Brussels, 06/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - Gender equality should make headway under Danish presidency of the EU Council. The rotating presidency of the first half of 2012 will seek, in particular, to take a close look at the place attributed to women in the fight against climate change, and the quotas for female members of governing boards.
Priority will be given to gender and climate change by gearing work to two areas: - the proportion of women holding key posts to combat climate change, and the number of women in technical and scientific bodies on climate.
Denmark plans in coming months to present a report on the matter, in cooperation with the European institute for gender equality. This will allow the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) on 22 June to adopt conclusions on the matter. The Danish Presidency will be introducing the subject as it is the first time that indicators on women and the environment together will be tackled by the Council. Each rotating presidency will examine one of the 12 priority areas of action established since 1995 by the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) of the United Nations, which defines general guidelines for global action in favour of equal opportunities.
The second workshop on gender will relate to quotas in management or government boards. It is expected that the European Commission will, on 8 March this year, present a report on the place of women in management bodies. This will also be based on a policy debate to be conducted by the Danish Presidency during the EPSCO Council of 17 February. During the same ministerial meeting, the Commission will also present information on progress made in 2011 in the field of improving equality between men and women.
The Danish Presidency announces it wishes particular attention to be paid to school drop outs. A seminar will be dedicated to the matter in May. It will also focus on the rate of participation by women in technical and scientific training, in relation to discussion on women and climate change. (MD/transl.jl)