SVU World Congress 2002, Pilsen
WOMEN'S ISSUES PANEL

Lois A. Herman
Women's Human Rights Consultant
Co-Coordinator Midwest US
Czech-Slovak Women's Alliance

THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, & SOCIAL IMPACTS ON WOMEN
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ENLARGEMENT PROCESS

The European Union is a union 15 independent states founded to enhance political, economic, and social co-operation. The European Union, formerly known as the European Economic Community, was founded on November l, l993. Membership includes the major countries of Europe, but not all. Examples of non EU participants are Norway and Switzerland. In concept, the European Union is an institutional framework for the construction of a united Europe, created after World War II to unite European nations so another war among them would be unthinkable. Inclusion in the European Union is considered more important to internal development of member countries than NATO. The EU Enlargement Process is designed to lead to a lasting stabilization of Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The Enlargement Process will hopefully address the current division of Europe into a prosperous half and an impoverished half.

From the beginning, the formation of the European, and its development have been patriarchal, very male driven and implemented. Women throughout Europe, and very much through the European Women's Lobby and selected women's representatives within the EU, have continuously tried to create and maintain a gender focus. This is an ongoing challenge.

In preparing for a summary of the accession process and the impact on women, especially women in the Czech and Slovak Republics, I will try to summarize and simplify this process that is complicated for all. I do note that though there continue to be studies of women's evolution in specific countries and regions of the Enlargement Countries, very little has been linked to date, to the countries' applications for membership in the European Union. Annabella Coldrick, in her thesis, Cinderella Goes to the Common Market, studied in depth the European integration impact on a broad spectrum through mid Year 2000. The Czech Center for Gender Studies also has supplied important information with the Survey On The Status Of Women in the Czech Republic, through the Project of the International Helsinki Foundation.

The priorities of the European Union today could be considered:

*Structure of the EU
*Economic growth through business and trade
*Trans European monetary systems, and individual
country banking and finance
*The Enlargement Process
*Immigration
*Defense, including terrorism
*The environment

The primary discourse, literature, and power of the European System are very male throughout all levels. It is a reflection of the fact that though women comprise half the population, there is a significant displarity in women's economic strength, political representation, general power and influence. There are also historical patriarchal cultural beliefs about women's roles and responsibilities, that marginalize women from center state in the Accession Process.

The dates of application for EU Accession for the Czech and Slovak Republics, were:

CZECH REPUBLIC - January l7, l996

SLOVAK REPUBLIC - June 27, l995

Both the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic are in the final stages of completing chapters for Accession. Indeed, as time passes, some of the requirements for admission to the European Union become more demanding. It is estimated that the Czech Republic will be admitted to the EU in 2004.

Each EU Enlargement Process applicant country must pass 30 CHAPTERS of the Application Process. These are called the ACQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE. The book - European Union Enlargement: A Historic Opportunity, published by the EU (website for the EU http://www.europa.eu.int, lists the 30 CHAPTERS, covering the broad spectrum of political , economic, and social issues, but NONE DESIGNATED TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON WOMEN. Women's issues are parts of such Chapters as:

*Social policy and employment
*Consumers and health protection
*Education and training

BUT, once again, the focus of the Accession Process is in the male dominated, male controlled, male driven areas of trade, business, finance, law, competition, transport, taxation, the Euro and monetary union, energy, industrial policy, structural instruments, foreign and security policy, and more.

I also recognize that in our SVU audience today, there may, indeed, be experts on the European Union, who will offer important comments during our discussion period. I encourage and welcome such contributions.

To simplify into basic terms - Will the Enlargement Process of the European Union result in major positive implications for the women of the Czech Republic and women of the Republic of Slovakia, I would say:

Short Term - not significantly
Long Term - YES

Yes, in the sense that the accession process will cause governments to pay attention to some gender issues that might otherwise be delayed or dismissed. One example is WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT. Probably more than any other factor affecting women in enlargement applicant countries. As an example, at the Stockholm European Union Council session in 2001, Social Issues considerations paid significant attention to goals for employment general, and specifically for persons over age 55, for which current employment is about 38%. The goal is at least 50% by 20l0. It is interesting that target for the employment of the general EU population for Year 2005, is 67% for men and 57% for women. But, I say in all reality, it is not just employment for women that is the only issue, it is the quality of work, and the competitiveness of salary, work benefits, many of which were lost at the time of the fall of Communism. The European Union has recognized this and is putting greater pressure on current and applicant countries in the area of work gender equality, and common measuring systems. There is a focus increased skills development and moving women into higher ranking jobs with more power.

