The Outcome Of CSW Is Not Strong Enough
Christa Witcherich spoke yesterday in the side-event organised by the EWL, with the presence of key players in the decision making of Gender Equality policies of the EU. Eva- Britt Svensson, Chair of the Women’s Rights Committee of European Parliament, Belynda Pike Director of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission, as well as one representative of Spanish Ministry of Equality, Isabel Martinez participated in the event.
Eva – Britt Svensson shared her concern that “the outcome of the CSW is not strong enough”. She informed that the EP is working on a report to include proposals in the future EU Road map for Gender Equality, which will be presented in July 2010. She made a strong call for women’s organisations to engage in dialogue with the MEPs.
About the Women’s Charter she said: “they don’t want a “paper product”, but a strong document, developed through participatory process with participation of women organisations and other stake holders involved”.
Eva -Britt Svensson’s discours was the strongest of the panel. The representative of the Commission came back to emphasize the mantra that “gender equality and economic growth are interdependent”, back again to the argument that we need to convince the big boys that gender equality is in their interest.
Whose interest is it? The idea is again mainstream gender in the 20/20 Strategy, which “will not be so easy”, she emphasized.
Luisa Antolin, WIDE CSW Delegate