For a feminist Europe.

Von Eva Palomo Cermeño (7.12.2008)

Good morning, I am representing the feminist women from different parties and countries in Europe who belong to the EL-FEM network. We had a long and productive meeting yesterday in order to prepare our amendments to the document of the electoral platform. We worked hard and summarized our contributions as feminists in the document “For a feminist Europe”.

We believe our feminist view and strategy are necessary within our European Left. Without these there would be an enormous lack of contents in our documents, programs etc.
 
Women are the first to suffer the changes that neoliberal policies have brought to Europe. It has been said that poverty has a female face and all data support this statement. The diminishing Welfare State affects all the population but women in a special way. The lack of public services has proved to have a strong impact on the quality of women’s lives.
 
More women are unemployed or have precarious jobs. Women in fact are the first to be thrown out of the labour market. The pay gap between men and women (over a 15% and up to a 30% in some countries) is an insult to women.
 
Women are not adequately represented as citizens and political subjects and this is a danger for any democratic system. That is why it is so important to continue fighting for the 50% quota policies.
 
For all those reasons we think the left must defend:
 
Gender equality in the labour market.
 
Gender violence laws in all Europe to fight against violence and inequality in all spheres of life. These laws must include all women –not leaving out migrant women. Sexual and reproductive rights. The right to abortion.
 
A secular Europe. We are concerned about all religious fundamentalisms which can undermine women’s rights.

Equal participation and representation of women in politics and all decision making institutions. This includes our parties too. We must be really aware of the fact that this principle is not always followed.
 
As left and feminist women we are struggling and will continue to do so for all these basic rights.
Thank you – Eva Palomo Cermeño

Redebeitrag, EL-Fem – Wahlkonferenz der Europäischen Linken, Berlin, November 29th 2008