The European Women's Lobby has stated that "Gender Equality is a fundamental and integral part of the economic, social, and democratic development. In order for the European Union to meet the expectations of women in both Member States and Candidate Countries, gender equality must be established as a priority I the accession/enlargement process."

An increased emphasis on gender equality is so important in order to respond to the developments in the candidate countries, where inequalities between women and men have in many areas, become more severe during economic and social transition. Many countries have seen a decline in women's representation in parliament, a considerable weakening of women's situation in the labor market, scaledown of childcare facilities, and fewer social welfare benefits.

BUT, WHETHER THE EU ACCESSION WILL RESULT IN ACTUAL CHANGES TO BENEFIT THE LIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY WOMEN, BOTH RURAL AND URBAN WOMEN, AND WOMEN MULTIGENERATIONAL, WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES IN THE ACCESSION PROCESS, will over time, move from token attention to women and social structures and policy for same, and whatever is necessary for European Union inclusion, to individual country laws, court systems, enforcement and accountability structures, to impact in a positive and sustainable way, the lives of women in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Despite the best efforts of the European Commission and the European Parliament, it appears that the change of culture needed to raise the position of women in applicant countries, cannot truly be produced from the outside, but needs come internally from the governments and people themselves. This will be facilitated by women gaining more economic power and representation in government and the political system. It will be encouraged by more women's non-governmental organizations supplementing this momentum, and aligning with strength in such groups in Europe, as the European Women's Lobby. It is noteworthy that since the decline of Communism and the emergence of democracy in the Czech Republic, the number of women's NGO's has actually DECLINED.

NGO's can also stimulate attention to and programs for such issues as may not be priority in the EU accession process of governments, such as Violence Against Women, and Trafficking. The entire spectrum of Women's Human Rights needs a great deal of support, as there has been a huge change in this region over the past l5 years. There is a natural struggle with change, and resistance to the new societies. Further, there is concern that in Eastern Europe, there will be a wave of Western, even American, Feminism, that may seem radical and contradictory to traditional cultural values. The reality is that after Communism, women frequently saw unemployment, a drop in wages and/or wage disparity, decline in political representation, fewer women's organizations, and reduced social benefits. Economic power is the foundation of women's equality, and the muscle which helps women exercise their human rights. Additionally, the family is central in most women's lives, and responsibility for children is a major factor in women's status, including economic, in society.

Six areas for action are described for reinforcing gender equality in the Enlargement Process.
For the purpose of discussion today, I will take one such area and apply it to the Czech Republic.
This example would be the INCREASED USE OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

CEDAW came into effect on September 3, l98l. The Convention was undersigned on behalf of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, on July l7, l980, and took effect in Czechoslovakia on March l8, l982. The Czech Republic came into being on January l, l993. The Czech Republic became a member of the United Nations on January l9, l993, and took over all its obligations relating to human rights protection from the former Czechoslovakia.

According to UN procedures with CEDAW, the Czech Republic has submitted reports to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, regarding fulfillment of the Convention by the Czech Republic. I will now state for you examples of some of the areas of CEDAW which are yet to be completed by the Czech Republic, and thus affect gender equality qualification for the Czech Republic's entry into the European Union. I thank the Czech Center for Gender Studies for helpful research documentation in preparation of this information for you on CEDAW criteria yet to be approved.

As we are talking today about implications of the European Union Enlargement on women of the Czech Republic (and Slovakia), the sample subjects I will now address regarding CEDAW, give authoritative awareness of conditions at this time, what needs to be done. The essence of the review and the importance of adherence to signed international documents, brings attention to these gender areas for Czech accession, and substance to the findings. I note that since the report was printed, some additional initiatives have been taken that will show progress at the time of the next CEDAW Committee Report update for the Czech Republic.

*The Czech Republic has established an interdepartmental co-ordination body within the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. However, the review committee believes that such a body cannot be considered a sufficient national mechanism for the emancipation of women. The lack of a national mechanism equipped with adequate resources and personnel is considered by the UN CEDAW Committee as a significant obstacle in enforcement of the CEDAW Convention and on the Beijing Platform for Action in the Czech Republic.

*Women are increasingly under represented in management positions in the political and economic sectors, and the Government does not, according to the CEDAW Committee, pay attention to this phenomenon. As a result, there are no special temporary measures to rectify the situation, and the Government is not apparently willing to consider such measures.

