Text tabled : A7-0029/2012

  Clemente Mastella (PPE), in writing. – (IT) The equal participation of women in power and decision making is not only promoted at international level by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), but also at EU level by the Strategy for equality between women and men – 2010-2015. Gender equality in decision making is a question of quality and equality. There is no doubt that more balanced gender participation contributes to more diversified and better decisions. Women are still under-represented in all European Member States. This is down to a number of factors, including: a lack of financial resources, a predominantly male culture, stereotypes, and difficulties in managing family and political life. Through this report, we are aiming to encourage national parties to put measures in place to increase women’s participation.

We consider that active and concrete measures should be promoted at national level in order to ensure gender balance in all governing bodies and public appointments. Indeed, promoting gender-balanced representation in politics is a precondition for stable and transparent democracies.