Tea For Two

Flýtilyklar

Valmynd
Meginmál
Deildarval

Gender equality in local authorities

Through Community Support Framework II (NOW initiative), but predominantly through Community Support Framework III, a series of structures were developed in Local Government that significantly contribute towards Equality. Their contribution is mainly related to the fact that they offer women the possibility to “be released” from a series of obligations, to gain free time and to be able to claim a place on the labour market.

Taking into consideration that the majority of citizens employed in said structures are women, the substantial contribution of said structures to Equality can be easily understood.The following local government structures are considered as mainly contributing to Equality:

DAY CARE CENTRES
DAY CARE CENTRES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
NURSERIES
KINDERGARTENS
CENTRES FOR CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY
CENTRES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY
ELDERLY DAY CARE INSTITUTIONS
HOME ASSISTANCE

Regional Committees for Gender Equality:

The organisation of social policy structures at a local level concerns both local government and the decentralised state bodies, namely the regions. The role of regional structures is more related to the state operation and the national activities in the area of social protection, while local government is the one taking up actions that can be locally detected. Unfortunately, this is not an absolute statement, as local government does not have at its disposal the resources to support structures of local character.With a view to achieving a decongestion of centralised operation and to promoting regional policies, Regional Committees for Gender Equality were established, as per the provisions of Article 6 paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of Law 2839/ 2000 (Government Gazette No. 196^Α/ 12.9.2000).The competences of the Regional Committees for Gender Equalities, according to their operational regulation (Government Gazette No. 1433/Β/22.10.2001), include the following matters:

√ Submission of proposals to the competent Regional bodies, as well as to the General Secretariat for Gender Equality, for the adoption of necessary measures that will contribute to the promotion and establishment of gender equality in all areas.

√ Organisation of events, open discussions, conventions and educational programmes, whose subject is gender equality at a Regional level and women’s participation in social and economic life.

√ Recording regional authorities and structures promoting gender equality issues.

√ Contact Local Government Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and Regional Social Authorities and coordination of activities related to gender equality issues.

√ Submission of proposals to the Regional Councils regarding the integration of activities in the Programmes of the Region, of the Prefectures, of the Municipalities, focusing on the establishment of equal opportunities for both genders.

√ Citizen awareness and information on gender equality issues.

√ Participation in European Union Programmes, in cooperation with the Regional Development Funds.

√ Participation in programmes of every kind, aiming at fighting women’s unemployment and at increasing women’s entrepreneurship.

In 2000, together with the institution of the Regional Committee for Gender Equality, an effort was made to set up, within Local Government Organisations, equality committees under the coordination of the Regional Committees for Gender Equality. The equality committees of the Local Government Organisations operated primarily with the Municipalities’ personnel, which had been previously trained to receive women and provide them with information on labour and family issues. In each Region of the country an effort was made to allow an unofficial communication and consultation network to operate between the Local Government Organisations and the Regional Committees for Gender Equality. This endeavour, after having initially showed a positive perspective, did not flourish when the Regional Committees for Gender Equality started to weaken, due to problems in the renewal of the employment contracts of their staff.

Apart from the establishment of Structures contributing to equality, there are also additional programmes financed by Community Support Framework III directed at women. In this respect, it is worthwhile to closely observe the development and perspective shaped by the programmes currently in progress, in which Local Government takes part and which are directed at women.

The most representative instance is measure no. 5.3 “Integrated interventions in favour of women” in the framework of the Operational Programme “Employment and Vocational Training”.

Said project concerns the enforcement of Action Plans for guaranteeing Integrated Interventions in favour of the female population and aims at improving women’s access to and participation in the labour market, at a Regional level, through the provision of specialised information, consultation and social support.

Currently in Greece, 17 Action Plans are being enforced and a total of 242 authorities are carrying out Consultation and Publicity tasks. Local government plays a major role in all such activities. More specifically:

36 Prefectures

34 Municipalities

84 Local Government Enterprises

12 Regional Committees for Gender Equality

and 9 Unions of Municipalities

are undertaking Consultation and Publicity activities and only 67 authorities in total are not related to the local government. Local government participates in the “Integrated Interventions in favour of women” by 72%.

Women’s Associations – Unions

It is known that in the past, women’s Organisations were created and operated, throughout the entire country.

Especially during the first years following the political changeover in 1974, in most Municipalities of Greece, women’s Associations existed and were actively operational.

It would not be an overstatement to claim that such associations were essentially the ones who often “compelled” Local Government Organisations to start dealing with equality issues.Eventually many of these associations weakened, mainly due to financial reasons. Nevertheless, even today tens of such organisations still exist, and with their activity they substantially contribute to the promotion of equality issues.

Today, women’s associations existing at a local level still cooperate with the respective authorities in Local Government.

We should also note the development of a partnership among women’s groups, especially at a regional level. From the answers to our questionnaires provided by the Local Government Organisations, one can infer that no cooperation or support exists among these Groups.

A list is attached to annex Ι of the study including the most significant women’s Organisations, as well as which Political, Trade Union and Scientific Institutions have set up functional Women’s departments.