Gelijke rechten mannen/vrouwen op agenda Hongaars voorzitterschap (en)

The Hungarian Presidency works on the improvement of the European Pact for Gender Equality. The draft document, which is tailored to the Europe 2020 Strategy, was presented at a meeting of the high-level working group in Budapest. The parties also examined how the crisis has affected gender equality.

Although from a legal point of view, neither women nor men suffer from discrimination within the European Union, in reality equality has yet to be achieved.

There are gender gaps in employment: women are under-represented in several fields, such as sciences and decision making. In addition, they are generally paid lower wages than men. Women also do more “unpaid” jobs: domestic chores as well as caring for the elderly and children. Conversely, men are also exposed to discrimination in a variety of activities or positions, where their aptitude is not taken for granted - raising children is an example. The gender equality policy also tries to find solutions for discrimination against men as well.

Ambitions of the European Union

By adopting the European Pact for Gender Equality, Member States committed themselves to achieving gender equality at the highest political level. The objectives of the Hungarian Presidency include the improvement of the Pact adopted in 2006, in order to tailor it to the Europe 2020 Strategy and the relevant strategy of the Commission.

The first draft of the document was presented at the high-level working group meeting in Budapest on 12 January 2011. According to the plans of the Presidency, the issue will be put on the agenda at the meeting of the Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs to be held on 7 March. The Hungarian Presidency hopes that the European Council, comprised of Member State heads of State and government, will adopt the declaration, and the issue escalates to the highest EU level.

Institutional background of the work for gender equality

Gender equality policy has no independent ministerial Council formation within the EU. However, several projects and actions are aimed at removing inequalities and Brussels tries to incorporate the principle of gender equality in different policies.

Once a year professional leaders of competent administrative units of Member States meet in the current presidency country. The European Commission provides the professional content of the meeting which is presided over by the Commission’s representative; and the agenda is also set by the Commission. Member State experts are joined by representatives of the General Secretariat of the Council at the meeting.

The working group plays a key role in creating a long term EU strategy for equality between women and men, and also facilitates exchanging experience between Member States. On this meeting Member States arrange tasks arising in relation to the annual sessions of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Commission of the Status of Women, with special regard to the division of work between the Presidency and the European External Action Service.

According to the current division of work, in 2011 Hungary will address the Commission on the Status of Women on behalf of the EU.

The Beijing Platform for Action and the European Institute for Gender Equality

One of the major issues at the Budapest meeting was the impact of the crisis on gender equality. The meeting found that the crisis affected the citizens of different Member States in different ways. However, an accurate picture on gender equality requires measurements and benchmarks.

The EU promotes the establishment of a common indicator system. To this end, it develops indicators in 12 critical fields, which were determined by the Beijing Platform for Action adopted at the UN’s World Conference for Women in 1995. Since 1999, the EU has reviewed these fields and has developed various measurement methodologies, i.e. indicators, for each.

Actively operating since 2010, the European Institute for Gender Equality will play a key role in this activity. An independent professional institution, promotes gender equality by collecting information and building an extensive data base.