*In comparison to the situation immediately after formation of the Czech Republic, the number of women's non-governmental organizations has DECREASED, The CEDAW Committee supports co-operation of the
Government of the Czech Republic with non-governmental organizations representing various interests and opinions of women.

*No special legal provision addressing violence against women exists, and these crimes are not statistically monitored in the Czech Republic.

*There are insufficient projects and programs with the Aim of assisting the media in promoting positive images of women and promoting male responsibilities in family care.

*The issue of prostitution and trafficking of women needs more attention.

*Inequality persists in the remuneration and segregation of women as a result of the employment of women in positions of lower pay or requiring lower qualifications.

*There is need to address the high divorce rate, its causes, and the possible legal protection of women in cases of co-habitation with their partners.

It does need to be noted, that in comparison with many applicant countries for the European Union Enlargement, the women of the Czech Republic are considered to have made considerable progress, especially in urban areas.

In simplistic but clear terms, I believe the European Access Process for the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic will have significant benefits for WOMEN:

Less in the Short Term as the gains will be more male dominated and in areas of economics, business, trade, and power.

BUT, in the Long Term, there may be marked advantages for Czech and Slovak WOMEN as part of the European Union.

I will now list the ways in which I suggest the WOMEN of the Czech and Slovak Republics make the most of this process, and continue on a path of greater empowerment, standard of living, power in all levels of society, human rights, and quality of life:

*KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - and communicate same throughout your countries, including in small villages and rural areas. Information is POWER.

*Use the European Union accession process to identify key issues of women that are being reviewed by the EU, and promote laws on same WITHIN YOUR OWN COUNTRIES. Even with EU membership, the real action must come within your own country. As an example, in the areas of education, employment, violence against women, and more, the EU accession and membership can be a catalyst to bring issues forward, and have strength within the EU system to help define these issues and pressure government to pass legislation on pivotal women's issues.

*Move women into leadership positions in Czech and Slovak government on all levels. Identify women candidates and support them. Develop civic empowerment and responsibility among women. Create your own power within the government system. Look to EU women's prototypes for same. Strive for legal and court attention, and ACCOUNTABILITY, on women's issues.

*Note the strong emphasis on EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN in the European Union, at least in documentation, and yet evolving in practice. Align with the European Women's Lobby (a consortium of some 4000 women's organizations in EU member countries). Examine how their priority issues are similar to yours, create selective and strong alliances, define the programs with your own country's cultural specificity. Another example of a positive EU alignment would be Women In Development Europe.

*Find ways, examining models and then re-creating, for bridging the changes from the communist period to the present democratic society, and the evolving changes through the EU accession. Such dramatic change is not easy for anyone, and very challenging on a multigenerational level. Try to create dialogues of women AND men, to examine how to best work together in the new society, in this new millennium, for the best interests and goodness of all. It is not simple to move from a patriarchal, male dominated culture. There is lots of fear and resistance. I hope sensitivity and compassion can be joined with skills and communication, to build more peace within, in relationships, communities, the countries, the region, and the world.

*Build a strong, qualitative NGO, non-governmental organization, infrastructure in the Czech and Slovak Republics, addressing women's issues in a sustainable manner. With the EU, and the European Women's Lobby, and other EU-related alignments, look for FUNDING, and FOUNDATIONS, and other resources that can strengthen an emerging NGO structure in your countries. It is important to note here, that you need to keep control, not let others, including from the West, rubber stamp their models in your country in the name of assistance or support. The true grass roots initiatives in the Czech and Slovak Republics will be of/by/with/for YOUR WOMEN, and catalyzed by the EU and others, but of your own sovereign control and power, and for sustained success.

*Continue to monitor what is going on in the European Union, be present at conferences and seminars as much as possible, get on ListServes, see where activities/programs/projects in the EU can benefit women in your countries. An example on a regional level is Network of East-West Women. Look for bilateral partnerings as well as multilateral EU links.

I will give an example of such WOMEN'S PRESENCE for POWER:

GOAL: Presence of WOMEN of the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, in power circles, government and non-government, to create WOMEN'S VOICE, WOMEN'S INFORMATION, WOMEN'S POWER.

