Euro Parliament celebrates 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day

By Bairbre de Brún MEP

IT WAS a real pleasure for me this morning to watch my good friend and colleague Eva-Britt Svensson, Chair of the European Parliament Committee on Gender Equality chair a session to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, Irish former President Mary Robinson, and former European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine.

The session was entitled 'Women in Politics in the European Union'.

Mary Robinson welcomed the fact that both women and men attended the event, pointing out that gender equalty is not just an issue for women but an issue for everyone. Mary robinson told those present that it was an Ulsterman, John Ballance, who was instrumental in giving women the vote for the first time anywhere as premier of New Zealand in 1883, although it was women campaigning that had led to this result.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek told those present that he is a strong supporter of quotas for bringing about parity in gender representation in parliaments and in other decision-making bodies.  He spoke about the way he has tried to promote gender equality in the European parliament but also by campaign previously for parity in polical representation in his native Polish parliament.

Women workers' strike, 1912