During the Informal Ministerial meeting organised by the Slovenian Presidency in Brdo, Slovenia, on 31 January, Ms Brenda King , the President of the Section for Social Affairs of the European Economic and Social Committee, presented to the Ministers for Gender Equality, the EESC recommendations with regard to the fight of gender stereotypes.

Ms King stated that as a result of the social and cultural stereotypes handed, women still do not have the same business opportunities and possibilities on the labour market than men. Action should be focussed on media, education and familiy life. Firstly, women access to the media and especially to decision-making structures in the media should be improved. The Member States should ensure that audiovisual commercial communications do not include any discrimination on grounds of race, sex or nationality.

Boosting access by both genders to all professions, overcoming cultural stereotypes, should be a clear objective for education systems. Girls and young women should be encouraged to study science and technology as well as to set up businesses. Family policies should support fathers in taking on a real share of all aspects of family responsibility and especially upbringing. This should be underpinned by the public and private sectors creating the necessary conditions for fathers to look after their children.
The meeting was chaired by Ms Marjeta Cotman, the Minister for Labour, Family and Social Affairs of Slovenia. Commissioner Spidla spoke on behalf of the European Commission. Ms King participated also in the conference organised by the Presidency "Elimination of Gender Stereotypes - Mission (Im)Possible?" during which best practices in fighting gender stereotypes from childhood to adulthood were presented.

(Rapid Press releases)