WOMEN IN POLANDWOMEN IN POLAND

RENATA BERENT-MIESZCZANOWICZRENATA BERENT-MIESZCZANOWICZTHE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE

DEMOCRATIC UNION OF WOMEN (DUK) DEMOCRATIC UNION OF WOMEN (DUK)

XIV WIDF CONGRESS, XIV WIDF CONGRESS, CARACAS, VENEZUELA CARACAS, VENEZUELA

8-14 APRIL 20078-14 APRIL 2007

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POLANDPOLANDEAST-CENTRAL EUROPE EAST-CENTRAL EUROPE

WROCLAWWROCLAWTHE CITY IN POLANDTHE CITY IN POLAND

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QUICK FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT POLANDQUICK FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT POLAND

Official name: Republic of PolandPopulation: 38 milion (!!) 7th most populous in Europe and 25th in the worldCapital city: WarsawLanguages: Polish (official)Official currency: ZlotyReligion: Roman Catholic = 95%, Practicing = 75%Ethnic groups: Polish = 98% German, Ukrainian, Belarusian = 2% Political system: Parlamentary Democracy

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QUICK FACTS & QUICK FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT FIGURES ABOUT

POLAND (2)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

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KACZYNSKI TWIN BROTHERSKACZYNSKI TWIN BROTHERS

PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI

PRIME MINISTER JAROSLAW KACZYNSKI

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WROCLAW – THE VENICE OF POLANDWROCLAW – 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!)

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THE DWARFS OF WROCLAWTHE DWARFS OF WROCLAWThey 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 !!

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FIGURES & FACTS about FIGURES & FACTS about WOMEN & MEN WOMEN & MEN

in POLAND in POLAND

based on the Report from the European Commission based on the Report from the European Commission on equality between women and men 2007 & the Polish sourceson equality between women and men 2007 & the Polish sources

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Employment rates women & men aged Employment rates women & men aged 15-6415-64 in EU in EU

Member States & Poland 2005Member 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

56,3

71,3

15

46,8

58,9

12,1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Women 56,3 46,8

Men 71,3 58,9

Gende gap 15 12,1

EU POLAND

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Employment rates women & men aged Employment rates women & men aged 15-6415-64 in EU Member States & Poland 2005 - in EU Member States & Poland 2005 - CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

WOMENAverage of the EU 56,3The highest Denmark 71,9 The smallest Malta 33,7Poland 4th place 46,8

MENAverage of the EU 71,3The highest Netherlands 79,9Poland the last one 58,9

GENDER GAPAverage of the EU 15,0The highest Malta 40,1The smallest Finland 3,8Poland 12th position 12,1

56,3

71,3

15

71,9

79,9

40,1

33,7

58,9

3,8

46,8

58,9

12,1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Women 56,3 71,9 33,7 46,8

Men 71,3 79,9 58,9 58,9

Gender gap 15 40,1 3,8 12,1

EU High Small Poland

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Employment rates of Employment rates of olderolder workers women & men aged workers women & men aged 55-64 55-64 in EU Member States & Poland 2005in 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

33,7

51,8

18,119,7

35,9

16,2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Women 33,7 19,7

Men 51,8 35,9

Gender gap 18,1 16,2

EU POLAND

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Employment rates of Employment rates of olderolder workers women & men aged workers women & men aged 55-64 55-64 in EU Member States & Poland 2005 -in EU Member States & Poland 2005 -CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

WOMEN The average of the EU 33,7The highest Sweden 66,7The smallest Malta 12,4The 4th place Poland 19,7

MEN The average of the EU 51,8The highest Sweden 72,0The smallest Poland 35,9=The last place Poland 35,9

GENDER GAP The average of the EU 18,1The highest Cyprus 39,3The smallest Finland 0,1 In the middle Poland 16,2

33,7

51,8

18,1

66,7

72

39,3

12,4

35,9

0,1

19,7

35,9

16,2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Women 33,7 66,7 12,4 19,7

