Women, Parties, Quotas: How to Achieve Gender Equality in Politics?

Thursday, 12 March 2015, 19:00
Visual Culture Research Center (44 Hlybochytska Street (1st floor), Kyiv)

Visual Culture Research Center and Political Critique invite you to the discussion Women, Parties, Quotas: How to Achieve Gender Equality in Politics?, which will take place on Thursday, 12 March, at 19:00.

In 2015 all Ukrainian authorities had to include not less than 30 % of women. At least these were the liabilities, which Ukraine pledged before the UN. However, currently nearly 90 % of members of our parliament are men. Ukrainian President and some political experts motivate the increase of women in politics for the reason that it will help to «achieve peace, wisdom», to «fight corruption». It seems that our officials lack political will, have no idea about the mechanisms of implementation of such reforms, and even don’t understand the very idea of gender equality, needed for the guarantee of the real access of women to politics and power.

This discussion aims to clarify the purposes for gender equality in governmental bodies, consider the mechanisms of «positive discrimination», implementation of gender quotas, and changes in the election law, and to highlight the relevant experience of reforms in the world.

Participants:

Tamara Martsenyuk is a Doctor of Sociology, Professor at the Sociology Department (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy), who teaches the course Gender and Politics.

Olena Yena is a Senior Manager of Women – leaders program (National Democratic Institute).

Zakhar Popovych is a Doctor of Economics, activist of Left Opposition socialist union, co-author of a draft statute of the party of social revolution, which involves extensive use of gender quotas.

Moderator – Olha Vesnyanka

Admission is free

The discussion will take place within the frameworks of feminist program which will last at VCRC from the 3d until the 19th of March

Supported by ERSTE Stiftung, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Ukraine

Media partner:

Visual Culture Research Center (VCRC) was founded in 2008 as a platform for collaboration between academic, artistic, and activist communities. VCRC is an independent initiative, which is engaged in publishing and artistic activities, scientific research, organization of public lectures, discussions, and conferences. In 2015 Visual Culture Research Center received the European Cultural Foundation’s Princess Margriet Award.

Contacts:

+380631481204 (Nazariy Sovsun)
www.facebook.com/vcrc.org.ua
vcrc@vcrc.org.ua