ETUCE Database of Good Practices

Duration

Ongoing.

Reason it was developed

Following the example of the umbrella organisation, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), and a number of individual European and world trade unions, ESTUS established a group aimed at promoting a broad awareness of the importance gender equality at all levels of society as part of its last mandate. In 2015, the Committee for Equality made the decision to draw attention to gender inequality and advocate for equality as a fundamental value. In view of the fact that gender roles in society are produced and reproduced through gender regimes in a number of important areas – including in the education sector, it was also agreed that the Committee would organise various events within the framework of its activities such as lectures, round tables, and workshops.

Activities

The Committee successfully pursued this goal throughout the mandate period. In addition to regular meetings, it organised at least three major events each year for ESTUS members and the wider public. Through its representative, the ESTUS Committee for Equality also participated in the ETUCE working group on equality, joining in a two-year project (2017–2019) concerning the effective integration of children of immigrants in education (European Sectoral Social Partners in Education promoting effective integration of migrants and refugees in education). The Committee regularly presents its activities in the e-SVIZ news and in announcements on the trade union’s website, where a special tab is devoted to brief descriptions of all of the events carried out under the auspices of the Committee from 2015 to 2018. At the first round table organised by the Committee for Equality Dr Milica Antić Gaber, Dr Veronika Tašner, Dr Jasna Podreka and Dr Pavel Zgaga, authors of the book Difficult Relations: Gender, Structural Barriers and Opportunities, spoke about gender equality at different levels of Slovenian society, with an emphasis on education and the labour market. The Committee organised a round table on “Gender Sensitive Use of Language” with Dr Renata Sribar, a lecturer and researcher in the field of cultural and social anthropology and sociology, and a member of the Commission for Women in Science at the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. DR. Sribar offered a number of starting points for the discussion of the power of language to influence the structuring of social thinking, beginning in kindergarten and school.

Results

The events highlighted the issues related to promoting gender equality in the education sector in Slovenia.

Funding

Union’s internal funds.