Forum 50 % – République tchèque
Forum 50 % is a Czech NGO established in 2004 with the aim to support equal political participation of women and men in politics and decision making. The organisation works to promote gender equality at local, regional and national level in the Czech Republic.
In the Czech Republic women representatives only counts for 27 % at local level and only 24 % of women are Mayors. The bigger the city is, the less women can be found in its assembly. In the statutory cities (24 biggest cities in the Czech Republic) there are only 23 % female representatives and 8 % of Mayors. On the national level the situation is even worse – 19 % of women in the Senate and 40 out of 200 MPS´s in the Chamber of Deputies.
One of the main objectives of Forum 50 % is therefore to raise awareness on the underrepresentation of women in the Czech politics and actively promote more women in decision-making positions. This is done by providing trainings for women candidates and elected women and by organising conferences, seminars and campaigns.
Another project initiated by the Forum 50 % – “Equilibrium between women and men” involves promoting the implementation of gender mainstreaming in municipalities. The project is supported by the Open Society Foundation in Prague and the Let’s Give (Wo)men a Chance programme, financed by Norway Grants.
The Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic and the Nordic Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic are partners in the project.
This project includes training session for Czech municipalities to inform on the method of gender mainstreaming and how to practically include the ‘gender aspect’ in decision-making processes by conducting gender analysis. The training sessions also includes presentations of examples of good practices from other European countries, including information about the principles of the CEMR´s European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life
A total of 4 trainings will be organised in the framework of the project, involving around 45 representatives from unions, staff working at cities and municipalities and experts.
The project will continue with the practical implementation of gender mainstreaming (conducting gender analysis of strategic documents, identifying key areas for action, elaborating an action plan). This will be done in cooperation with the Union of Towns and Municipalities and three selected towns or municipalities – Mníšek pod Brdy, Prague – Zbraslav district and Prague – Nebušice district..
As a part of the project annual conferences on Equal Opportunities will also be organised together with the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Union of Towns and Municipalities.
Representatives of Forum 50 % and the Union of Towns and Municipalities are also engaged in advocating at national level to the Committee for institutional safeguarding of equal opportunities of women and men. This advisory body of the government works to ensure that methods of gender mainstreaming (gender impact assessment and gender audits) becomes legally binding for local authorities.