Importance of women's political empowerement - Gurmai Zita

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CEE Network workshop in the framework of the PES Progressive Convention
Moreover, the differences between men and women in the Slovenian society have not changed,
but the emergence of new forms of discriminatory conduct is more than obvious:
• Jobs carried out by women are concentrated in the lower part of the spectrum of the
labour market.
• Advancement opportunities are limited and do not meet the skills and education of
women.
• Women are mainly employed in the service sector
• Women are still a minority in carrying the responsibility and managerial positions in
the economic and non-economic sectors, and therefore access to the social power
and influence is limited to women.
Measures
Some of the most important measures that the Slovenian government has undertaken from
2008 till today:
With the support of active employment policy in the period from 2007-2013 the government has
shaped a holistic approach for decreasing unemployment rates and to encourage employment
policies.
Suggestions
We can all agree on our ultimate aim of a better society. But I would like to present to you some
concrete measures to be taken in order to achieve that better society:
I. Reforming the system of social benefits is necessary, in order to focus on new social
groups that are most in need
II. The demographic crisis cannot be solved by “just” reforming the pension system, but
with the coordination of policies and with the consent of social partners; partnership
between women and men on aboard at the same time
III. Enhance /integrate a gender perspective in all spheres of society, especially in the
sphere of employment policies, not only those in which the social dimension is
particularly vulnerable.
IV. It is crucial to enable new party members to understand and internalise social
democratic values and main theoretical concepts. In the workshops of the CEE
Network, organized in April and September 2011, it became clear that all political
parties need systematic theoretical empowerment of young members, which is a
basic method of collective mentoring.
V. Personal mentorship as a systematic tool between established female politician and
young female activist is impossible due to “well known rivalry” between women.
VI. To develop personal mentorship as a new tool for badly needed rejuvenating of
women human rights activists in our social democratic parties.