Transcript Positive Action and Gender Mainstreaming Achievements and Challenges Ewa Ruminska - Zimny, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland [email protected] 7th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Gulistan.

Positive Action and Gender
Mainstreaming
Achievements and Challenges
Ewa Ruminska - Zimny, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
[email protected]
7th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers
Gulistan Palace, Baku
25-26 May 2010
Gender mainstreaming and positive
action

Gender mainstreaming as key tools for reaching
gender equality through (1) (re) organisation,
improvement, development and evaluation of (all)
policy processes and (2) focused action (e.g quotas)
 Complementarity of g.m and positive action
 Key role of COE in the development and
implementation of positive action and gender
mainstreaming strategy at European level
 Achievements mixed with challenges and a sense of
slow progress (se2009.eu)
Achievements
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Achievements varied accross country and by area: national reports
for this conference (www.coe.org) and for B+15 review
(www.unece.org/gender)
Priority actions and progress in 3 main areas: (i) national
mechanisms for gender equality, (ii) violence against women
(domestic/trafficking), (iii) economy (poverty, equal pay,
reconciliation work-family, entrepreneurship)
Slower and more uneven progress in decision-making, the media
and social sectors (education, health) – importance of themes of
today’s Conference
Achievements: good practices
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New laws (Gender Equality Act, Croatia 2008) and/or
provisions in Labour Code (paternal leaves, wage gap), Penal
Code (domestic violence) and other- also Action Plans against
violence and/or National Action Plans (most COE countries)
New mechanisms: gender budgeting in Federal Constitution
(Austria 2009); gender reviews of national budget (Azerbaijan
2008)
Women entrepreneurs : lower admin. barriers for microenterprises (Kazakhstan, Russia), microcredits (Turkey),
National Agency for women start-ups (Germany)
Private sector: quotas and voluntary measures: over 40% share
of women in corporate boards in Norway (up from 16% in
2005); also France, Spain; voluntary Charter „Talents to the
Top” (Netherlans), Family- friendly employer (Slovakia)
Achievements and de facto equality

Better legislation is a necessary condition for de facto progress
– but not a sufficient one as it does not ensure implementation
 Despite widespread anti- discriminatory provisions on wages –
in all member countries women are paid less than men – in
some they get only about 50-60 % of male average wage (even
those with higher education – 65% men’s salary in Slovakia)
 Despite (new) measures on parental leave in many countries
the share of fathers is in low single digits (1-3%); but level of
benefits matters; in Germany father’s share increased from 3,5
to 18% due to new new earning-related benefits (2007),
similarly in Estonia from 2 to 6% (temporary)

Challenges: how to make real changes in
the real world?
Key factors: political will, resources, data/information,
addressing structural barriers
 Political will varies (declarative –practical); impact of low share
of women at decision levels -- in most COE countries only 1525% MPs; in some only 6-7 % and only in few above 35%
(only Sweden at parity - 47%)
 Resources pressed down by economic and financial crisis,
budgetary constraints and tougher rules
 Data: indicators in 9 Beijing areas adopted by EU (2009) – only
Human rights, media and environment left outside
 Structural barries: slow progress in changing formal and
informal institutions (stereotypes)
Formal and informal institutions: equality
as a cost

Institutions reflect the perception that gender equality, though
a basic human right, is a cost to society in economic terms
(takes resources from investments for ex in new technologies)
 It is in fact another gender stereotype – along with traditional
male and female roles – rarely addressed in media and
education campaigns (cultural norms, micro level)
 Combating also this stereotype (economic norms, macro-level)
is important for progress in de facto equality
 It could be incorporated into new initiatives in media and
education --–such as – mainstreaming gender into higher
education curriculum (new „women’s study” university
course, Croatia), teacher’s education (Belgium) or courses for
public servants (Luxemburg)
What are the arguments ?
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Gender equality- GDP growth –a two way street as one affects
the other
Economic recessions/crisis have negative impact on gender
equality (women as vulnerable group) -- but gender equality
affects growth rates
Positive impact on growth through more effective use of
human and social capital (quantity, quality, allocation –returns
on education) – but also higher demand and more
contributions to national budget (Klasen 2009, Smith, Bettio
2009)
In Asia, estimated losses due to inequality in labour market
amount to 42-47 bln.$ (UN –ESCAP 2007)
Also positive impact at company level – diversity („Lehman
sisters”), pool of talents, better response to demand (Dell’s
„pink” computer failure)
Share of women researchers in total number of
researchers
( %, 2006)
Source: UNECE Gender Statistics Database
Women’s education level and professional position
(shares:
tertiary eduction %; and senior management %; 2005)
Source: Worldbank Edstats, ILO Laborsta
Conclusions
Current crisis enbodies risks for furher progress in gender
equality – pressure on jobs, resources, public services and
social infrastructure
It is also an opportunity to :
 Bring human rights standards to economic policies
 Change the stereotype that gender equality is a cost to
economic and social development: role media and education
 Strenghten the case for mainstreaming gender into core
economic and social sectors based on investment argument
 Build partnerships among all actors – including men