Female participation and gender equalities

• History

• National

• Verdal

• The Norwegian democracy is 200 years old, got our own constituton in 1814• Became an independent country in 1905• In 1913, women received the right to vote• It took many years before it became common with women in politics.• 1970s, women`s liberation. Women graduate and got jobs previously reserved for men.

The municipal sector in Norway

428 municipalities

19 counties

Almost 5 mill. inhabitants

34,5 % public employees

51% working part time

8,2% sick leave

11 500 politicians

- 4% unemployment

•In all political comitees and boards, and in the boards in public companies, there has to be at least 40% females

• Gro Harlem Brundtland was the first female Prime Minister of Norway• She formed government three times. In the last one

(1990-1996), she had 50 % women. Since then, it has been the norm.

• In Norway, a high percentage of women work part time in the public sector, while most men work full time in the private sector• Women typicaly have

jobs like nurses, teachers and cleaners• 69% of men working

in the public sector havetechnical positions

• After WW2, the norwegian labour party has been in government most years

• They have a close relationship with the trade union, and many party members have position in the union board

• The labour party receive a great deal of funding from the trade union

• The workers have worked for a great deal of rights• Most work 7,5 hours a day and have five weeks of

vacation• Age of retirement is usually 67, but you can retire at 62

and get a decrease in payment

• The maternity leave is 49 weeks with full pay, or 59 weeks with 80% pay

• The fathers have reserved 10 weeks, the mothers 18 weeks. The rest the parents are free to choose them selves.

• Everyone is entitled to return to the same position at work after a maternity leave

• The fathers maternity leave has had a positive inpact on the employment of women

• If a child gets sick, both parent have a right to 10 days off work each, 20 days for single parents

VERDAL

- 14800 inhabitants

- Ca. 8000 lives in the centre

- Farming (primary) and industrial

- From fjord to mountain

- 1548 km^2

- Culture- A large variety in culture

- Music, acting, sound, art

- College for actors

- Large number of volunteers

and organisations (100 +)

- Stiklestad, most famous historic place in Norway

- 1030 Battle where King Olav was killed (St.Olav)

Showcase for women in politics

• Startet by the communal and regional minister in 2006• The project lasted from 2007 to 2011• Goal: increase number of women in local politics and

mayors

• Women have had a vote for a hundred years• Women make up 38% of municipals• 40% are women on the party lists, 23% of the lists have

women on top• 22% of mayors are women

• Verdal was one of 22 communities participating in the project• Verdal worked with three other communities• Regional gatherings where we practiced public speaking

and writing and meeting the press• We visited the parlament, KS, County Council and the EU

parlament • Partnership meeting with all the political parties to

increase female presence and get women on top of the lists• Safety and support in the group was important

• In the local election 2007 in Verdal, 44% of the nominees were female. The result gave 34%.• In 2011 four out of seven parties had women on top of

their lists. The result gave 42% females.• In the presidency we are five women and four men

• I got into politics through my interest in my local community• After a while I started thinking, there should be a woman

with children, living in my part of Verdal being a participant of the boards and involved in making decitions. So why not me?• My biggest fear was getting attacked by opponents and

media, could I handle that?• I have now been in politics for elleven years, and now sit as

group leader for my party, and leader for the opposition parties• I have said yes to be on my parties list for next years

election• Politics has become such a big part of my lifestyle and who I

am, so I don’t see myself quitting for some time

”When I look at the alternatives, I feel qualified to be Prime minister” Erna Solberg (2006)