News from Women's Network

Women's Network has been on alert because of a new Presidium that will be elected at the VIII UBC GC in Turku. At the meeting of the Executive Board in Lulea the representatives of the Swedish, German and Finnish cities as well as UBC Women's Network expressed their views on the need for a more balanced representation of women and men in the Board and Presidium. It was notable that in Lulea only two women were present, none of them Board members.

As an answer to the President's letter the Swedish cities stressed that "the equality among women and men in the presidium, board and commissions is essential" and the Finnish cities that "equality issues are important in UBC work" (Minutes, point 7). The German cities wanted a direct answer on the question "What is the opinion of the Board as regards the election of female for the UBC Vice-President?".

The answer was the following: "As described in the point 7 in the Minutes, Board members considered that the composition of the Presidium should be balanced, and take into account also the gender issue. However, the election is in the hands of the official delegates at the General Conference". (Minutes, point 12)

The Women's Network expresses its satisfaction with the fact that the candidate of the Swedish cities to the Presidium is Marie-Louise Rönnmark, the Mayor of Umea.

It shall also be reminded that in the autumn the situation may allow also the election of more than one female candidate. In addition to this the election of the Executive Board will also take place in the autumn. So, now Women's Network has to go on lobbying for that women will candidate and participate as delegates at the General Conference in Turku.

Women's Network will meet in Narva on 17 June in a seminar with the theme "Women and Men sharing decision-making in Municipalities". Narva has very active women's organisations. It is a UBC city with many strong women participating in the decision-making, in the administration as well as the City Council - you will find there three female vice-mayors!

This meeting will be linked to other interesting events coming up: Turku city hosting Turku - St. Petersburg days on 7-10 September, UBC General Conference 29 September - 2 October and Women and Democracy Conference hosted by St. Petersburg on 6-9 October where UBC has got an own quota of 20 participants.