2008 ORDINARY SESSION

________________________

(Third part)

REPORT

Twenty-first Sitting

Tuesday 24 June at 10 a. m.

ADDENDUM 2

Empowering women in a modern, multicultural society

The following text was submitted for inclusion in the official report by members who were present in the Chamber but were prevented by lack of time from delivering them.

      Mrs GORYACHEVA (Russian Federation).– I would like to thank the committee and the rapporteurs for their good work on the pressing issue of women’s empowerment.

      Today, we have raised issues of the most fundamental concern, such as family/domestic violence, women’s labour rights and employment, the role of women in the family as well as women’s sole responsibility for the care and rearing of children.

      I would like to draw your attention to the role and participation of women in decision making. The participation of women in the decision-making process might not only be the key to a better life for women but, as the Scandinavian experience suggests, it could also improve the country’s social policy and enhance the quality of life of a great majority of people.

      What are the main tendencies? What has been done by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in the 60 years of its existence? In addition, many respected organisations such as UNESCO, ILO, UNIFERM and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women have been promoting women’s influence on the policy-making process. And what is the outcome?

      Statistics show men’s unwillingness to share their powers with women. Only 4% of heads of state and government are women. In world parliaments, about 7% of chairpersons are women. And what about national governments? How many women are there?

      The analysis carried out by the Inter-Parliamentary Union shows that, in 70% of cases, women tackle the most complicated social issues. However, the most powerful ministries that deal with financial issues are in the hands of men; there we can find only 20% of women. In addition, 10% of women are in charge of ministries of defence and 9% of women are ministers of economy.

      There is a lack of equal representation of men and women in parliaments. Statistics show that the total percentage of women is 17%; in the north it is 42%; in the Arab states it is 9%; and in Russia it is 19%.

      We find the same gender disproportion in higher government posts, in particular in the number of women in senior civil service posts. In Russia, 89% of senior posts are held by men. This under-representation increases the higher up the hierarchy one goes. Although under-represented in senior posts at all levels, women are well represented at the lower level, with 75% of the jobs.

      It is clear that a double burden on women is an objective reason for this situation. Women involved in professional activities continue to carry double loads, having the obligation to financially support their families, to do housework, and to take care of, and educate, children. Moreover, there is also the so-called glass ceiling that is a complex of unseen obstacles impeding women with equal and adequate education to be appointed to high-ranking posts.

      In carrying out their work, women are less thorough-going and more flexible. Women carefully weigh every step and fully consider the interests of all parties; they always think about the impact their decisions have on their children and families; there is little foozle in their work.

      While supporting a draft resolution, I think that the formal recognition of equality cannot automatically lead us to the authentic equality of opportunities. We are to go further. We shall insist on the advisability of broader legislative consolidation of quotas for the level of representation of women in the state bodies. We should create special ministries and departments, change the information policy and ethics based on the idea of women standing near the stone.

      When equality is recognised and achieved in a state, it will bring a positive impact on the development of social spheres such as health care, education and culture, as well as on the well-being of all people – men, women and children.