Brussels, 10/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 September, the European Parliament passed a resolution recommending the removal of obstacles to scientific and academic careers for women.
The resolution by Elissavet Vozemberg (EPP, Greece), adopted by 550 to 97 with 41 abstentions, calls for the introduction of an effective strategy. “The main objective of this report is to enhance the common European strategy, in order to achieve universal equality between men and women in their respective careers in science, education and technology,” explained Vozemberg.
The resolution highlights the low presence of women in high-ranking positions in science and academia and calls for the introduction of effective measures to break this glass ceiling. The MEPs urge the member states to revise their legislation to strengthen existing measures to ensure equal treatment for men and women. Non-discrimination must be the rule in all types of labour contracts and equal treatment must be respected, they explain, adding that selection and promotion processes need to be open and transparent. For academia, positive female role models must be promoted at all levels and programmes set up to encourage girls to take scientific careers and go to university.
The main obstacle preventing women from moving up the ladder in science and academia is the problem of combining family life with work. The MEPs therefore call on the member states to introduce programmes to encourage women to continue their careers after maternity or parental leave and to offer flexible working conditions. They also call on research institutes and universities to introduce plans and programmes to promote sexual equality, and urge the media to put an end to gender stereotypes. (Isabelle Lamberty)