért Együtt az Erőszak Ellen) represented by Ms Judit Wirth  Jól-Lét (Well-Being) Foundation represented by Ms Katalin Keveházi, President  National Association of Families with many children (Nagycsaládosok Országos Egyesülete) represented by Ms Hajnalka Székely, President and Ms Márta Kiss, Member of the Presidency  Association of Roma Women involved in Public Life (Közéleti Roma Nők Egyesülete) represented by Ms Blanka Kozma, President; Ms Beáta Dánielné Tóth; Ms Sándorné Domokos and Ms Dr. Mónika Kevei, lawyer

- 3 -  The Hungarian Women’s Lobby represented by Ms Borbála Juhász, Vice President, Ms Dr. Enikő Pap, Vice President and Ms Réka Sáfrány, Secretary

Each organisation briefly introduced its activity to the Members of the delegation, which was followed by an exchange of views focusing on the following topics:  expectations for the Hungarian Presidency of the EU in the field of gender equality;  situation of Roma women in Hungary;  situation of families with many children in Hungary;  building careers for women;  reconciliation of motherhood and work/carrier;  violence against women, hotline and helping victims.

6. Press conference The Chair of the delegation made a statement to the representatives of the press, summarizing the findings of the delegation. Following this, Members of the delegation answered a series of questions from the journalists and individual interviews were also conducted.

7. Lunch hosted by the State Minister for European Union affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs To conclude the delegation visit, Ms Enikő Győri, State Minister for European Union affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a working lunch for the Members of the delegation, where they exchanged views about the experiences of the visit, as well as the work of the Hungarian Presidency in general.

- 4 - Directorate-General for Internal Policies Directorate C - Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality Annex 1

16 March 2011

Delegation to Budapest, Hungary 16-18 March 2011

Final Programme

Departure from Brussels to Budapest on Wednesday, 16 March 2011 in the afternoon. The meetings will start on Thursday, 17 March 2011 at 9.30.

Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Corvinus H-1051 Budapest, Erzsébet tér 7-8 Phone +36 1 429 3777, Fax +36 1 429 4777 www.kempinski.com

Thursday, 17 March

8.55 Meeting in the hotel lobby and departure. Bus transport is arranged between meeting venues.

9.30 - 12.30 Meetings with representatives of the Hungarian Government (Ministry of National Resources) and the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Minority, Civic and Religious Affairs Venue: Országház (National Assembly), Budapest, Kossuth tér 1-3. Interpretation from boots

9.30 - 11.00 Meeting with Mr Miklós Réthelyi, Minister of National Resources

11.00 - 12.30 Meeting with the Chairperson and Members of the Committee on Human Rights, Minority, Civic and Religious Affairs (committee in charge of gender affairs)

12.30 - 13.45 Lunch

14.00 - 16.00 Meetings with the State Secretary for Social, Family and Youth affairs and representatives of the Department for Equal

- 5 - Opportunities and the Department for European Union and International Social Affairs, Ministry of National Resources Venue: Országház (National Assembly), Budapest, Kossuth tér 1-3. Interpretation from boots

Meeting with Mr Miklós Soltész, State Secretary for Social, Family and Youth affairs, Ministry of National Resources

Senior staff from the Ministry*:

Ms Ildikó Bernáth, Ministerial Commissioner

Ms Mária Ladó, Head of Department for International Relations dr. Péter Csányi, Head of Department, EU and International Social Affairs Ms Franciska Mikulás, Head of Department for Equal Opportunities Ms Judit Gazsi, Senior Counsellor, Department for Equal Opportunities Ms Orsolya Makár, Consellor, Department for Equal Opportunities

16.00 Departure by bus to the Equal Treatment Authority

16.30 - 17.30 Meeting with Ms Dr. Ágnes Honecz, President of the Equal Treatment Authority Venue: Equal Treatment Authority, Budapest, Margit krt. 85. 7th floor meeting room. Interpretation: Chuchotage

Friday, 18 March

Check out from the hotel.

8.25 Meeting in the hotel lobby and departure. Bus transport is arranged between meeting venues.

9.00 - 11.00 Round-table with representatives from civil society Venue: European Parliament Information Office, Budapest, Lövőház u. 35. Interpretation: Chuchotage

 Expectations for the Hungarian Presidency of the EU in the field of gender equality  The situation of Roma women in Hungary  The situation of families with many children in Hungary  Building careers for women  Reconciliation of motherhood and work/carrier  Violence against women, hotline and helping victims

- 6 - Participants:  Hungarian Women's Lobby (Magyar Női Érdekérvényesítő Szövetség) http://eselyegyenloseg.eu/noierdek/  Association of Roma Women involved in Public Life (Közéleti Roma Nők Egyesülete) http://www.adhat.hu/szerv/egyszerv/61217.html  Association for Women’s Career Development in Hungary (Magyar Női Karrierfejlesztési Szövetség) http://www.noikarrier.hu/  National Association of Families with many children (Nagycsaládosok Országos Egyesülete) http://www.noe.hu/  Jól-Lét (Well-Being) Foundation (http://jol-let.com/) Protection of the interests of mothers and families with small children  NANE Women for Women United Against Violence, Women's Rights Association - (Nők a Nőkért Együtt az Erőszak Ellen) http://www.nane.hu/english/index.html

11.15 - 11.45 Press conference Venue: European Parliament Information Office, 1024 Budapest, Lövőház u. 35. Interpretation: Chuchotage

12.00 Transfer to the venue of the lunch.

13.00 - 14.30 Lunch hosted by Ms Enikő Győri, State Minister for European Union affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Venue: Hotel Novotel Danube, 1024 Budapest, Bem rkp. 33-34.

14.30 End of the programme Individual departure from Budapest

***

* Final list of participants from Ministry to be confirmed

- 7 -