A value that must be taught

Education plays a fundamental role “to inculcate in children the notion of gender equality as early as possible”. Mariya Nedelcheva, Bulgarian MEP, is responsible for the annual report on gender equality in the European Union, due to undergo parliamentary debate during the next plenary meeting in Strasbourg. European Parliament scheduled a series of events for the centenary of International Women’s Day that will conclude on March 8 at the European Parliament seat. The European Commission is equally planning interesting initiatives.Combating discrimination, protecting maternity. “Much as changed as relates to women’s situation, but much remains to be done”, Nedelcheva explained. The European Union has done much in this area through the establishment of a significant body of legislation, ranging from equal access to employment between men and women, the fight against discrimination at work through the protection of motherhood. But unfortunately – and the economic crisis we are facing today does not help – women still do not have the same opportunities in the labour market than men.” The unemployment rate for women is higher than men”, she states through the website of the EU Parliament. “Women earn on average 17.8% less than men for each hour worked” she continues. “By calculation, we arrive at a figure quite absurd: a woman in Europe should work 418 days a year to earn the salary of a man”. The Parliament’s program for the centenary year. Women’s Day initiatives began March 3. The Committee on Women’s Rights organized a meeting with the participation of national parliaments on the topic of Women in politics in the EU with speeches from Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, and Nicole Fontaine, former EP President. Official celebrations are scheduled to take place on March 8 with a discussion session at the EP. MEPs will debate two resolutions: on Equality between men and women, and another on ‘the Face of female poverty in the European Union’. Workshops and a photo exhibition on the centenary of Women’s Day also figure in the Day’s program. The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek will deliver a keynote speech on the issue.Commission: how many women as business leaders? The European Commission equally underlined the theme of equal opportunities between men and women in Europe. The first contribution was conveyed on March 1 by vice-President Viviane Reding who met with with CEOs and chairs of boards of publicly listed companies from 10 European countries to push for more women in boardrooms and discuss how to get more women into top jobs with self-regulation or regulation that will enhance the women’s professional skills. “I want to send a clear message to corporate Europe: women mean business,” said Vice-President Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner. “We need to use all of our society’s talents to ensure that Europe’s economy takes off. This is why the dialogue between the Commission and the social partners is so important. I believe that self-regulation could make a difference if it is credible and effective across Europe. However, I will come back to the matter in a year. If self-regulation fails, I am prepared to take further action at EU level”. The example of Northern Countries. For the Commission, “Corporate Europe is still a man’s world: just one in 10 board members at Europe’s biggest companies are women and in 97% of cases the board is chaired by a man”. Studies show that businesses with more women at the top “outperform ‘men only’ companies”. Making the most of Europe’s female talent in the workforce is not just good for business – “it also benefits the economy and society as a whole.” Reding underlines that “Women represent 60% of university graduates, but continue to be under-represented in economic decision-making posts”. Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark have introduced corporate governance codes and/or voluntary charters “that have led to more women getting on boards”. Legislation on quotas has already been introduced in Norway and is now being implemented in France and Spain. The Commission underlines: “beyond the labor market, women still shoulder the bulk of care responsibilities”.