EU bespreekt gelijkheid tussen mannen en vrouwen op hoog niveau (en)

Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU High Level Conference „Gender Equality de facto as a Contribution to „Reaching Europe 2020“ targets: the Effectiveness of Institutional Mechanisms“ that is held in Vilnius today issues under discussion: what methods and instruments should be applied to make the gender equality structures work more effectively and efficiently in order to accelerate the reduction of the differences between men and women.

According to Algimanta Pabedinskienė, Minister of Social Security and Labour, steady, fully-fledged and effective involvement of women and men into the labour market, equivalent status in all areas is the necessary assumption in order to achieve the strategic objectives of the European Union. „Those objectives are economical growth, competitiveness, welfare of each woman, each man and all the society.

In order to remove inequalities in all the fields and to achieve a substantial gender mainstreaming and gender equality it is necessary to require close cooperation between the institutions, social partners, scientists and researchers working in the field of gender equality, constructive cooperation of women's organisations. Support for women's organisations is essential as well. No doubt that necessary presumption for gender equality to become a reality existing not just in gender equality legislation or policies but also in everyday life is an effective functioning of the institutional mechanisms”, - in her welcome speech said the Minister.

Virginija Langbakk, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality, emphasized that the Institute, which has been in action in Vilnius for several years, has made an important contribution to the targets of the Lithuanian Presidency by preparing a comparative study of the European Union Member States institutional mechanisms.

According to Aurel Ciobanu - Dordea, Director of the Equality Directorate, DG Justice, European Commission, „This is alone not enough in order to make life of women and men free of discrimination based on their sex. To give women and men the same opportunities to realise their aspirations, to create the necessary conditions to enable women and men to achieve the same results, the same positions in society, in the economy, in politics. This is why EU and Commission in particular, has through the years put in place specific and comprehensive strategies for the promotion of gender equality“.

Findings made by the Conference sessions moderates will contribute to the Council Conclusions on Effectiveness on Institutional mechanisms, drafted by Lithuanian Presidency. It is expected that Council Conclusions will be accepted on December 2013 in EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO).

STATISTICS:

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  The difference indicator between woman and men employment in Lithuania is the best in the EU. In 2012 the employment level among 15-64 year old women made 61,9 percent and increased during the year by 1,7 percentage point. Men - made 62,5 percent and increased by 2,1 percentile. Lithuania is ahead in EU by the difference between men and women employment indicator, Latvia is slightly lagging behind. The biggest men and women employment difference is noticed in Malta and Greece.
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  In 2012 women unemployment level was (3,6 percent) was lower than men. Women unemployment level was 11.5 (men - 15,1 percentage point). During one year women unemployment level went down by 1.4 percentile (men - 2,6 percentage point). Lithuania takes the first place in EU by the difference between men and women unemployment indicator,
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  In 2011 the wage gap was reduced between women and men. In 2011 country's agricultural industry, construction and services companies, with the exception of public administration and defence and obligatory social insurance; the wage gap between men and women accounted for 11.9 percent and, in comparison with 2010 decreased by 2,7 percentage point.
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  The number of women who have gained the higher education is bigger than men and by this indicator Lithuania is ahead the EU average.
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  The number of women who have gained the higher education (42,3 percent) is bigger than men (33 percent). By this indicator Lithuania is above the EU average. (7th place) ES average - 39 percent of women who have gained the higher education and 31 percent of men. The best indicator is in Luxemburg, Great Britain, Ireland. The worst - in Italy, Slovakia, Romania.
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  Lithuania is ahead of the EU average according to the percentage of managing women in the largest business enterprises.
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  In 2012 there were 8 percent of women managers in the largest business companies. EU average is (3 percent). The best indicator is in the Czech Republic - 17 percent, Latvia - 13 percent, and Slovenia - 11 percent. Even 14 EU member states do not have large business companies are managed by women.
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  Lithuania is ahead of EU average having women the largest companies board members (18 percent). The best indicator is in Latvia (28 percent) and Finland (29 percent). The worst is in Malta, Hungary and Portugal (7 percent).