Importance of women's political empowerement - Gurmai Zita

Importance of women's political empowerment
Tallinn (Baltic States, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus), Budapest (Central Europe) and
Ljubljana (South Eastern Europe)
b) Sub-regional strategy setting and mutual support through networking
c) Capacity development training programs tailored for each sub-region
d) Specific gender equality policy setting and advocacy campaigns - in 2004 on quota
for the first EU elections in new EU member states, in 2008 on catching up with EU
child care targets in new EU member states and EU neighbouring countries and
development of a pan- European campaign on parity for EU lections in 2009.
Methodology
The CEE Network implements its programmes through strategic partnerships with:
a) Socialist and social-democratic parties and women’s groups in Europe
b) European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity and the PES, SI and SIW
c) European foundations supporting the work of the European Forum
d) European Commission Expert group on women in political decision making
(established in June 2008 in Brussels)
Implementation tools include:
a) a Format of annul MP/MEP strategy consultations and recommendations
b) b Women Can Do It I, II, III training and Youth Can Do It training custom tailored subregionally
and thematically
c) c The CEE Network web site (within the European Forum web site)
d) d The CEE Network publications
The CEE Network tries to ensure a gender balance in its work. Male leaders in political parties
have been instrumental to help push the equality agenda forward. It is a story of shared goals
and gender collaboration.
Impact
Among its most important successes the Network can highlight:
Training: In 1998 the CEE Network provided the translation Women Can Do It (Norwegian
manual) in 10 languages of transition countries and organized training sessions in nearly all
CEE countries. The positive effect (time, effort, and money well spent) of the Women Can Do It
– Phase 1 project has been widely recognized. It was picked up by the Stability Pact for South
Eastern Europe Gender Task Force – SP GTF (OSCE) and has been implemented throughout
SEE region, training more than 16.000 women from different political option for public functions.
Till August 2004, 24 SD parties from 12 transition countries (out of it 12 with some kind of the
status in the SI, and 7 close to the SI), held seminars for their women’s organizations. In 2003
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