Men 51,8 72 35,9 35,9

Gender gap 18,1 39,3 0,1 16,2

EU High Small Poland

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UnUnemployment rates women & men aged employment rates women & men aged 15 & over 15 & over in EU Member States & Poland 2005in 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

9,9

7,9

2

19,1

16,6

2,5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Women 9,9 19,1

Men 7,9 16,6

Gender gap 2 2,5

EU POLAND

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UnUnemployment rates women & men aged employment rates women & men aged 15 & over 15 & over in EU Member States & Poland 2005in EU Member States & Poland 2005 -CONCLUSIONS -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

9,9

7,9

19,1

16,6

43,5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Women 9,9 19,1 4

Men 7,9 16,6 3,5

EU High=Poland Small

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Educational attainment (at least upper secondary school) Educational attainment (at least upper secondary school) of women & men aged 20-24 in EU Member States & Poland of women & men aged 20-24 in EU Member States & Poland

20052005

The HIGHEST in the EU!

WOMEN

EU 80,3

POLAND 93,3

MEN

EU 74,7

POLAND 88,9

80,374,7

93,388,9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Women 80,3 93,3

Men 74,7 88,9

EU POLAND

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Members of single/lower houses of national parliaments in EU Members of single/lower houses of national parliaments in EU Member States – distribution by sexMember States – distribution by sex 20062006

WOMEN

EU 24

POLAND 19

SWEDEN 48

MALTA 9

MEN

EU 76

POLAND 81

SWEDEN 52

MALTA 91

24

76

19

81

4852

9

91

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Women 24 19 48 9

Men 76 81 52 91

EU POLAND SWEDEN MALTA

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Average of women at birth of first child 2004Average of women at birth of first child 2004

WOMEN

EU 28,3

POLAND 25,5

UNITED KINGDOM 29,7BULGARIA 24,4

28,3

25,5

29,7

24,4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

WOMEN 28,3 25,5 29,7 24,4

EU POLANDUNITED

KINGDOMBULGARIA

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GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL – GENDER EQUALITY POLICY IN POLANDGOVERNMENTAL LEVEL – GENDER EQUALITY POLICY IN POLAND

December 2005 Department for Women, Family and Counteracting Discrimination

New websites has been created: www.rodzina.gov.pl & www.kobieta.gov.pl 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 PolandOn 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 problemOne 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

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NGOs LEVEL NGOs LEVEL MARCH „MANIFA” IN POLANDMARCH „MANIFA” IN POLAND

POSTERS FROM 2001 (THE FIRST MANIFA) to 2008 POSTERS FROM 2001 (THE FIRST MANIFA) to 2008

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SEX YES SEXISM NO!! SEX YES SEXISM NO!! WOMEN’S DAY IN POLAND 8 MARCH 2007WOMEN’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”

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ABORTION ABORTION THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE IN POLANDTHE 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!

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WOMEN’S PARTY WOMEN’S PARTY Poland Is a She ! Poland Is a Woman!Poland Is a She ! Poland Is a Woman!

= HOPE FOR POLISH WOMEN? = HOPE FOR POLISH WOMEN?

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44 FOUNDERS OF THE WOMEN’S FOUNDERS OF THE WOMEN’S PARTY IN POLAND: PARTY IN POLAND:

MANUELA GRETKOWSKA, MANUELA GRETKOWSKA, LIDIA POPIEL-LINDA,LIDIA POPIEL-LINDA,

WIKTOR OSIATYNSKI, WIKTOR OSIATYNSKI, ILONA KANCLERZILONA 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

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MANUELA GRETKOWSKA MANUELA GRETKOWSKA -FOUNDER -FOUNDER

& LIDIA POPIEL-LINDA CO-& LIDIA POPIEL-LINDA CO-FOUNDER FOUNDER

OF THE WOMEN’S PARTYOF 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

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Women’s PartyWomen’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 !

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ATTENTION

Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz

emailto:

renata.bm@wp.pl