Equality between Women and Men in the EU:

recent developments

11th LPR Network seminar Tallinn, 18-19 September 2014

Muriel Bissières, European Commission DG JusticeGender Equality Unit

 

1 - Overview of the situation after European Parliament election and changes in the European

Commission

Overview of the situation in the European Parliament

Men and women distribution by opening sessions

Overview of the situation in the European Commission

2 - Recent development in the framework of the European strategy for

equality between women and men 2010-

2015

Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015

Progress towards genuine gender equality has been made, but at a slow rate. At this rate of change, it will take…

Male and female employment rates

Since 2000 the female employment rate has increased thanks to targeted policies. The gender employment gap shrank as a direct consequence of the economic crisis which affected particularly male dominated sectors.

• Much of the pre-crisis increase in female employment related to part-time employment

• The share of men working part-time is small (8%), whereas almost a third of employed women across Europe work part-time (32%)

• This figure is above 40% in the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Part-time employment tends to be more irreversible for women

• As a result, the gender gap in full-time equivalent employment is wide (18.3pp in 2013).

Even though men devote more time to paid work, women work in total 60 hours a week, 10 hours more than men, spending on average 26 hours on caring activities, compared with 9 hours spent by men.

Average time spent by workers on paid and unpaid work per week

Source: European Survey on Working Conditions (2010)

Reconciliation between work and private life, a global approach :

♀ ♂

Promoting gender equality in the EU2020 strategy : 2014 European Semester: CSRs related to female labour market participation for 14 MS

Reviewing the EU2020 strategy : a gender equality pillar ?

Council conclusions of 19 June 2014 on "Women and the economy: Economic independence from the perspective of part-time work and self-employment"

• 3,2billions euros for childcare 2007-2013

• Encouraging developments in - Hungary

- Poland- Maltawith the contribution of the European Structural and Investment Funds

Encouraging use of the structural funds

Monitoring legislation

• Revised parental leave directive

• Maternity leave directive

• Working time directive

Monitoring the Barcelona targets

In EU 25

Recent developments on the Gender Pay Gap

• Report on the application of Directive 2006/54/EC

• March 2014 : Commission Recommendation on

strengthening the principle of equal pay between men

and women through y

Equality in economic decision making recent developements

40% target for non-executive directors

Binding rules on a transparent selection process

• In companies listed on stock exchanges

• By 1 January 2020 or 2018 for public undertakings;

The European Commission's proposal (November 2012)

The first EU-wide survey on violence against women, carried out by the

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

• One in three women (33%) has experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.

• 22% of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a partner.

• 55% of women in the EU have been confronted with some form of sexual harassment since the age of 15.

• One in 20 women (5%) has been raped since the age of 15.

3- Emerging challenges

Stereotypes including in young ages the return of sexism?

The involvment and engagement of young generation

Engaging men and boys in the gender equality movement

The specific situation of certain groups

Any questions ?

Where's the mechanic?