Equality of women and men in local life

Ahead of the International Women's Day on Monday 8 March, CEMR, and more specifically its Committee of women elected representatives, calls upon all European local and regional governments to commit themselves to promoting equality between women and men.

CEMR strongly believes that local and regional authorities are better placed when it comes to the fight against discrimination and inequality as they are the level of government closest to the citizen.

In this context, CEMR launched the Charter for equality of women and men in local life, with the support of the European Commission, which constitutes a crucial initiative in reaching the goal of gender equality at a local level. Indeed, by signing the Charter, local and regional representatives and governments formally commit to the promotion of equality and the implementation of the commitments outlined within the document. As of today, there are a total of 929 signatories.

On 15 October 2009, CEMR published a response to the Commission consultation paper, Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010, which is to be followed by a European strategy promoting gender equality. Local and regional associations played an important role in the drafting of this response as they are directly present on the ground and can therefore work towards a more efficient implementation of the CEMR Charter and of EU gender equality policies and initiatives.

The above mentioned European strategy, which is to be adopted by the Commission in mid-2010, came one step closer to realisation on 5 March with the presentation of the Women's Charter by the Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, and the Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding. This EU Charter, coupled with the implemented strategy, will aim at incorporating a gender perspective into all EU policies, notably over the next five years.

CEMR's Committee of women elected representatives is currently organising a seminar on gender equality planned for 6 to 7 May in Stockholm (see CEMR calendar).