PES women work programme 2005

Introduction
The Party of European Socialists is going through a process of reform. PES Women should also take this opportunity to consider carefully its activities and priorities. By reinforcing its role both within the PES and externally, PES Women will become stronger in a strengthened PES.

In this period of renewed activity, members of PES Women have agreed to commit themselves to the following work programme for 2005.

1. PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Bearing in mind the resources that PES Women has at its disposal, this section is divided into two distinct parts. The first deals with the four priorities for next year and the second deals with those areas which PES Women should carry out a watching brief (i.e. monitoring activity in these areas, exchanging best practice and acting when necessary).

(a) four priorities

The following four priorities are equally important and fall into three categories.

International
(1)Beijing +10 - preparation and follow-up of the meeting to be held under the Luxembourg presidency (early February in Luxembourg) and the UN meeting in New York (late February - early March). To consider in particular the objective of the empowerment of women.

The European Union
(2)Mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy due in March 2005 - the preparatory work for and follow-up work of the mid-term review.
(3)A campaign on gender equality in the workplace throughout the year, in particular on the persistent pay gap between men & women and the need to increase the provision of accessible and affordable childcare.

Within the PES and its member parties
(4)PES Women will continue to pursue the goal of gender equality within the PES and its member parties. Increasing the empowerment and visibility of women within our own political family is linked to the broader objective of the empowerment of women in society at large.

In relation to all of these priorities, it is essential to improve our communication with women voters. PES Women should work to convince women voters that the PES and its member parties are their best political allies. This is a particularly important objective in the run up to elections (European, national and local).

(b) exchange of best practice between members & monitoring national and european legislation
PES Women will monitor the following issues and pursue exchanges of best practice on certain key issues. Intensive exchanges of experience will take place between PES Women members who have similar problems on specific issues in their member states.

Gender equality in the workplace:

• The persistent pay gap between men & women
• Work-life balance, family-friendly policies
  
• Affordable and accessible childcare
  
• Women are underrepresented in many sectors

Gender equality outside the workplace:

• Anti-discrimination legislation (national and European)
• Misuse & misrepresentation of women in advertising

Women’s human rights:

• Campaigns against violence against women, forced marriages, sexual         exploitation and trafficking.
• Abortion and women’s rights over their own bodies
  
• The situation of women from ethnic minorities
  
• The gender dimension of justice & home affairs

International issues:

• Solidarity with women from developing countries
• The fight against poverty in these countries (hitting women & children particularly hard)
  
• Beijing +10
• Millennium Development Goals

EU cross-cutting policies:

• Gender mainstreaming
• Gender budgeting
  
• Gender institute
  
• Gender Framework Strategy

10 new member states and further EU enlargement:

2. CALENDAR & WORKING METHODS

Meetings
There will be 3 statutory meetings and one yearly conference in 2005:

• First quarter (17 January) - focus on Beijing +10
• Second quarter (May)
  
• Fourth quarter (October)

As far as it is possible, statutory meetings will take place a few weeks before the PES Presidency in order for the PES Women President to ensure that our work is communicated to the Presidency in a timely manner.

The yearly conference of 2005 will take place on 18 March (the week after international women’s day and before the Spring Summit - at which mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy will be discussed). The aim of this meeting will be to have a detailed debate on the gender dimension of the Lisbon Strategy. We will involve representatives from PES member parties, as well as Commissioners and member state ministers from our own family. Civil society groups, such as the European Women’s Lobby, will also be invited to participate.

Throughout the year, the PES Women President will enhance our visibility by attending member parties’ congresses and women’s organisations’ meetings.

The Global Progressive Forum will hold its second major event in September 2005. The theme will be globalisation and the fight against HIV-AIDS. There will be a roundtable on women and globalisation at this event. PES Women will facilitate the participation of its members as well as putting forward ideas for its format.

Statements & Campaigns
Relating to the list of issues above, PES Women will work intensively on statements and campaigns on the four priorities outlined above. As well as these campaigns at both European and national level, it will also react to important events.

Contact with EU institutions
In connection with its campaigns and activities at EU level, PES Women should seek to influence the work of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

Website & communication
PES should improve its communication within the PES and externally. Creating a space on the PES website specifically for PES Women will serve as a point of reference for members, the PES more widely and the general public.

Enhancing the visibility of PES Women activities, especially specific campaigns, should be the subject of a more vigorous press strategy.

It is necessary to improve communication and contacts between PES Women and national, regional and local level women’s groups.

Relations with the Socialist group in the European Parliament
PES Women should ensure that there is systematic communication with the Socialist Group members who are involved in gender equality work in the European Parliament

cooperation with other women’s organisations
In addition to women’s organisations within and linked to PES member parties, it will also be important to ensure close cooperation with Socialist International Women, the CEE Network for gender issues and ECOSY Feminist Network. Civil society organisations, such as the European Women’s Lobby, should also be invited to participate in specific activities.

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