Brussels, 26/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Amongst some of the contributions from civil society to the work of the European Convention, are those from women's groups, which are appealing essentially for an effective guarantee of fundamental rights and freedoms for men and women but also for genuine sexual equality.
ECN wants integration of equal rights into constitutional treaty
The European Citizens Network (ECN founded in Madrid consists of women from different Member States) regrets the lack of gender balance within the representation of the Convention itself, an imbalance that has contributed to the democratic deficit caused by the inequality of political representation. The ECN is therefore requesting that the Convention: 1) Includes the contribution of women to debates on the constitutional future of Europe; 2) Introduces an appropriate gender perspective, as well as in reforms involving the Community institutions and the definition of policies and competencies; 3) Correctly integrates rights, such as those between men and women in the Constitution and the Treaty that will come out of the work of the Convention; 4) Adopts a mainstreaming social approach (based on qualitative criteria of justice and equality) in the work and introducing an impact evaluation on gender (which already encourages the European Commission, points out the ECN) in EU policies. The constitutional text on the future of Europe will hence also include a greater degree of democratic legitimacy; 5) Reflects on developing a new political culture that takes into account gender.
EWL: Equality in EU objectives
The European Women's Lobby's (EWL) main thrust is: 1) the introduction in the forward to the future Treaty, as well as in Article 6 of the EU Treaty, the right to sexual equality as the ultimate goal of the EU; 2) reinforcement of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, together with specific provisions on the respect for human and women's rights, such as the ban on violence and sexual persecution; 3) integration of a sex-specific analysis and sexual equality objectives in the definition. The implementation and assessment of external EU policy, including macro-economic, trade and co-operation and development programmes. Poverty reduction programmes and foreign and security policy; 4) introduction of a new measure with direct effect in the first part of the Treaty on "Principles" that outlaw sex discrimination; 5) integration in the future Treaty on policies newly entitled, "Equality between men and women", as well as a new provision integrating social policies and sexual equality. The EWL also proposes strengthening European policy in the area of public health care, as well as providing a gender dimension to the anti-discrimination clause and revitalising the democratic legitimacy of the EU by setting up democratic parity, the extension of European citizenship to those residing in the EU and recognition of civil dialogue in the Treaty. For the EWL, the EU Treaty and The European UnionTreaty should be merged into a single and coherent text.
EFWWH: Europe constructed on genuine democratic parity
European Federation of Women Working in the Home (EFWWH, member of the European platform of social NGOs and the European Women's Lobby) is requesting the Convention to recognise the economic and social value of voluntary work at all levels in the EU, as well as the right of all citizens to work voluntarily in NGOs. The EFWWH is also appealing for genuine participatory democracy inclusive of all citizens and Europeans. It is also calling for a reference to the European Charter for fundamental Rights to be revised and expanded and that it remains open to any modification in order to take into account developments in European society.
AFEM: wants effective guarantee for fundamental rights
The Association des Femmes de l'Europe méridionale (AFEM, Spanish, French, Greek, Italian and Portuguese federation of NGOs) welcomes the fact that the Convention has committed itself to dialogue with civil society and it will follow the work of the Convention within the perspective of a "Constitution for male and female citizens that effectively guarantees fundamental freedoms for men and women", as well as a strengthening of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. In the context of enlargement, respect for the Community acquis is a determining factor to both men and women, explains the AFEM, which also considers that enlargement must not be done to the detriment of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership which it considers as a priority for Europe.