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"Women, Citizens of Europe" "WOMEN, CITIZENS OF EUROPE", project summary The Programme "Women, Citizens of Europe" presented by CELEM has been selected by the European Commission, with the application of the Council's decision of December, 22nd, 1995, relative to the IV Programme of mid-term Community Action for the Equality of Opportunities between women and men (1996-2000). "EXCHANGE, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE AS REGARDS TO GOOD PRACTICES" Equal Opportunity is a fundamental principle recognized in EC legislation and a priority in the European Community. These principles have been developed through directives, recommendations and resolutions as well as by the previous three Programmes for Equal Opportunity. Throughout the last decade, chances in the social roles of women as well as technological developments have resultes in the conjuntion of the necessity for structural change and the advance of women along with the opportunity for them to meet such a challenge from a gender perspective. However, social reality continues to be quite discriminatory, as can be seen in the analyses of the social situation of women in Europe. This is why the different institutions of the European Community are adopting very clear policies in favor of strutural changes. A new social contract is in motion. And a necessary part of it, in addition to ensuring the compatibility of familial and professional obligations in each person's life, is the equal participation of both sexes in public life and positions of responsability. The absence of women -who make up 51% of the population of Europe- form centers of political representation and decision-making, creates a "democratic deficit" by ignoring the needs, points of view and legitimate interests of half of the population. Such a democratic deficit questions the legitimacy of existent political structures. It also moves us to develop strategies which will tend to shorten the distance between the sexes in decision-making. As European citizens, we must meet the challenge of consolidating the social advancements obtained in the last few years. At the same time, we must redesign the role played by institutions as well as the rules of the game, which will allow us to build a society based on equal opportunity and the respect for diversity. Objectives:
Actions to be taken:
LA COORDINADORA ESPAÑOLA PARA EL LOBBY EUROPEO DE MUJERES (C.E.L.E.M.) is a network of women's NGO's, which join forces and ideas for the achievement of Equal opportunity, at the national and local level. Since its constitution, CELEM has developed programmes to promote women in positions where decisions are made. "More Women in Parliament" was an awareness campaign which promoted a wider participation of women in electoral precesses during 1994-1996. CELEM keeps its lines of action in close coordination with those set up at the European level by Women's platforms, European Women's Lobby (LEF) and Asociación de Mujeres de la Europa Meridional (AFEM), in which it participates actively. The optimum development of "Women, Citizens of Europe" will depend on the efficient coordination and joint work between the PARTNER COUNTRIES that make up the Transnational Network: Finland, France and Portugal. Organizing Committee
THE PROGRAMME'S NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERS REGIONAL
NATIONAL
12 MONTHS Publication of materials to promote
awareness of equal opportunities at all
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