In order for women to create a serious and sustainable voice in any country, especially in countries of transition and multilevel changes, they need to be "at the table," part of the decision making, part of the negotiating team, part of the power circle. This is a slow but important process. Through the EU Accession, there are opportunities for Czech and Slovak women to align and be mentored in such power evolution. But, it is internally that the actual dynamics of women being INCLUDED and INTERACTIVE, will build the reality that they so belong, they have important knowledge, and that their issues, their rights and realities, are human rights, and part of the political, social, and economic systems of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We are not to be dismissed as women, and yet for us to have trust, respect, and sustainable inclusion, we must understand history, creatively and strategically work for this inclusion in the present, and be very good at what we do so we can be part of the systems in the future. In a sense, we are proving our value, our importance, and our power. But, in a patriarchal system that has had many years to strengthen, and with the fears and challenges of a changing society, I would hope that women would look for collaboration building with men as well as a separate voice, to be inclusive and not divisive, to feel comfortable in being strong women, and to look for growing strength in coalition building and presence in all audiences.

Some venues in which Czech and Slovak women would hope to emerge to power positions are obvious, such as in local, regional, and national government, both elective and appointive. Others, will require that women do their own research, as NGO's, women in leadership already, and grass roots women with causes, to know "what is going on in their country," and on national, multilateral, and international levels.

I will give an example. In June of 2001, over 100 governments (including the CZECH REPUBLIC) met in Warsaw, Poland, and agreed to endorse the WARSAW DECLARATION, which commits them to build a COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES as an alliance of democratic states dedicated to strengthening democratic values and institutions at home and abroad. The Warsaw Declaration establishes an important benchmark for holding governments accountable to a comprehensive definition of democracy, including among other factors, promotion of civil society. A parallel meeting of leading civil society democracy activists and thinkers from around the world helped shape the meeting's impact and fostered direct exchanges between government and non-government leaders. The conclusion to date is that the drive to translate these hard-won victories into concrete practice has stalled in many participating countries, and internationally. The Community of Democracies initiative, as quoted by the Heritage Foundation of Soros, "remains underdeveloped, and its future uncertain. And civil society groups, particularly in the field of democracy and human rights, have not yet forged workable coalitions at home or across borders to advocate for real systemic change."

BUT….A Convening Group of the Community of Democracies, made up of Chile, India, Mali, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Korea, South Africa, the US, and THE CZECH REPUBLIC, is organizing a SECOND MINISTERIAL MEETING, in Seoul, Korea, in October 2002, to decide how to deepen and sustain the commitments made in the Warsaw Declaration, and plans have also begun to convene another parallel forum of CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS.

I hope that WOMEN of the Czech Republic are included in the Meeting in Seoul for the Community of Democracies, that WOMEN are monitoring the important Warsaw Declaration, and that WOMEN will for sure be represented in significant number in a CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM of the Community of Democracies. I say this as it an opportunity for women of the Czech Republic to move into greater voice multinational in a power structure, that women deserve and need to be present in such policy and decision making structures, and that women's presence will positively shape outcome and give women more control on the resulting steps, for their continued inclusion, respect, and empowerment in the Czech Republic and international. Further, the networks gained by such presence and build to additional links and alignments to support women of the Czech Republic in their evolution to empowerment within their own country and global.

Similar paths for Czech, and Slovak, women's presence can be facilitated, nurtured, mentored, moved forward, through the European Union structures, both before and after Accession of the Czech Republic, and assuredly through the European Women's Lobby and its member organizations.



More ideas for Czech and Slovak women, and their gender focused organizations, to use the European Union Enlargement Process to their benefit could include:        

*Consider, relationships in the United Nations that may be of benefit to organizations of Czech and Slovak women, and the European Women's Lobby and others can help here. An example of a potential alignment is the Eastern European States, Russia, and CIS NGO Network

*In the areas of funding, explore foundations and funds that target key women's areas such as the Dafne Program on Domestic Violence. Phare funds can be applied to women's programs. See which foundations and donors are actively engaged in Eastern Europe, as the Soros Foundation, and build relationships for future funding proposals.

*Encourage GIRLS to stay in school, to continue to higher education, to have professional goals, and to build self confidence and success. Help them build health, balanced self esteem and self images, with the strength to follow their goals and dreams, and create boundaries and resilience against negative forces such as artificial beauty marketing and the lure of traffickers.

The Political, Economic, and Social Impacts On Women of the Czech and Slovak Republics as a result of the European Union Accession of their countries, can, over time, lead to distinct and significant gender benefits. The responsibility of moving such advantages forward WITHIN your own countries, can be a challenge. But, this is a time of opportunity. Examine your priorities and issues as women in your countries, build leadership, study the EU Enlargement Process, and take all the advantages, alignments, and funding opportunities possible. Be pro active, not reactive, and you will emerge with strength, benefits, and power, for the present and the future.

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