The Conference on gender equality held in Malta between April 1 and 3 was highly significant in the process of mobilising all social partners to take action to mainstream equality as outlined in the acquis communitaire in a practical and effective manner
Over 200 delegates from EU and accession countries took part in the conference which was organised by the DG Employment and Social Affairs of the European Commission.
Director-General Odile Quintin opened the seminar highlighting the different stages of EU legislation regarding social policy and gender equality in the acquis.
John O'Callaghan explained the Irish Presidency's commitment to gender equality while Dolores Cristina, Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, traced Government's initiatives in the field of equality over the decades and the political will to take the necessary measures to eliminate obstacles to gender equality.
The Community acquis, in relation to equal treatment between men and women: achievements, challenges and prospects
Round Table: Transpositions and effective implementation of the acquis. The session was chaired by Ms Quintin, who gave an overview of developments in the acquis to ensure transposition and effective implementation.
Members of the panel from Germany, Hungary, the European Women's Lobby and the European Court of Justice gave an overview of their experience and that of their country in transposing the acquis into national legislation, the pitfalls they came across and the importance of introducing new measures to strengthen existing mechanisms and practices.
The contribution of employers, employees and other social partners including the public, together with the necessary machinery to promote and monitor developments is fundamental in making gender equality work in practice.
Gender mainstreaming in policies: from theory to practice
Round Table: Gender mainstreaming in the European Employment Strategy. The session was chaired by Lisa Pavan Wolfe from the Employment and Social Affairs DG. She highlighted the gender mainstreaming tool within the European Employment Strategy which has resulted in a steady increase in women's participation in the labour market.
The panel, made up of representatives from Slovenia, the UK, UNICE and ETUC, addressed a number of issues including unemployment, the gender pay gap, the reconciliation between work and family life and the need of affordable and accessible quality care services for children and other dependants.
Policies should be addressed not only to women but also to men to be effective. The drawing up of the National Action Plan (NAP) which describes how the guidelines of the Employment Strategy are put in practice at national level is essential to monitor developments.
Round Table: Gender mainstreaming in social protection and social inclusion. Representatives from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Sweden and European NGOs gave their views on the social inclusion process to combat poverty and social exclusion.
National Action Plans need to take into account the gender perspective in identifying challenges, the design and the implementation and assessment of policies and measures, the selection of indicators and targets and the involvement of all stakeholders to reach the core objectives: to make pensions safe and a pension systems sustainable, to promote social inclusion and to ensure high quality and sustainable health care.
Financial instruments and gender mainstreaming
Round Table: Gender maintreaming in the structural funds. This session was chaired by Minister Dolores Cristina who spoke about the EU and the expectations that women in accession countries are hoping to see fulfilled.
The panel, made up of representatives from Italy, Poland, Ireland and the DG Regional Policy, spoke about the different financial tools at EU level to implement gender equality and gender mainstreaming.
The Community Framework Strategy which embraces all Community polices and actions to eliminate inequalities between men and women, operates in five fields: economic life, equality participation and representation, equal access and full enjoyment of social rights in civil rights and gender roles and stereotypes.
The structural funds also aim to bridge gaps between more and less developed regions and to promote equal opportunities between socio-economic groups. The New Community Support Framework and the Single Programming Document are developing a more comprehensive strategy based on the dual approach of gender mainstreaming and specifications. In the EQUAL programme, the equal participation of women and men in the labour market is also targeted.
In his concluding speech Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi outlined the government's priorities towards achieving equality for men and women in line with the acquis. Commitment to democracy, to the rights of every individual and to the right of equal opportunities for all, encompass the vision of the present government which is determined to take all necessary action to reach the targets set out in the Lisbon Strategy and to ensure that our country does not lose its competitiveness.
The conference drew upon a wide range of experiences. The importance of evaluation and monitoring and the setting of targets are essential tools if we truly want to become competitive in a highly globalised economy.
Perhaps the most important lesson of all is that although the EU draws up legal frameworks and offers numerous programmes and financial assistance to ensure best practices of implementation, success at community, regional and national level depends on the mentality, the wisdom and the commitment of all the stakeholders.