As, mainly, post communist countries celebrate Women’s Day, Match 6, the European Council publishes a report saying that there are too few females holding top posts.
The average rates of women ministers and members of parliament in European countries equals 29 and 22 percent respectively - not even close to council’s general prescription stipulating that the number of women holding high political posts should equal 40 percent.
The report was based on official data provided by the 42 members of the Council of Europe. Poland is among 5 countries, however, that have not been taken into consideration since the authors did not receive answers to their survey questions.
According to the report, only three European countries achieved the expected threshold. These countries are Sweden (46%), Finland and Holland (both slightly above 40%). Belgium, Denmark and Norway are close to achieving the goal.
Finland and Spain have the biggest number of women in parliament. There are also women presidents in Ireland and Finland.
In 2008, United Nations Development Fund calculated that women made up 20.4 percent of the representatives in parliament, putting it in 46th place in the world. (un/pg)