Luxembourg, 10/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - As part of the annual review on implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action for the promotion of women, the Employment/Social Affairs Council adopted, on Monday 9 June, conclusions setting out indicators on the “girl child” and “women in political decision-making”, two of the 12 critical areas of action in the Beijing programme.
In its text on “women in political decision-making”, the Council encourages member states and the Commission to launch quantitative and qualitative studies on the outcome of positive measures, including quotas, for increasing women's access to and participation in power and decision-making, and to promote the exchange and dissemination of good practices. Ministers call, in particular, on member states to adopt appropriate policies to reconcile work, family and private life, and to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the 2002 Barcelona targets in the field of childcare facilities, as well as to take appropriate measures to encourage men to share parenting and other care responsibilities equally with women. Among other things, the Council encourages: (1) political parties to improve the balanced representation of women and men in party lists or nominations for elected office; and (2) the member states and the Commission, including with the involvement of the European Institute for Gender Equality, to carry out research and studies to analyse how women influence political agendas, particularly in regard to the promotion of good governance, accountability and rule of law.
The Slovenian EU Presidency had already stated how important these conclusions were. “It is significant that one should move from declarations to actions”, a Slovenian diplomat had noted a few days ago, specifying that the conclusions adopted by the Council “should provide a good outlook for those who discuss the names of persons to be appointed in future to important posts. This is an extremely important aspect of the future”, she had stressed.
In the text on the “girl child”, the Council calls on member states and on the Commission to take this aspect more into account, within the framework of integration of gender equality issues, in planning, the implementation and follow-up of legislative provisions, policies, programmes and projects, mainly with regard to human rights, combating violence, health, social inclusion and social protection, as well as education, sports and youth policies, and within the framework of action conducted in the field of external relations and justice and home affairs. (G.B./transl.jl)