Tag: Rights for women

EU ministers in charge of employment and social affairs endorsed yesterday (7 March) a renewed pact for gender equality aimed at increasing women's presence in decision-making bodies, but refrained from imposing EU-wide quotas.

Many people, especially those above 35 living in Eastern Europe, still associate 8 March with the old official Communist celebrations, with faded red cloves and drunken men 'celebrating' Women's Day. But gradually the day, which symbolises female emancipation, has gained new legitimacy, a tour of the EurActiv network reveals.

'Females in Front', a campaign that seeks to boost women's representation in the European Parliament and other EU top jobs available next year, has embraced Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate for the US presidency, despite her long-standing opposition to abortion.

Despite general consensus over the need to protect and empower women, they remain under-represented in politics and marginalised in decision-making throughout the world, write EU Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Margot Wallström ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.

75% of new jobs in the EU are taken by women, and the majority of graduates in every single EU country are women. But they earn on average 15% less than men, according to the Commission's 2007 gender-equality report.

Under the opt-out scheme of the Working Time Directive, workers don't have a real choice of not working longer hours if their employer wants them to, say MEPs from the Parliament's two largest groups. 

Employers must be able to prove that women's lower wages are attributable to their lesser experience and professional skills due to their generally shorter service time, the Court of Justice has ruled.