The underrepresentation of women in politics, both in terms of numerical presence and advocacy for their rights, is a complex issue that demands a comprehensive and in-deph analysis. A thorough research was undertaken by the FEMABLE partnership in past months to explore the barriers, challenges, and historical context influencing this world-wide phenomenon.
The resources produced during the research phase are available on the project’s website and in our digital library; the FEMABLE policy-toolkit constitutes a comprehensive document that illustrates the reality of gender equality in the political sphere through 7 national reports and 1 European report.
It is no surprise that this research reveals a disheartening scenario. Both Italy and Europe as a whole remain distant from achieving gender equality goals. On a global scale, the Global Gender Gap report delivers a sobering estimate: “It will take another 132 years to bridge the gender gap worldwide.”
The conclusion of this initial phase of the study led us to Crete on September for a meeting with the partnership. The aim was to prepare for the upcoming phase of FEMABLE, centered on formulating gender equality strategies that can promote a more equitable representation of women and men in political decisions, moving us closer to a more inclusive society.
Our meeting was enriched by the insights of two prominent figures in Cretan politics: Maria Kanavaki, candidate for mayor of Heraklion, and Pena Papadaki-Skalidi, candidate for municipal councilor in Heraklion. They shared their personal experiences in political participation, discussing the challenges they’ve faced, the barriers they’ve overcome, and their determination to strive for a fairer future through their political commitment.
The encounter with the partnership constituted a key moment of inspiration and empowerment, in which we delved not only into the organizational aspects of the project but also cultivated a shared space, amplifying the voices of promising women within the political landscape. Regrettably, such spaces are often challenging to find in today’s patriarchal world.
About the project
FEM-ABLE – Promoting women’s participation in the political domain is a project funded by Citizens, Equality, Rights and Value Programme (CERV), which aims to fostering the equal participation and representation of women and men in political decision making by developing and implementing national and European gender equality strategies.
Partners
- COFAC – Lusófona University (Portugal, coordinator)
- Social Innovation Fund (SIF) (Lithuania)
- Woman do business (Greece)
- CESIE (Italy)
- La Xixa Teatre Association (Spain)
- Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) (Cyprus)
- UMEA University (Sweden)
For further information
Read more about FEM-ABLE, visit our web site https://femable.eu/ and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Contact Nuria Casablanca: nuria.casablanca@cesie.org.
