The European Women’s Lobby Working together for women’s rights and gender equality in Europe

Women in Decision-Making and the EWL

50/50 Campaign

The largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU, with more than 2500 member organisations:

The voice of European Women

30 National Coordinations

21 European-level member

organisations

The main policy areas of EWL work:

European policies and legislation on equality between women and men

Women in Decision-making /Parity DemocracyEmployment and Social AffairsViolence Against Women Immigration, Integration and Asylum

Only 35% of MEPs and less than a quarter of national parliamentarians are women

Did you know that in the EU…

Did you know that in the EU…

Only 3% of the presidents of the largest companies are women

Women in decision-making= an important issue for the EWL since its creation

Many activities since 1990: events, lobbying etc 50/50 Campaign 2008-2009 Move towards parity in European institutions:

Parliament, Commission and “EU top jobs” Equality in decision-making in economic sector

Women In Decision-making: What Is at Stake is the European Democracy

Women are mostly under represented in decision-making in all European countries:Women in the European Parliament: 35%Women in national Parliaments in EU and accession countries : 24%Women in national governments in the EU MS and accession countries: 27%

Reasons that are commonly given for women’s under-representation in political decision-making

Women’s economic subordination: economic, social and cultural resources are necessary to attain decision-making positions

Symbolic factors linked to traditional gender roles: decision-making seen as a male domain

Electoral institutions, laws and functioning: list system or majority systems, holding of several mandates, political parties as gate keepers, status of elected persons etc

The EU has been an important actor in promoting equality between women and men, especially concerning employment

5 EU Member States have legal quotas /parity system (Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia)

In about 16 EU countries some political parties have voluntary quotas

Continued…

EU level: no binding measures to ensure the equal representation of women and men within the EU institutions

Quotas for economic decision-making in Norway, Iceland, Spain (proposed in France)

Activities within the EWL 50/50 Campaign (2008-2009)

More than 60 Campaign events in 22 countries! Petition, Facebook group, website, media work Gender audit of political parties in view of the

European elections

Activities within the EWL 50/50 Campaign

More than 300 prominent women and men from all over Europe and all political affiliations support the Campaign: 14 EU commissioners, heads of state, ministers, members of parliaments, leaders of trade unions, writers, a Nobel Prize winner etc .

2009 European Elections results (1)

Now 35% women in the EP → progress compared to about 30% at

the start of 2004-2009 legislative period In all Member States except 2, more women

in the EP than in national parliament

European Elections results (2)

17 countries with more women than before 2 countries stay at same level and 7 have less

women MEPs than before 2 countries = less than 20% women European countries which have restrictive

policies in relation to abortion are below 30% of women

Autumn 2009 Activities of the 50/50 Campaign

Lobbying focused on two key subjects

EU “top jobs” created by the Lisbon Treat•President of the European Council•Foreign Affairs Chief

College of Commissioners

Demonstration for EU Top Jobs

Women in « EU Top Jobs » - Results

One of three “top jobs” to a woman:Catherine Ashton as EU’s Foreign Affairs

Chief

Nine women Commissioners = 1/3 of College (no progress)

Economic and Financial Decision-making• Women underrepresented in key positions and

decision-making• No woman head of a central bank in 2009 • Only 3% of the presidents of the largest publicly

quoted companies are womenQuotas have been successful in Norway

Other Areas of Decision-making• Entrepreneurship and innovation

• Only 8.3% of patents awarded by the European Patent Office are awarded to women

• Science and research• 45% of PhD graduates in 2006 were women• Only 20% of grade A academic positions in 2007 held by

women• In 16 European countries, men occupy more than 90% of

university headships

ConclusionA lot of work to be done to reach democracy!

Implement binding electoral measures to ensure 50/50 in 2014 European Parliamentary elections

Must ensure parity in Commission: nomination of one woman and man by each Member State in the future

Women specific measures and funds to enable and empower women to participate

Quotas in the economic sector

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

For more information:www.womenlobby.org