Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-08

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Parl't holds special session on women's day

[01] Parl't holds special session on women's day

All the political leaders, having first made a historic review of women's gains, both in the world and in the Greek scene, noted the need for further steps to be made for the consolidation of equality and equal treatment between the two genders.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis referred to the need of continuously seeking insitutional measures for the support of women.

"We are obliged to continuously seek not only insitutional measures but also practical ways, capable of supporting the broader participation of women both in public life and employment," Karamanlis said.

The premier added that "Greek society and all the political forces in Parliament stand, with human sensitivity, towards the phenomena of racism, discrimination and the exploitation of people by people."

Karamanlis further noted:"We are steadily proceeding, through dialogue and understanding, to the changes and reforms which society itself demands. In this course, the contemporary Greek woman has a decisive say and role, has the knowledge, intuition and vision which the new era demands."

Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou noted that the world would be a better place if women had more responsible positions.

"If more women participated in positions of responsibility, we would have a double mind, but the basic factor is that we would have a different approach in all sectors such as education, social cohesion, and we would also have more proper decisions for a better world," Papandreou said.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga expressed her concern over the repercussions from certain measures which she said are being planned, such as in the social insurance system, at the expense of women. However, she expressed her conviction that women will continue their struggle for equality.

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos proposed that the percentage of one third of women which is valid for the municipal elections to be also valid for the parliamentary elections.

"All the parties can and are obliged to do more in order to answer the acute problems which women face," Alavanos said in reference to unemployment and "the exploitation of women by employers."

Parliament President Anna Benaki-Psarouda said that when women exercise their right to vote and when they are elected, express and represent all the citizens of the two genders.

"Today's Women's Day, combined with the completion of half a century of women's vote and the presence of women in Parliament, should be a strong reminder to all for the need of even more dynamic support of women's presence in the political field," Benaki-Psarouda said.

On the occasion of World Women's Day on Wednesday, Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos in a message said "the consolidation of equality between women and men, particularly with regard participation in the country's social, economic and political life, constitutes a basic priority of the government, which is also imprinted in the four-year action programme."

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article