European conference “Equality between women and men in a time of change”

Ministers,

Commissioner,

Ladies and Gentlemen

It’s a great honour and pleasure for me in the name of the Czech Presidency to open today’s conference on gender equality in a time of change. I’d like to introduce my contribution with a short reminder. On the 4th and 5th of May 2006 we gathered here at the invitation of the European Commission in order to discuss individual priority areas of the new Roadmap for the Attainment of Gender Equality for the years 2006 to 2010 .

Even though I didn’t personally participate in that conference allow me to briefly mention what was said three years ago about three of these priority areas.

Three years ago we agreed that women above all should have the same chance as men to be financially independent, they should have the same access to business and the economic decision making processes. That is men still have a better expectation of being financially secure because they don’t lack “financial continuity”.

They don’t interrupt employment due to child care and their presence on the labour market, as well as their working career has a continuous character. Neither is it expected of them that in cases of need it will always be them who will care for sick children or others in need.

We also further agreed that a balanced share of men and women in the political decision making process is the basis of a democratic society. The equality of men and women should be an accepted fact both in the public and private sector. Private companies too should feel that the promotion of equal opportunities is meaningful and that it pays: Many research projects bear this out, more women in the management of companies equals more prosperity.

Thirdly we agreed that it is necessary to fight against gender violence. Intervention must take place before the victim finds themselves in hospital. Therefore the most important thing is to aim for timely prevention, more openness concerning domestic violence, assist the victims of the trade in women and the victims of enforced prostitution and not to tolerate any further acts of violence towards women: honour crimes, rape within marriage, early and forced marriages and female circumcision.

Men should be clearly aware that it is shameful to hit a woman just as it is shameful to buy a woman/prostitute.

We will discuss similar topics today, after the Roadmap for the Attainment of Gender Equality has been in effect for three years. Further more we will discuss this topic aware of the current economic downturn. As I said in my speech at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March this year, it is necessary to ensure that the equality of men and women doesn’t fall victim to the unfavourable economic scenario and anti-crisis measures are not used as a convenient excuse to sideline the promotion of gender equality or simply leave it to a later date.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To conclude my remarks please allow me make a short observation. The member states of the European Union agreed to support the European automobile industry which as a result of the economic crisis got into difficulties. Here I’d like to propose my own anti-crisis measure: Let’s support diversity in economic matters and promote it as a competitive advantage. Work teams which are diverse in terms of gender (and not only in terms of gender) are more creative. A more creative team means greater effectiveness and that means more prosperity. More prosperity means more money which the firm can invest in perhaps new company vehicles. Support for a larger percentage of women in the wealth creation of the company can improve the situation of perhaps even the automobile industry and of course not only there.

Thank you for your attention. I wish you all a successful conference.