1 Gender Mainstreaming in East - Central Europe Findings from EGG Sara Clavero Queen’s University Belfast

2 Enlargement, Gender and Governance (EGG) Funded by European Commission FP5 Funded by European Commission FP5 42 month project (Dec 02 – May 06) 42 month project (Dec 02 – May 06) Multi-disciplinary team of women researchers from 10 CEEC ’ s: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia Multi-disciplinary team of women researchers from 10 CEEC ’ s: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia … along with Italy and the UK (co- ordinator) … along with Italy and the UK (co- ordinator)

3 EGG Objective To offer a systematic analysis of gender, democratisation, and enlargement in 10 Central and Eastern European countries To offer a systematic analysis of gender, democratisation, and enlargement in 10 Central and Eastern European countries

4 Components Context Gender and Democracy in the Enlarged EU Focus Women’s political representation in CEE Aspects Women legislators Institutional mechanisms Civil Society

5 Methodology Qualitative study In-depth interviews with key participants Analysis of parliamentary debates Review of official documents Supplemented by quantitative data Public attitudes

6 Background Pre-89 No concept of ‘gender inequality’ No concept of ‘gender inequality’ Legislation on equal rights & special protection for women Legislation on equal rights & special protection for women Absence of specific gender institutions Absence of specific gender institutions Female legislative representation ensured by quota system Female legislative representation ensured by quota system Women’s councils as official representatives of women’s interests Women’s councils as official representatives of women’s interests

7 General findings Significant degree of variation among countries Significant degree of variation among countries Democratisation processes gender differentiated Democratisation processes gender differentiated Reassertion of gender stereotypes keeping women out of politics/public life Reassertion of gender stereotypes keeping women out of politics/public life Weak civil society Weak civil society Constraints in developing GM strategies Constraints in developing GM strategies

8 GM Institutions Gender dedicated institutions relatively new Gender dedicated institutions relatively new Subject to frequent changes over past 5 years Subject to frequent changes over past 5 years General trend towards diversification General trend towards diversification Decentralisation in vertical and horizontal directions Decentralisation in vertical and horizontal directions Peripheral location and weak mandates Peripheral location and weak mandates Inadequate human & financial resources Inadequate human & financial resources Move towards generic equality bodies Move towards generic equality bodies

9 Gender policies Strong reluctance to introduce integrated gender equality legislation (ex. EE, LT, SL) Strong reluctance to introduce integrated gender equality legislation (ex. EE, LT, SL) Weak support of positive action strategies Weak support of positive action strategies Problems with incorporating GM concept in national contexts Problems with incorporating GM concept in national contexts Rhetorical use of GM term – lack of operationalisation Rhetorical use of GM term – lack of operationalisation  No clear policy objectives, targets & timeframes  No tools for gender analysis: reliance on international agencies  No indicators or other mechanisms for monitoring progress

10 Civil Society Women’s NGOs poorly funded - reliance on Western donors Women’s NGOs poorly funded - reliance on Western donors Concentration on service delivery rather than lobbying activities Concentration on service delivery rather than lobbying activities GM not a priority for majority of women’s organisations in half of countries (ex. BG, SK, EE, PL, SL ) GM not a priority for majority of women’s organisations in half of countries (ex. BG, SK, EE, PL, SL ) Participation in policy formulation more formal than substantive Participation in policy formulation more formal than substantive Lack of alliances with women legislators and civil servants Lack of alliances with women legislators and civil servants

11 ‘There are no political women NGOs. Most of the existing NGOs are engaged with some quite special fields and topics, especially so-called social ones. Those have actually taken over the functioning of state institutions at offering help to some social groups, and this way it has been possible for the state to abandon, without any bad conscience, some actions which it has a duty to carry out. But politically engaged NGOs with women-connected topics, strengthening their power and influence, or otherwise engaged in gender equality, we don’t have…’ (MP, Slovakia)

12 Conclusions  Role of gender institutions in development & consolidation of GM light  Few implementation strategies  Societal attitudes and gender-role practices obstructing women’s access to decision-making  Relative absence of feminist activism and alliances perpetuates the stereotypes: reinforcing cycle

13 Enlargement Gender and Governance: The Civic and Political Participation of Women in Central and Eastern Europe (EGG) funded by the EU 5th Framework Programme (HPSE-CT )