Description
Improvement of the position of vulnerable women influenced by gender and age discrimination and social disadvantage, and of family caregivers, is the main aim of this project. Public policies in the phase of conception and implementation in the social and labour area will be analysed from the gender perspective. Labour, anti-discriminatory and social legislation will also be analysed. Proposals for change will be developed for the improvement of women in different age groups in Czech society in the area of social and labour law. Advocacy and lobbying activities will be focused on the development of family politics beyond maternity and parental leave (i.e. support for family carers), and changes in legislation. Social housing is a very specific and innovative target of this project; it has very strong gender aspects. The project will empower women in vulnerable positions and it will also reinforce anti-discriminatory legislation and practice.
Summary of project results
Our aim was to increase the rights of caregivers and women whose status is influenced by gender and age discrimination and social disadvantage. The project involved four parts: analytical, advocacy, lobbying, and awareness. We have analysed the anti-discrimination legislation, the impact of introduction of social housing on women at risk of poverty and loss of housing, the situation of the caregivers, and the situation of families with children under 3 years of age and single parents. We have organised a round table on social housing and balancing work and private life with caring. We engaged people in decision-making positions in the preparation of the Platform against Multiple Discrimination and provided expert information materials to regional and municipal authorities. We have pushed through important measures in the Family Policy of the Czech Republic (prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs): long-term care allowance, increased flexibility of parental allowance, the principle of inter-generational solidarity, and a support coordinator. A Social Housing Concept has been adopted as well. We have been working with the persons at risk in participatory groups and informed them through social networks, our website, a newsletter, media, labour offices, information centres of Prague's district offices, and the Office of the Public Defender of Rights (a project partner). We have successfully publicised problems of caregivers and seniors, “The End of Hidden Poverty”, which ran on social networks. The key benefit of our work was the pressure put on legislators to tackle the issue.
Summary of bilateral results