WOMEN IN POLAND RENATA BERENT-MIESZCZANOWICZ THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC UNION OF WOMEN (DUK) XIV WIDF CONGRESS, CARACAS, VENEZUELA 8-14 APRIL 2007

2 POLAND EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE WROCLAW THE CITY IN POLAND

3 QUICK FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT POLAND Official name: Republic of Poland Population: 38 milion (!!) 7th most populous in Europe and 25th in the world Capital city: Warsaw Languages: Polish (official) Official currency: Zloty Religion: Roman Catholic = 95%, Practicing = 75% Ethnic groups: Polish = 98% German, Ukrainian, Belarusian = 2% Political system: Parlamentary Democracy

4 QUICK FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT POLAND (2) Bridge between East and West Situated in the heart of Europe The member of the EU, United Nations and World Trade Organization 12 sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List 23 national parks Famous for: Walesa, Pope (John Paul II) & Solidarity Movement

5 KACZYNSKI TWIN BROTHERS PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI PRIME MINISTER JAROSLAW KACZYNSKI

6 WROCLAW – THE VENICE OF POLAND Situated on 12 islands Connected by 112 bridges A mixture of the Czech, German, Polish and Jewish traditions The city of parks (the greenest city of Poland!)

7 THE DWARFS OF WROCLAW They appeared on the streets of the city in August 2005 Their history is connected with the Orange Alternative movement and the year 1982 It is then that some dwarfs with funny hats and smiling faces were painted as a graffiti covering anti- Communist slogans There are many top city attractions you can watch on the film !!

8 FIGURES & FACTS about WOMEN & MEN in POLAND based on the Report from the European Commission on equality between women and men 2007 & the Polish sources

9 Employment rates women & men aged in EU Member States & Poland 2005 WOMEN EU 56,3 POLAND 46,8 MEN EU 71,3 POLAND 58,9 GENDER GAP EU 15,0 POLAND 12,1

10 Employment rates women & men aged in EU Member States & Poland CONCLUSIONS WOMEN Average of the EU 56,3 The highest Denmark 71,9 The smallest Malta 33,7 Poland 4th place 46,8 MEN Average of the EU 71,3 The highest Netherlands 79,9 Poland the last one 58,9 GENDER GAP Average of the EU 15,0 The highest Malta 40,1 The smallest Finland 3,8 Poland 12th position 12,1

11 Employment rates of older workers women & men aged in EU Member States & Poland 2005 WOMEN EU 33,7 POLAND 19,7 MEN EU 51,8 POLAND 35,9 GENDER GAP EU 18,1 POLAND 16,2

12 Employment rates of older workers women & men aged in EU Member States & Poland CONCLUSIONS WOMEN The average of the EU 33,7 The highest Sweden 66,7 The smallest Malta 12,4 The 4th place Poland 19,7 MEN The average of the EU 51,8 The highest Sweden 72,0 The smallest Poland 35,9 =The last place Poland 35,9 GENDER GAP The average of the EU 18,1 The highest Cyprus 39,3 The smallest Finland 0,1 In the middle Poland 16,2

13 Unemployment rates women & men aged 15 & over in EU Member States & Poland 2005 WOMEN EU 9,9 POLAND 19,1 MEN EU 7,9 POLAND 16,6 GENDER GAP EU 2,0 POLAND 2,5

14 Unemployment rates women & men aged 15 & over in EU Member States & Poland CONCLUSIONS POLAND ON THE FIRST PLACE!! WOMEN EU 9,9 The highest Poland 19,1 The smallest Ireland 4,0 MEN EU 7,9 The highest Poland 16,6 The smallest Luxembourg 3,5

15 Educational attainment (at least upper secondary school) of women & men aged in EU Member States & Poland 2005 The HIGHEST in the EU! WOMEN EU 80,3 POLAND 93,3 MEN EU 74,7 POLAND 88,9

16 Members of single/lower houses of national parliaments in EU Member States – distribution by sex 2006 WOMEN EU 24 POLAND 19 SWEDEN 48 MALTA 9 MEN EU 76 POLAND 81 SWEDEN 52 MALTA 91

