Birth of the European Women Lawyers' Congress
The European Women's Lawyers Congress was founded during a formal conference in Berlin from 17th to 19th March 2000. This initiative aims to create a network of women lawyers responsible for:
- the promotion and enforcement of European equality law
- the mainstreaming of equal opportunities in all policy fields
- increase the numbers of women in decision making positions.
The conference was founded by the Commission in the framework of the Fourth Action Programme on equal opportunities between women and men and the German Ministry of Women. It brought together 300 lawyers working in all fields of law from all the Member States, the European Commission and the first woman judge from the European Court of Justice. Turkey, the EEA States and observers from the American Bar Association were also represented. Several members of the German Constitutional Court, the presidents of most of the highest federal Courts, several Parliamentarians and Ministers of German Länder were represented. Cherie Booth, QC, who had actively been involved in the creation of the association, also attended.
The opening speech was delivered by the German Minister of Justice, who pointed out that 50% of German domestic law involves the implementation of European Community directives.
The conference discussed European labour law, violence against women, strategies for lobbying and the possibilities of using public procurement for the interests of women. The positive role of the Commission in promoting equal opportunities was stressed throughout the conference, and noticeably in a comment made in the summary of the conference by a member of the Austrian Constitutional Court - "The Commission finds answers to the problems of the people".
The rapporteur called for a charter of fundamental rights to be included in the Treaty, awareness raising for equality in the Courts, quotas, discrimination prevention and a Council of Ministers for Women's affairs or - to start with - a Council working group on equal opportunities.
The high and high-level participation in the conference which continued throughout the weekend shows that European equality law is an area of growing interest. The conference was an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues working in very different fields and allowed for an exchange of experience in a very friendly and constructive atmosphere. The Women Lawyers Congress will be joined by lawyers of all Member States and the candidate countries. It will serve as a pool of expertise for the Commission in all areas inside the Union and in the enlargement process.
The objectives of the Congress will be achieved through conferences, the dissemination of information, opinions to legal questions at EU level to the Commission, Council, European Parliament and the European Court of Justice and through legal aid for women.