Disoski/Greens on the Global Gender Gap Report: Only where women are in managerial positions are their concerns represented

2023-06-21 11:52:21

There is a clear mandate to act at all levels

Vienna (OTS) – “The equality report published today by the World Economic Forum gives politicians a clear mandate to act: women must increasingly hold political offices and decision-making positions. Because their concerns are only seen and represented where women are in leading positions,” says Meri Disoski, deputy club chairwoman and women’s spokeswoman for the Greens.

Austria slipped from 16th place in the previous year to 48th place in the Global Gender Gap Report. The report sees the declining political representation among the ÖVP ministers, in state parliaments and in local politics as the main reason. “Although other women’s policies and women’s quotas are flagged up in party programs and press releases, we Greens are the only ones who really live it,” Disoski refers to the more than 50 percent share of women in the Green government team and in the parliamentary club and states: “We’re looking for them we in vain with all other parliamentary groups.”

“The proportion of women in several state governments, especially in ÖVP-FPÖ-led states such as Upper Austria and Lower Austria, is shockingly low. The fact that there are only men in the top leadership of the SPÖ and that the party has sacrificed its much-demanded quota of women in favor of male dominance is also revealing,” says Disoski.

A more differentiated look at the equality report shows that the equality policy measures taken by the government in recent years are beginning to have an effect. “Austria has caught up in all other areas that the World Economic Forum examined in its report,” says Disoski. “And we must continue on this path.”

The Green proposals are on the table and can be implemented quickly. From mandatory wage transparency for companies with 35 or more employees for more wage equity or nationwide access to abortions to modern parental leave and parental part-time models for the fair distribution of unpaid care work to maintenance security, which primarily supports single parents. “We will continue to put pressure on the government to implement these plans,” says Disoski combatively. “The legal entitlement to childcare from the age of one continues to have the highest priority for me.” With the kindergarten billion and a major training offensive for elementary teachers, Disoski sees two important, long-overdue steps being taken here. “Further steps must and will follow,” says the women’s spokeswoman.

However, many important equality measures could also be implemented directly at the country level. “If we look at Salzburg, for example, we see that the ‘old way of thinking’ still prevails here and that women are supposed to be pushed back into the private sphere of unpaid care work by means of a ‘herd bonus’. Instead of active gender equality policy, we are seeing reactionary government programs in the federal states that are further slowing down Austria in terms of gender equality,” criticizes Disoski and emphasizes: “I expect the state chairmen here to make politics with and for women with the same aspiration that we as to the federal government.”

Disoski also points to important improvements for women that have been achieved through the participation of the Greens in government: “From the increase in the women’s budget by almost 140 percent to the largest and most comprehensive violence protection package in decades, the implementation of the compatibility guideline to strengthen the compatibility of family and work to the increase in the minimum pension or the automatic inflation adjustment of family and social benefits – all of these were important milestones in women’s politics that could be achieved through the participation of the Greens in government,” recalls the women’s spokeswoman and emphasizes: “We know that the fight for equality is still on not over for a long time. That is why it is important to take up and implement further improvements.”