17 Average of women at birth of first child 2004 WOMEN EU 28,3 POLAND 25,5 UNITED KINGDOM 29,7 BULGARIA 24,4

18 GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL – GENDER EQUALITY POLICY IN POLAND December 2005 Department for Women, Family and Counteracting Discrimination New websites has been created: & Limited to family issues only! Only Polish versions of websites available, no English one!! Protests of many women’s NGOs as well as gay organisations They argue that to place the issue of women’s rights in the context of family matters will give rise to renewed stereotyping of women and fails to promote gender equality What future for the gender equality policy in Poland? It is difficult to assess whether equal rights will be helped along by the appointment of Ms Kluzik Rostkowska. In her previous office she has proven her commitment to the issue of equal opportunities for women and men in employment and to the problem of the reconciliation of family responsibilities with work. She has publicly expressed the opinion that assisted reproduction using in vitro fertilisation should continue to be permitted in Poland On the other hand, however, she avoided answering the question on cooperation with gay and lesbian NGOs, stressing the importance of first conducting reliable research on the extent of the problem One example of an interesting initiative announced by her is the open competition for NGOs for projects aimed at the promotion of active participation by fathers in child raising

19 NGOs LEVEL MARCH „MANIFA” IN POLAND POSTERS FROM 2001 (THE FIRST MANIFA) to 2008

20 SEX YES SEXISM NO!! WOMEN’S DAY IN POLAND 8 MARCH 2007 Celebrated in very special way in Poland: big female solidarity movement Women and men, representing feminist organizations and sexual minorities and other groups took part together in that happening calling „We are fed up! We want changes!” The main aim: generate a wave of protest against anti- women's policy and arrogance of Polish government concerning a controversial proposal to include a ban on abortion and rights for homosexuals The march started with the free distributions of catchwords which were shouted during the manifestation. For example: „SEX YES, SEXISM NO” „WE ARE STRONG BUT STRONGER TOGETHER” „GIRLS, WE NEED ACTIONS” „STRONG WOMEN – FREE WORLD”

21 ABORTION THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN POLAND 28th of March 2007 = Abortion debate protests both sides outside parliament WOMEN’S RIGHTS TO HAVE A CHOICE = AGAINST the country’s tough anti-abortion law to be anchored in the constitutionin PROTECTION OF LIFE OF UNBORNED CHILDREN = IN FAVOUR OF the country’s tough anti-abortion law to be anchored in the constitutionin Predominantly Catholic Poland has one of the toughest abortion rules in Europe. Abortion is currently allowed only in cases of rape, incest, danger to the mother's life or irreversible malformation of the fetus. Breaking the law results in a two-year jail term Plans of the Polish Government: to change the anti-abortion law: no right to abortion independently of circumstances!

22 WOMEN’S PARTY Poland Is a She ! Poland Is a Woman! = HOPE FOR POLISH WOMEN? WOMEN’S PARTY Poland Is a She ! Poland Is a Woman! = HOPE FOR POLISH WOMEN?

23 4 FOUNDERS OF THE WOMEN’S PARTY IN POLAND: MANUELA GRETKOWSKA, LIDIA POPIEL-LINDA, WIKTOR OSIATYNSKI, ILONA KANCLERZ The Women's Party came into being with Gretkowska's manifesto, 'Poland Is a Woman' „Women who are members of the party or support it believe that this country is us because its fate and our own fate is in our hands” 'All those who have doubted us and ridiculed us as mere 'political folklore' need to know that women can organise themselves in a new political party and work with a new political concept,' according to Lidia Popiel- Linda, co-founder of the Women's Party Party would be open to both women and men. One of the group's founders is Prof. Wiktor Osiatyński, a 61-year- old lawyer who specializes in the history of political and legal doctrines

24 MANUELA GRETKOWSKA -FOUNDER & LIDIA POPIEL-LINDA CO- FOUNDER OF THE WOMEN’S PARTY Until now, Gretkowska, 42, had not taken part in any form of political life. She had been associated with the feminist movement and was known as a writer who often shocked her readers with intimate themes verging on pornography Criticism: the creation of the Women's Party as timely, calling it shrewd publicity for Gretkowska's new book 'Women and Men'. Allegedly, it's on its way to becoming a bestseller But at the same time many well-known politicians from the opposition, businesswomen, journalists and prominent Polish women support the project. Above all however, there is support from a vast number of 'normal' women, who want to express their dissatisfaction with current politics

25 Women’s Party One thing is for sure though. Polish women need a better representation of their interests within government. Time will tell if the Women's Party will fulfill the expectations of their supporters !

26 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz to: