Full recognition of women as actors for change in Europe – nothing less!
The average gender pay gap in Europe is 17 %, women are largely underrepresented at decision-making levels in EU institutions, violence against women is persistent throughout Europe, and women’s right to abortion is being denied or restricted in several EU countries. These are some of the reasons why women’s movements remain mobilized throughout Europe. “The International women’s day is relevant for all citizens that want to contribute to a more just and sustainable society. A society where women and men share political and economic responsibilities, where care for elderly and children is shared between women and men and made a societal concern rather than a private one, and where women live lives free from violence”, states Brigitte Triems, President of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL).
With the financial crisis and the evident systemic challenges, a gender perspective is needed more than ever. It is also important to realise that women in Europe face different realities and struggles. Therefore, the possibility to create a more just society will largely depend upon integrating migrant women, lesbians, and disabled women into the core political processes. In view of the importance of the upcoming European elections in June 2009, European Women’s Lobby is running a campaign ‘No modern European democracy without gender equality – 50/50’, calling for more women in decision making at all levels. “It is a question of democracy and of justice, and it is most of all about fully recognizing women as actors of change, as driving forces of sustainable social, economic, and environmental development in Europe”, explains Myria Vassiliadou, Secretary General of the EWL. The 50/50 campaign is supported by more than half of the current 27 European Commissioners, and over 200 prominent supporters have signed up to the campaign.
• Sign the petition and take action – EWL 50/50 Campaign website www.5050democracy.eu
The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest non-governmental women’s organisations in the European Union, representing approximately 2000 organisations in 30 European Countries. Working with its members at national and European levels, the EWL’s main objective is to fight for gender equality and to ensure the integration of a gender perspective in all EU policy areas.