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Czech Women´s Lobby Protests Against Influencing of European Structural Funds Against Gender Organizations

Czech Women's Lobby platform  requests an investigation into the content and the footnote of the No. 26 E.U. grant competition announcement for the area 3.4. Equal Opportunities of Men and Women at the Labor Market and Reconciling Family and Professional Life (OP LZZ) published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs on August 25, 2008.  The request concerns specifically the footnote in the grant qualifications section that states: “Note:  Projects may not be of political nature and must not promote any political or ideological aims, including feminist or masculinist ideologies." Here  you can read letter, Czech Women´s Lobby wrote to the Minister without portfolio Džamila Stehlíková who is also responsible for human rights and equal opportunities issues.

Dear Minister,

On behalf of the Czech Women's Lobby platform, we request an investigation into the content and the footnote of the No. 26 E.U. grant competition announcement for the area 3.4. Equal Opportunities of Men and Women at the Labor Market and Reconciling Family and Professional Life (OP LZZ) published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs on August 25, 2008.

Our request concerns specifically the footnote in the grant qualifications section (http://www.esfcr.cz/clanek.php?lg=1&id=6383) that states: “Note: Projects may not be of political nature and must not promote any political or ideological aims, including feminist or masculinist ideologies."

In the opinion of the Czech Women’s Lobby, this footnote is unacceptable as it directly contradicts the principles and rules of European Union financing policies. It strongly undermines the values, goals, and priorities of the European Union which all member states, including the Czech Republic, are obliged to respect, promote, and follow.

Any and all financial means from the European Union must be utilized in accordance with the E.U. principles and goals. Let us emphasize that Equal Opportunities for Women and Men constitute one of the Union’s priorities and a cross-cutting theme of all European projects. Projects selected and supported through the OP LZZ program will be funded by the European Social Fund (85%) and by the state budget (15%).

As it is, the footnote may lead to discrimination against applicants and potential grant recipients that have a reputation for being feminist whether they really are feminist or not. Discrimination might occur both in the course of the initial competition procedure (with evaluation committees) and in the process of making alliances between grant recipients and their partner organizations. Let’s remember that non-discrimination, cost-effectiveness, and performance form the cornerstones of the European Union Structural Funds, and demand that projects are evaluated on how well they fulfill the goals and the evaluation criteria of grant competitions and not some assumed ideological or political purposes.

We worry that such restrictive statements by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs not only obstruct the promotion of gender equality (and undermine the principles of the European Union) but that this unwarranted action may have a very damaging effect on the work of gender and women’s organizations in the Czech Republic.

We ask You, the Minister for Human Rights responsible for securing gender equality, to carry out an investigation into whether the above-mentioned footnote is not in direct contradiction with the principles of European Union financing.

Additionally, we would like to inform you that our partner, the international European Women's Lobby platform (EWL), is following the steps the Czech government is taking closely and is duly worried about the last developments. The EWL is particularly concerned about the critical situation many gender-focused non-profit organizations have been facing. In the light of the approaching EWL General Assembly, there is consideration of making an official complaint to the relevant European Union bodies about the Czech Republic and its E.U. representatives for their long term lack of attention and effort to fulfill E.U. gender equality indicators.

Thank you for your kind attention to our request.

On behalf of Czech Women’s Lobby,

Lenka Bennerová

Chairwoman

Plzeňská 846/66

150 00 Praha 5

cc Dagmar Zelenková, Head of the Secretariat for the Government Council for Equal Opportunities

cc Soňa Marková, Chair of the Permanent Parliamentary Commission for Equal Opportunities

cc Vladimír Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

cc Alena Záborská, Chairwoman of the Committee for Equal Rights and Gender Equality at the European Parliament

cc Jana Hybášková, MEP (E.U. Representative)

cc Eva Flasarová, MEP (E.U. Representative)

cc Anna Ćurdová, MP, Shadow Minister for Family Affairs

cc Alena Gajdůšková, Chairwoman of the ČSSD Senate Club





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