Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Bulgaria’s experiе nce Christina Christova, President, NMSP- Bulgaria 12-th June 2010, Berlin Liberal International 184-th Executive Committee Meeting 1
Gender Equality in Politics – History and Current Problems • Democratic societies should consider the view point of the different social groups when making decisions • When 1995 Beijin Platform was signed women in the national parliaments all over the world were an average of 10 % • 12 years later the share is already 17 % • The critical barrier for influencing important decisions is some 30 % Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 2
Why Gender Policy in Politics • Women’s political rights are their human rights • It will be a real loss in case the ideas, the experience and the talents of half of the mankind are not utilized • Gender equality is not only a “physical presence”, but a quality of decisions Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 3
Conditions for Social Sensibility • At least 30 % of society should percept the problem • Gender mainstreaming training for both men and women • Creating a National Mechanism for Gender Equality – at the highest level of the executive power with a mandate to implement, coordinate, control and evaluate all the policies in the sphere • Specific legal framework in place Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 4
Bulgaria’s Experience • Women in Bulgaria are some 51,4 % of the total population • Still their share in the national governance is quite lower • A Road Map for Gender Equality has been adopted in 2006 • A National Council for Gender Equality is functioning with the Government of Bulgaria • There is an independent Non Discrimination Committee • There is an effective legal framework for gender equality Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 5
Bulgaria – Women in Parliament • In the present 41st Parliament 52 out of the total of 240 deputies are women or some 21,25% • In the previous 40th Parliament where the two Bulgarian liberal parties participated in the majority women MPs were 50 or 21% • Eight years ago when NMSP was governing with the other liberal party women in Parliament were 62 or 26% • 42 out of these 62 women MPs were from NMSP – or 68% of all women MPs were liberals Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 6
Bulgaria – Gender Equality in the Central Executive Power • Currently in the European Union the ratio women versus men in the member states governments is 1:3 • Ending its mandate the liberal National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) Cabinet had 5 women ministers out of a total of 20 – some 25% • During the next coalition government including NMSP the ratio was 3 out of 17 – or 18 % • Currently the ruling right party GERB has 3 women out of 17 ministers – or 18% 7 Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin
Bulgaria – Women in the Liberal NMSP • The participation of women in politics depends on the party’s attitude towards women • In the Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha (NMSP) Cabinet 6 out of 18 ministers were women – or 30%, the highest after the transition • And 18 out of 54 deputy ministers were women – or 33% • 42 out of 115 MPs of the Parliamentary group were women – or 36% Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP 8 Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin.
Bulgaria – Women in the Liberal NMSP • The first European commissioner of Bulgaria was NMSP’s Miglena Kuneva, elected afterwards as Commissioner N1 and 2008 European N1 • In the Party currently we have the President, a Vice President and 8 women out of 20 members of the Political Committee of NMSP • Out of 3 NMSP members of the European Parliament 2 are women Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 9
Bulgaria – Gender Equality at Local Level • In Bulgaria in 2007 women participated in the local government management at around 22 % • Elected she-mayors are just 9% Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin 10
Bulgaria – Women in the Public Administration • In 1999 the share of women at the two highest levels in the state administration was 17% • In 2007 the number has grown to some 33 % Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience June 2010, Berlin . 11
Strategies for Optional Interventions • Quotas in the election legislation – temporary instrument • The importance of the attitude of the political parties • Liberal vision and liberal policies in the governance • Access of women to education and information • Training of the civil society and the public administration • Social services development is a basic condition for women’s political careers 12 Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Christina Christova, President NMSP Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin
Women’s Participation and Gender Equality in Policy Bulgaria’s experience. June 2010, Berlin Thank you for the attention! Christina Christova, President NMSP 13
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