Commission on Gender Equality

Gdańsk-a city of gender equality

The seminar entitled 'Gdańsk - City of Gender Equality' prepared by the UBC Gender Commission took place in Gdańsk on 7 - 8 April 2011.

The seminar was run by experts of the Gender Commission and was addressed to local politicians, municipal staff and nongovernmental organizations. It began with a mapping of the situation of women in Gdańsk prepared by gender experts from the University of Gdańsk. The major goal of the seminar was to lay the ground for improvement of the situation of women in Gdańsk. Several aspects of equality were discussed i.e. a need for city planning which would take into consideration needs of both women and men, opposing domestic violence and improving situation of its victims and designing a labour market that would be equally attractive to women and men.

A special guest of the meeting was Mauella Portier - Project Officer from Citizenship Council of European Municipalities and Regions who spoke on the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. Experts from Scandinavian countries presented examples of activities on the local level aiming at improvement of women's lives.

The participants visited two local NGOs: Network of East-West Woman and Regional Information and Resource Center.

The Commission on Gender Equality is currently preparing a cam- paign to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, its meaning and to create an interest in the issue. There will be posters for member cities in their mother tongues to be spread among the cities. The posters can be used to start a discussion at schools or workplaces regarding gender issues and why it is important to workfora gender equal town.