Equal participation in decision making positions
A human right to be respected
European Interdistrict Seminar
February 2015
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Zonta’s vision
Zonta envisions
A world in which every woman is able to
develop her full potential.
A world in which women have access to all
resources and are represented in decision
making positions on the same level as men.
A world in which no woman suffers from
violence.
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Governments commitments
Rio 1992
Istanbul 1996
Copenhagen 1995
Yet in many countries
we are far from the goal
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Women are still
 Underrepresented in decision-making positions
 Concentrated in the lower-paid sectors of the
labour market.
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What holds women back from top jobs?
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Women excel at compromise, men at risk-taking
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Sustainable Development Goals
Equal participation in
decision making positions is
not addressed directly in any
of the 17 proposed goals.
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Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 4.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote life-long learning opportunities for all.
Goal 5.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Goal 8.
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic
growth, full and productive employment and decent work
for all.
Goal no 5 is a pre-requisite
for reaching any other goal.
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ZI calls upon ALL decision makers
To work on a transformative framework that
• Determines the root causes of gender
inequality
• Addresses the structural impediments to
gender equality
• Ensures the implementation of sound
legislation that effectively addresses
gender inequality
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Non-discriminatory education – how?
• With laws and policies guaranteeing
equal access to education for girls and
boys regardless of marital or parental
status.
• By adoption of a human rights-based
approach through and in education:
Learning of human rights, Respect of
human rights, Practice of human rights
within the education system.
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More female decision-makers
Best way to achieve a more balanced representation on
company boards – No general agreement in the EU:
Self
regulation
Don’t know
No need
Voluntary
measures
Legal
measures
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We can not change the past
Let us build the new future!
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Sustainable Development Goals
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Sustainable Development Goals
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