mercoledì 18 febbraio 2015

Quote rosa: Ewl, più donne nei CdA italiani

Quote rosa: Ewl, più donne nei CdA italiani

Elezioni women's friendly in Uzbekistan

Nel nostro lavoro di "advocacy" e di "empowerment" economico e sociale delle donne si ha spesso l'occasione di venire a conoscenza di buone pratiche che meritano di essere sottolineate e diffuse.
Ho avuto l'onore, a fine dicembre 2014, di essere invitata, dalla Commissione Elettorale Centrale della Repubblica dell'Uzbekistan, a partecipare in qualità di Osservatore Internazionale alle elezioni per l' Oliy Majlis (Parlamento) della Repubblica dell'Uzbekistan, Paese dove ho operato in qualità di project manager della Lef-Italia in 3 progetti EuropeAid di cui 2 legati all' "empowerment" economico delle donne.
La Costituzione Uzbeka, entrata in vigore l'8 dicembre 1992, stabilisce espressamente che il 30% degli eletti al Parlamento siano donne, fatto piuttosto innovativo rispetto a molte delle nostre Costituzioni europee. 
La mia qualità di Osservatore Internazionale mi ha permesso di visitare, nei giorni precedenti le elezioni, moltissimi seggi elettorali sparsi in tutte le zone della Capitale, Tashkent,  e con piacevole sorpresa ho potuto constatare che in ogni seggio erano state preparate delle stanze adibite a nido e ad asilo per poter facilitare l'esercizio del voto alle madri con figli, oltre a servizi di primo intervento con medico ed infermiere di guardia.



Non sono solo questi gli elementi che possono far pensare alla realizzazione della parità di fatto. 
Nella maggior parte dei manifesti elettorali, c'era l'alternanza di candidati uomini e donne.  Molte erano, inoltre,  le donne ad essere presidenti e componenti delle commissioni elettorali dei singoli seggi e molte sono state le donne che io stessa ho visto andare a votare il giorno delle elezioni.  I risultati della tornata elettorale, non solo hanno ottemperato al dettato costituzionale del 30% delle elette, ma il numero è salito di 5 unità: da 30 a 35. Dimostrazione del riconoscimento che  in questo Paese,  le donne costituiscono un valore aggiunto alla vita politica, economica e sociale, cosa che posso confermare a seguito della mia esperienza di lavoro con molte di queste delle quali ammiro la forza di volontà e la grande concretezza.
Nei miei incontri con i principali partiti (il Partito Liberale, che rappresenta gli imprenditori e il Partito Social Democratico, che si occupa degli aspetti più sociali della popolazione) ho potuto prendere atto che ognuno di essi ha un occhio particolare per le politiche di genere ed ha al suo interno una commissione donna, con specifici programmi (micro-credito, attività formative, ecc.).
La sempre crescente importanza che la società civile sta assumendo nella fase di passaggio dalla transizione alla democrazia è stata avvalorata dalla presenza di un folto gruppo di persone, nell'ambito degli osservatori internazionali, provenienti dalla società civile di tutto il Mondo, tra cui moltissime donne 

Maria Ludovica Bottarelli Tranquilli Leali
Segretaria Generale Lef-Italia



lunedì 16 febbraio 2015

Women on board in Europe. Cracks in the glass ceiling or just a trick of the light?



What is this report about?
As part of the European Women’s Lobby’s Beijing+20 focus month on ‘Women in Decision-Making’, February sees the launch of the EWL’s latest report on women on boards, entitled ‘Women on Boards in Europe: Second Progress Report. Cracks in the glass ceiling or just a trick of the light?’
This Second Progress Report is part of the EWL’s ongoing work to ensure that parity at all levels of decision-making becomes reality.  It tracks developments, progress, and stagnation regarding women on company boards in 11 European countries, including Italy, since the EWL’s first Progress Report on Women on Boards in 2012 – which was awarded the European Public Affairs Award for Report of the Year 2012. 
What’s happening in Europe regarding women on boards?
Since the 2012 report, and ongoing campaigning in favour of binding legislation regarding gender parity on company boards across the EU, an EU Directive which aims to attain a 40% gender balance on non-executive boards in large, publicly listed companies across the EU has been proposed and is currently under consideration by the Council. Commissioner for Gender Equality Věra Jourová has committed to seeing the Directive passed within 2015.
We therefore find ourselves at a key moment to reflect on the developments in this area since 2012 across Europe and to learn from this reflection and analysis in order to best inform current and future policy-making in this area. 
What has Italy done to crack the glass ceiling since 2012?
Positive steps
·         There has been a sharp increase in the proportion of women on company boards – now Italy is at the EU-28 average, while at the time of the 2012 EWL report only three EU-28 countries had lower levels of women on boards
·         This is due to Italy’s 2011 Gender Parity law, which fixed a gender quota of 20% by 2012 and 33% in the second and third renewals of board positions among state-owned companies and companies listed on the stock exchange
·         Strict sanctions mean that there is high motivation to meet new requirements; the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission (CONSOB) can change the composition of companies’ boards and fines of up to €1m are possible[1]
Challenges
·         Italy fell short of meeting the 2012 target of 20% of board positions being filled by women
·         Lack of application of sanctions and the temporary nature of the legislation (it is due to expire after the third renewal of the board) raise concerns about whether the targets will actually be reached and moreover, maintained
·         Women on Italian boards are disproportionately concentrated in non-executive board positions and female CEOs are few and far between: according to the latest national data, female CEOs account for 3.2% of total female directorships[2]




[1] European Union, 2014.  The Policy on Gender Equality in Italy.  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2014/493052/IPOL-FEMM_NT(2014)493052_EN.pdf
[2] CONSOB 2013.  2013 Report on corporate governance of Italian listed companies.  http://www.consob.it/documenti/Pubblicazioni/Rapporto_cg/rcg2013.pdf. P12




EWL Member Statement
‘Female representation on the boards of listed companies has increased in the last two years thanks to law 120/11, which established the minimum quota of one third for the gender in minority as an ordinary rule to observe in appointments.  Further improvements will be possible if the sanctions system is effectively applied. Currently we have no indications about the use of this, although it is true that this period can be considered one of adjustment. It is, however, desirable that the measure of quotas be transformed into a definitive rule instead of a provisional one to ensure that ‘the new’ becomes usual behaviour and the sanctions system is more effective. The adoption of the proposed EU directive may function as a good basis for the consolidation of gender-sensitive measures at the national level.’
Siusi Casaccia, Italian Coordination for the European Women’s Lobby, Italy



The way forward
The report makes five evidence-based recommendations, which should be taken into account as the future policy landscape regarding women in decision-making at the EU level and the national level is determined: 
1.       Binding measures must apply to both executive and non-executive boards
2.       Further action is needed to increase proportion of female CEOs
3.       Effective measures require regular monitoring and intermediary targets
4.       Measures must be enforced with firm sanctions
5.       Quotas must be introduced as part of a comprehensive policy package that seeks to address the fundamental causes of women’s underrepresentation in economic decision-making
Gender parity in positions of economic power is of vital importance when it comes to justice, democracy and sustainable growth.  Diverse decision-makers and leaders better represent, better understand, and better respond to the desires and needs of women and men in their diversity – and will be more open to cultivating a new style of leadership which will lead to much-needed transformative social change.  As an important step forward towards a progressive, sustainable and inclusive Europe, the European Women’s Lobby demands the adoption and implementation of the current proposed EU Directive on women on boards without further delay. Moreover, we strongly encourage national governments to go above and beyond its requirements and to implement stronger measures to achieve gender parity at all levels of decision-making.