LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK OF GENDER PARITY GUARANTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION’S MUNICIPALITIES

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to clarify the basic principles of the European Charter of Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, the mechanisms of its implementation in the EU’s municipalities.

The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity and reliance on historical sources; methods are correlated with the announced goal. Also, scientific methods were used, such as analysis, synthesis, generalizations, and special-historical methods, especially historical-systemic and comparative-historical.

The scientific novelty is due to the need for a comprehensive study of the European municipalities practice in order to achieve gender-balanced representation in Ukrainian territorial communities after graduated EU candidate status, harmonization of domestic legislation with the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

After processing materials, it is possible to draw the following conclusions. Developing a democratic, legal state with effective and efficient public governance is not possible without observing gender equality. The main component of the legislative guarantee of equal rights in the EU’s municipalities is the European Charter of Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. Its adoption is historically determined, correlated with the legal basis of the policy of the European Union, aimed at preventing any discrimination. 

The basic theses of the Charter illustrate the principles by which the institutions of elected authority should be guided, positioning gender equality in the local and regional level, the mechanisms of implementing of the gender approach into all areas of life of local communities; taking into account the different characteristics of women and men, requirements for their roles in society, overcoming traditional bias towards «female» and «male». Constant interaction between public authorities and the community, among municipalities, cross-border communication, openness, monitoring of public opinion, reporting and responsibility for the implementation of the principles of the Charter are foreseen.

Common practices of the EU municipalities to ensure equal opportunities for women and men in local communities are the introduction of a strategy of gender prioritization, gender national and targeted programs, creation of gender equality offices, fixation of gender quotas, observance of gender-sensitive budgeting, conducting trainings, supporting of female candidates, deconstruction of established stereotypes, cooperation with women's and public organizations, systematic control of the gender equality index, monitoring of public opinion, etc.