Overview
Gender Equality, one of the founding values of the EU, is not only essential from a human
rights perspective, but it also makes sense from an economic viewpoint. It means equal access
to resources, as well as empowerment and visibility of both women and men in all spheres of
public and private life. Although progress is visible, gender gaps still persist in many areas. At
the current rate of change, it is estimated that it would take more than 70 years to make equal
pay a reality and almost 40 years to ensure that housework is equally shared between women
and men.
To accelerate progress, active policy initiatives are needed to reduce gender-based discrimination
in the workplace and beyond. In November 2013, the first Council of Europe Strategy on Gender
Equality 2014-2017 was unanimously adopted, with the aim of providing policy guidance and
promoting a holistic and integrated approach. At EU level, the Post 2015 Framework is underway
– a strategy facing both the difficulties of recession and the need to mainstream a gender
perspective in all policies and programme.
Despite these efforts, one of the main obstacles to achieving equality between men and women
continues to be gender stereotyping – a practice that can limit the development of the natural
talents and abilities of men and women with negative repercussions on countries’ economic
development and competitiveness. Boys and girls are being placed into “pink” or “blue” boxes
from early years and portrayed as such through media, in schools and in families. Girls are
educated to be the carers in society, while boys are prepared for public life. Even today, despite
representing almost half of the employed workforce and being more likely to have a higher
education degree than men, women continue to face disadvantages on the job market. In
Europe, this means that women earn 16% less per hour than men, struggle to reconcile both
work and a private life, and are often in precarious employment, being under-represented in
paid jobs.
This timely symposium provides an invaluable opportunity to discuss the latest developments
in combating gender-based discrimination at European level. The symposium will explore
how social, cultural and political obstacles can be overcome in order to implement innovative
policies that will put an end to gender discrimination in the workplace and in society. Public
Policy Exchange welcomes the participation of all key partners, responsible authorities and
stakeholders. The Symposium will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to
engage in thought-provoking topical debate.
