The gender mix, a European model *1

On the occasion of International Women's Day, Pascale Joannin, General Director of the Robert Schuman Foundation, presents the European gender equality model. She observes that the European Union is the region in the world where women's rights are the best respected and the States of the Union have achieved major progress over the past few years in terms of women's participation in business administration. However inequalities continue, notably with regard to wages, where the situation is far from ideal. Although women's representation is growing on the boards of companies in Europe, it is regressing in the political sphere. The economic crisis has worsened this situation. The Lisbon Treaty has established a Citizens' Initiative, a new tool to bring the European Union closer to its citizens. Women may use this and put forward an initiative to request the real application of the principle of equality between men and women as it is stipulated in the treaties. European women want parity in all professional sectors

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Website: Gender http://www.europeansources.info/record/gender-equality-equality-between-men-and-women/

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