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Sign On Site to Support the Campaign:: http://www.womenlobby.org:80/site/form_3.asp

Join the European Women’s Lobby 50/50 Campaign

In 2009, Europeans will elect a new European Parliament and a new European Commission will be appointed. These elected and nominated persons are going to shape our future in Europe, and the “50/50 Campaign for Democracy” aims to ensure that women and men are equally represented among them.

Women are currently still under-represented in all European institutions where decisions are made which affect our lives. With the “50/50 Campaign for Democracy”, we at the European Women’s Lobby want to push for concrete action to increase women’s presence in politics.

Many prominent persons from across Europe have already given their wholehearted support to the EWL 50/50 Campaign. Now we invite YOU to be part of our efforts too!

Your participation in the European elections as a voter or a candidate, and your involvement with decision-makers speaking for democracy, justice and gender equality can help us build a more democratic European Union.

SIGN NOW and TAKE ACTION!

To find out more about the 50/50 Campaign, read our Call for Action in your own language.
BG - CZ - DK - DE - EE - EN - FI - FR - HU - IT - LT - NL - SK - SI - ES - EL - SE - LV - PT - RO - MT - PL

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http://www.5050democracy.eu:80/

About the EWL 50/50 Campaign

The “50/50 Campaign for Democracy” led by the European Women’s Lobby seeks to ensure equal representation of women in the European Parliament to be elected in June 2009 and the upcoming European Commission. The Campaign, which is endorsed by prominent personalities across Europe such as Vice President of the European Commission Margot Wallström, Nobel Price winner Orhan Pamuk, Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme and former President of the European Parliament Simone Veil. The Campaign will run from 16 September 2009 until the European Parliament elections and the appointment of the European Commission in 2009.

Establishing a just democracy in Europe requires the representation of all Europeans, both women and men, in the making of decisions that affect their lives. The Campaign points out that the under-representation of women in EU decision-making bodies contributes to the lack of democratic legitimacy of the European Union

While many commitments have been made in relation to democracy and equality, the figures offer a bleak picture, with 77% of the members of the European Parliament and 66% of the Commissioners being men. The Campaign urges voters, national political parties, European governments and high level European decision-makers to achieve a more gender balanced family picture of Europe in 2009.

Key messages of the 50/50 Campaign

No modern European democracy without gender equality
The under-representation of women in the EU institutions is a serious obstacle to the democratic legitimacy of the EU and undermines all attempts to promote a more inclusive and participatory democracy.

Political parties and government are the gatekeepers
Political parties, governments and MEPs have the power to make decisions about who is on electoral lists and who is appointed to the European Commission in the autumn 2008 and in 2009. They must commit to turn the general agreement on women’s right to equal participation into women’s equal representation in European decision-making bodies.

You can change the course of Europe if you take action!
The Campaign provides interested citizens with the means to act. Mobilization in view of the European elections can make a difference and can help putting the gender equality, solidarity and sustainable and social development higher on the European agenda.

Main goals of the 50/50 Campaign

• Mobilize high level and grassroot support for 50/50 Campaign and lead lobbying actions for the equal representation of women and men in EU decision-making bodies.
• Mobilize European women to cast their votes in the European Elections 2009 for political parties that support gender balance and gender equality.
• Ensure 50/50 in the European Parliament in 2009: if national political parties ensure the equal representation of women and men on their candidate lists for the EP elections, this will be achieved!
• Ensure 50/50 in the European Commission in 2009: if the designated Commission President will make gender equality a priority for the composition of the next College and if Parliament will assess the future Commission against the goal of gender equality, this will be achieved! National governments will play a role, by suggesting the names of one woman and one man as potential Commissioners.
• Ensure the equal representation of women for top European positions to be filled in 2009.
• Ensure long lasting democracy and equal participation: if the European Parliament and the European Commission show firm political commitment to the equal representation of women and men, and if they speak for the need to adopt measures to reach this goal, this will be achieved!

Target audiences of the 50/50 Campaign

• (Women) voters in order to mobilize them to participate in lobbying actions and to cast their votes in the EP elections supporting political parties that are committed to gender equality.
• National political parties in order to make them guarantee the equal representation of women and men on their candidate lists for the European elections.
• European governments, MEPs and the next designate Commission President for the equal representation of women and men in relation to the nomination of the new European Commission and other top positions at EU level.

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