LITHUANIA STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUAL WOMEN AND MEN PARTICIPATION
“Equal participation of both men and women in the political, economic, social and other spheres of life serves as an engine for democracy, smart and sustainable development, inclusive economic growth and prosperity. It contributes to women’s economic independence, their self-esteem and quality of life as well as promotes full enjoyment of their human rights“, – said Mr. Gintaras Klimavičius, Lithuania’s Viceminister of Social Security and Labour, speaking at the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The Viceminister noted that in Lithuania long-term attention to women issues had led to many positive results: high level of well educated women, small gap between employment rates of women and men, and women’s unemployment rate lower than men’s, etc. During the EU Council Presidency in 2013 Lithuania focused on accelerating de facto equality between men and women; effectiveness and efficiency of institutional mechanisms was selected as a priority in this regard. Council Conclusions adopted during the Lithuanian Presidency call on member states to ensure synergies of efforts in pursuit of de facto equality between men and women and suggest concrete actions, tools and methods aimed towards accelerating concrete results.
In his statement Viceminister Klimavičius also stressed that as a member of the United Nations Security Council Lithuania is strongly convinced that national, regional and international activities related to peace and security should take into account gender aspects, in particular by promoting participation of women as beneficiaries, practitioners and decision makers.
