(Brussels, 15 November 2013) Equal representation of women and men in public decision-making is a fundamental right. The under-representation of women constitutes a serious democratic deficit, which undermines the legitimacy of the contemporary democratic ideal and the European Union. A modern and genuine democracy requires gender equality.

The 50/50 Coalition aims to achieve gender balance in all European institutions for the 2014 European Elections. Therefore, the European Women’s Lobby together with a core group with representatives of the five political groups in the European Parliament have initiated the 50/50 Coalition. The core group members are Anneli Jäätteenmäki /ALDE, Franziska Brantner /Greens/EFA, Kartika Liotard/GUE-NGL, Sirpa Pietikäinen/EPP and Zita Gurmai/S&D.

The 50/50 Declaration was launched with great success at an official signing event in Strasbourg on 21 November where around 50 MEPs attended to sign the Declaration and show their support for the Coalition and gender parity. The Declaration will be open to sign for NGOs, commissioners and national politicians by the beginning of 2013. Until today, the Declaration has been signed by more than 60 MEPs.

Here you can find a video clip from the event with the MEPs signing the Declaration and statements by Franziska Brantner, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Zita Gurmai.

Here you can find the Joint 50/50 Declaration: “No Modern Democracy without gender Equality”.

Sign the Declaration here.

Извор: WUNRN – 22.01.2014