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Gender Mainstreaming in East - Central Europe

Findings from EGG

Sara ClaveroQueen’s University Belfast

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Enlargement, Gender and Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG)Governance (EGG)

Funded by European Commission FP5Funded by European Commission FP5

42 month project (Dec 02 – May 06)42 month project (Dec 02 – May 06)

Multi-disciplinary team of women Multi-disciplinary team of women researchers from 10 CEEC’s: Bulgaria, researchers from 10 CEEC’s: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and SloveniaSlovenia

……along with Italy and the UK (co-along with Italy and the UK (co-ordinator)ordinator)

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EGG ObjectiveEGG Objective

To offer a systematic analysis of To offer a systematic analysis of

gender, democratisation, and gender, democratisation, and

enlargement in 10 Central and enlargement in 10 Central and

Eastern European countriesEastern European countries

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ComponentsComponents

ContextGender and Democracy in the Enlarged EU

FocusWomen’s political representation in CEE

Aspects

Women legislators

Institutional mechanisms

Civil Society

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MethodologyMethodology

Qualitative study

In-depthinterviews

with key participants

Analysis of parliamentary

debates

Review of official

documents

Supplemented by quantitative data

Public attitudes

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Background Pre-89Background Pre-89

No concept of ‘gender inequality’No concept of ‘gender inequality’

Legislation on equal rights & special Legislation on equal rights & special protection for womenprotection for women

Absence of specific gender institutionsAbsence of specific gender institutions

Female legislative representation ensured Female legislative representation ensured by quota system by quota system

Women’s councils as Women’s councils as official official representatives of women’s interests representatives of women’s interests

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General findingsGeneral findings

Significant degree of variation among Significant degree of variation among countriescountries

Democratisation processes gender Democratisation processes gender differentiateddifferentiated

Reassertion of gender stereotypes keeping Reassertion of gender stereotypes keeping women out of politics/public lifewomen out of politics/public life

Weak civil societyWeak civil society

Constraints in developing GM strategiesConstraints in developing GM strategies

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GM InstitutionsGM Institutions

Gender dedicated institutions relatively newGender dedicated institutions relatively new Subject to frequent changes over past 5 Subject to frequent changes over past 5

yearsyears General trend towards diversificationGeneral trend towards diversification Decentralisation in vertical and horizontal Decentralisation in vertical and horizontal

directions directions Peripheral location and weak mandatesPeripheral location and weak mandates Inadequate human & financial resourcesInadequate human & financial resources Move towards generic equality bodiesMove towards generic equality bodies

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Gender policiesGender policies Strong reluctance to introduce integrated Strong reluctance to introduce integrated

gender equality legislation (ex. EE, LT, SL)gender equality legislation (ex. EE, LT, SL) Weak support of positive action strategiesWeak support of positive action strategies Problems with incorporating GM concept in Problems with incorporating GM concept in

national contextsnational contexts Rhetorical use of GM term – lack of Rhetorical use of GM term – lack of

operationalisationoperationalisation No clear policy objectives, targets & No clear policy objectives, targets &

timeframestimeframes No tools for gender analysis: reliance on No tools for gender analysis: reliance on

international agenciesinternational agencies No indicators or other mechanisms for No indicators or other mechanisms for

monitoring progressmonitoring progress

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Civil SocietyCivil Society

Women’s NGOs poorly funded - reliance on Women’s NGOs poorly funded - reliance on Western donorsWestern donors

Concentration on service delivery rather than Concentration on service delivery rather than lobbying activitieslobbying activities

GM not a priority for majority of women’s GM not a priority for majority of women’s organisations in half of countries (ex. BG, SK, EE, organisations in half of countries (ex. BG, SK, EE, PL, SL )PL, SL )

Participation in policy formulation more formal Participation in policy formulation more formal than substantivethan substantive

Lack of alliances with women legislators and civil Lack of alliances with women legislators and civil servantsservants

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‘‘There are no political women NGOs. Most of the There are no political women NGOs. Most of the existing NGOs are engaged with some quite existing NGOs are engaged with some quite special fields and topics, especially so-called special fields and topics, especially so-called social ones. Those have actually taken over the social ones. Those have actually taken over the functioning of state institutions at offering help to functioning of state institutions at offering help to some social groups, and this way it has been some social groups, and this way it has been possible for the state to abandon, without any bad possible for the state to abandon, without any bad conscience, some actions which it has a duty to conscience, some actions which it has a duty to carry out. But politically engaged NGOs with carry out. But politically engaged NGOs with women-connected topics, strengthening their women-connected topics, strengthening their power and influence, or otherwise engaged in power and influence, or otherwise engaged in gender equality, we don’t have…’gender equality, we don’t have…’ (MP, Slovakia)(MP, Slovakia)

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ConclusionsConclusions

Role of gender institutions in development Role of gender institutions in development & consolidation of GM light& consolidation of GM light

Few implementation strategiesFew implementation strategies

Societal attitudes and gender-role Societal attitudes and gender-role practices obstructing women’s access to practices obstructing women’s access to decision-making decision-making

Relative absence of feminist activism and Relative absence of feminist activism and alliances perpetuates the stereotypes: alliances perpetuates the stereotypes: reinforcing cyclereinforcing cycle

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Enlargement Gender and Governance: The Civic and Political Participation of Women in Central and Eastern Europe (EGG) funded

by the EU 5th Framework Programme (HPSE-CT2002-00115)

http://www.qub.ac.uk/egg