Social partners and political parties sign non-discrimination agreement

On 29 September 2008, representatives of Lithuanian trade unions, employers and political parties signed a national agreement on the practical implementation of equal rights and opportunities for men and women. The aim of the agreement is to implement equal rights for men and women in all areas of social life.

On 29 September 2008, representatives from nine Lithuanian political parties, three national trade union centres and one national employers’ confederation signed a national agreement on the practical implementation of equal rights and opportunities for men and women (hereinafter referred to as ‘the National Agreement’) at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas, LRS).

The National Agreement reads as follows: ‘Today, women and men have equal rights de jure in the Republic of Lithuania. [...] However, there is some space to ensure de facto equal rights for men and women in practice’. Representatives of political parties and social partners admit that problems remain in many areas in Lithuania: protection and internalisation of human rights, active participation of women in decision-making processes, the labour market, economy, education, etc. Consistent and efficient national and municipal policies aimed at concrete improvement of women’s situation are deemed to be insufficient; and authorities and the media are thought to pay inadequate attention to the issues relating to gender equality, elimination of negative gender stereotypes, and the implementation of equal opportunities for women and men in all areas of life and activities.

The purpose of the National Agreement, signed by the political parties and social partners, is to implement equal rights for women and men in all fields of activities not only de jure, but de facto as well. By signing the above-mentioned Agreement, the parties thereto have agreed:

• to combine the efforts of authorities, non-governmental organisations and the business community in ensuring equal opportunities for men and women in Lithuania in the areas of job search, education, career and decision-making at all levels and reconciling work and domestic responsibilities;

• to integrate the principle of equality of men and women in all areas of life;

• to ensure that gender equality, ensuring equality for men and women is integrated into the activities of each municipality;

• to provide full-range support to civil initiatives that involve particular actions centred on the equal participation of men and women in state and family life;

• to initiate and implement common national education programmes on various topics related to integrating the principle of equality of men and women and gender for people of all ages, and specifically with regard to children and youth.

The signatory parties to the National Agreement also agreed ‘to use the EU Structural Funds 2007-2013 support in a transparent and efficient manner, with a view to raising awareness and responsibility of society, promoting and supporting civil initiatives through non-governmental organisations’ and made a commitment to taking into consideration initiatives from the female community and to looking for rational implementing solutions.

The National Agreement has been signed by representatives of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (Lietuvos profesinių sąjungų konfederacija, LPSK), the Lithuanian Labour Federation (Lietuvos darbo federacija, LDF), Lithuanian Trade Union ‘Solidarumas’ (Lietuvos profesinė sąjunga ‘Solidarumas’, LPS ‘Solidarumas’) and the Lithuanian Business Employers’ Confederation (Lietuvos verslo darbdavių konfederacija, LVDK).

Inga Blaziene, Institute of Labour and Social Research