International Women's Day 2011: "Let's make things happen"
The European Parliament celebrates International Women’s day between the 3-8 March with a series of events in Brussels and in Strasbourg.
The events aim to draw attention to gender inequality issues, including female poverty, differences in pay and access to jobs as well as maternity issues.
Portuguese MEP Edite Estrela (S&D), whose report (on extending paid maternity leave) was approved by the EP in one of the most high profile issues of last year, said in an interview that her message for the event is of “hope but also of great responsibility.”
“The financial and economic crises that we are living through are used as an alibi when there is no political will,” she added.
Women's Rights Committee Member Rovana Plumb commented: "We have to find appropriate solutions and measures to prove that men and women in equality can contribute to a stronger social Europe to the benefit of all"
Ms Plumb underlined that "almost 17% of European women are ranked as living in poverty".
Besides women, there are also some male members on the Women's Rights Committee (FEMM).
French MEP and FEMM Committee member Philippe Juvin said: “My investment in the Women's Rights Committee is also and above all to fight for gender equality, for the benefit of men and woman.”
Mr Juvin also said that the road for full gender equality in all public policy is still long: “While in Sweden, 27% of women sit on boards of large firms, France reached the modest score of 10% in 2009.”
Some of the events:
3 March: Women in politics in the European Union
On 3 March, the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee will hold an interparliamentary meeting on "Women in politics in the European Union", which will focus on how to enhance women's participation in politics.
Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament will open the event, which will include the participation of Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and President of the Mary Robinson Foundation on Climate Justice. Nicole Fontaine, former President of the European Parliament, MEPs and members of national parliaments will also participate.
One of the issues that will be under discussion will be on elected assemblies around the world can bear more relation to the composition of society.
8 March: Parliamentary Session
On 8 March the European Parliament will debate the reports by Mariya Nedelcheva MEP (Equality between women and men — 2010) and Rovana Plumb MEP ("Face of female poverty in the European Union") as well as formally marking International Women's Day. Prior to the debate Ms Nedelcheva told us: "Despite all the efforts outlined, the numbers speak for themselves: women - often with diplomas - fail in practice to overcome the glass ceiling that prevents them from attaining positions of responsibility ".
Click here to find out more and read all the interviews on the EP's website
The interviews include:
Portuguese MEP Edite Estrela (S&D) was rapporteur on extending paid maternity leave for men and women.
Greek MEP Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP): Parliament's Vice President and member of the Women's Rights Committee who is preparing a report on "Women and Business Leadership".
Barbara Matera (Italian, EPP): Vice-Chair of the Women's Rights Committee who is preparing a report on the situation of single mothers in the European Union.
Bulgarian Mariya Nedelcheva (EPP): Member of the Women's Rights Committee responsible for this year's report on equality between women and men in the EU 2010.
Rovana Plumb (S&D) is a Romanian MEP preparing a report on "the face of female poverty in the European Union".
Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE/NGL): The Chair of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee. She is behind a non-legislative report with suggestions on how to protect women against crime directed against them simply because they are women.
Male members: French MEP Philippe Juvin, Spanish Member Raül Romeva i Rueda (Greens/EFA) and Belgian Socialist Marc Tarabella.
