Socialist International Women is the international organisation of the women's organisations of the socialist, social democratic and labour parties affiliated to the Socialist International.
There are currently 145 organisations from all parts of the world.

EU Enlargement: A historical challenge for women

Budapest, Hungary, 20 July 2003

Declaration

Socialist International Women, made up of 129 member organisations and holding consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), calls on the governments in the accession countries to pay special attention to the social, economic and political situation of women.

UNDP and CEDAW reports show that gender inequality in these countries has increased in the past decades. Empowerment of women and equality between women and men are prerequisites for achieving a democratic society. Therefore mechanisms and institutions to promote the advancement of women in the accession countries need to be enforced.

Socialist International Women encourages the establishment of international mechanisms and an international monitoring system to analyse the working of national legislations and to assist with the implementation of legislation on gender equality.

Finally Socialist International Women urges its member parties to achieve gender balance in its national parliaments and in the European Parliament by ensuring a minimum representation of 40% of each gender.