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THE
EUROPEAN CHARTER |
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words: Gender issues, Equal Opportunities, Decision Making, Process, Empowerment of Women Urban planning, Social Safety, Mobility, Housing, Architecture, Nearby Services, , Stereotypes, Time Planning, Daily Life In short (100 words) The Charter is a research/action realised by a European team and subsidised by the Commission of the European Union Unit (Equal Opportunities Unit). It contents an evaluation of the current situation of women in cities regarding decision making, a 12-point declaration, an analysis of five priority topics (urban planning and sustainable development, safety, mobility, habitat and local facilities, strategies), a computerised database of resource persons and bibliographical references and a catalogue of 66 “best practices” (new cases are currently added). This purpose of the charter is to set up a International Network whose mission is to highlight the aspect of gender in these issues. Summary in 500 words: Moving towards a Gender-Conscious City Actors, actions This Charter - a research/action subsidised in 1994 an 1995 by the Commission of the European Union (Equal Opportunities Unit) - is disseminated in Europe and to international bodies by several European associations. One of the main goal is to set up an International Network of Actions and of Experts on Gender & Human Settlements whose mission is to highlight the aspect of gender as an area of expertise when approaching the subject of town planning, mobility, social safety, housing. The question is to change mentalities and promote the application of the proposed process in all town and country planning and in organising rural communities. This Network is working closely with EuroFEM (Nordic Countries projects Network) and has as a link with networks and NGOs on other continents having a similar philosophy. The authors of the Charter expect reaction and are looking on partnership for new projects in this field in Europe and abroad. Some short explanation about the Charter and the concept of “Cities, Citizenship and Gender”: Although women account for more than 50% of the population, they are conspicuously absent in the public debate on the development and planning of cities. In order to increase the chances that in depth change will be successful, a different way of approaching the complex problems of our urban and rural communities would involve taking gender-based socio-cultural relationships into account with a goal of equality between women and men. In fact, applying the dimension of gender to cities gives rise to a new debate, which not only “upsets the apple cart” but shows that there are other ways of planning and managing cities or any residential area. Moreover, analysing the framework of daily life through feminine expertise has the advantage of a qualitative approach to the main concerns of all citizens, such as safety, mobility and habitat. The Charter must be envisaged as a tool of choice for lending new dynamism to the usual working methods, an ongoing and open process which makes concrete proposals for action that can be implemented in order to promote more active civic involvement - for women, in particular, but men as well - in the areas of town and country planning. The idea is to tap knowledge, identify and eliminate the stereotypes which still hinder the evolution and emancipation of our societies. Nothing will be solved without women's contribution, democratically legitimate and as an essential source for renewal in urban dynamics. To get the Charter in short presentation in Spanish, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, Finnish , Russian, Turkish or Chinese, as well as the database and the catalogue of best practices or for more details and new projects contact City & Shelter. Authors: BELGIUM: City & Shelter - Roland Mayerl FRANCE: Groupe Cadre de Vie - Monique Minaca GERMANY: Fopa /Dortmund - Ursula Heiler GREECE: Praxis - Annie Vrychea THE NETHERLANDS: Seirov/Nirov - Liesbeth Ottes Summary in 2000 words The European Charter for Women in the City A useful common platform for discussion for all actors, because parity in democracy will improve living conditions for all. The Charter is viewed as a lasting and open analytical process containing a series of concrete proposals which might be put into practice in order to take into account and to promote increasingly active citizenship by women in town planning as a whole. One of the presuppositions is that a woman's self-interest does not exist as such, but that women may act as catalysts in the process of change and of improvements of living conditions generally. PURPOSES OF THE CHARTER The proposal for a "Charter for Women in the City" aims at conceiving a new philosophy in town planning, likely to make a constructive contribution to a true democratic debate which will take accounts of the needs and the various expectations of citizens, women and men alike. Efforts for revitalising cities must merge with other, newer, political and economic priorities aiming at increased social harmonisation. The issue at stake is to recreate spaces and close social ties with increased equal opportunities for women and men in urban and rural life. The Charter mainly aims at promoting an emancipated society, free from constructive stereotypes hindering all women-oriented development in town planning and services, housing, safety and mobility. Cities must therefore be rethought and remodelled through a woman's perception, which will be instrumental in giving them a new equilibrium and another dimension. THE QUEST FOR A NEW CITY PHILOSOPHY Changing outlooks and procedures Change will be achieved by : • removing obstacles to a woman's "Right to the City"; highlighting the issue to all involved, operating and deciding in matters related to town planning, housing and living conditions; • promoting new democratic decision-making procedures in town planning and developing improved living conditions through the introduction of, and the contributions by, women at all levels of consultation and decision-making; • raising renewed social awareness through "active citizenship" thereby bringing decision-makers closer to citizens' daily concerns; • promoting a different philosophy in town planning, specifically focused on human values; • giving impetus to change in a society, which on the whole, has become increasingly diverse. GENDER IN A PLURAL SOCIETY Taking into account social, cultural and historical relationships between women and men is essential for initiating any change and will eventually require : • establishment of parity in decision making for ensuring equal opportunities for women and men; • development of a new culture commonly shared by men and women, in which gender-related studies and concerns will be part and parcel of intellectual renewal; • a balancing of the male vision with a women's vision and perception as innovative elements in regenerating urban dynamics. The Motivation "The City is an organized Memory" "Women are the forgotten ones in History" (quote from the philosopher Hannah Arendt) whereas women are absent from, or particularly unobtrusive in, all decision making levels related to cities, housing and town planning. Whereas they are as yet very little involved in the major political, economic and social issues at stake. Whereas their particular needs are hardly taken into account in planning, as they are usually overridden by the decision makers' interests; whereas living conditions in the city - viz. the neighborhood and housing - influence and mark to a great extent the daily lives of its inhabitants; women in particular are affected as they in addition often carry out a double day's work and therefore have to rely to great extent on quality city services and transport and environmental policies. whereas women are doubly excluded as city users and as town and housing planners; whereas a "born-citizen" must have a home somewhere and that this home is, by its very nature and quality, closely linked to citizenship. Whereas today, and indeed historically, the rules of the game and priorities, political and budgetary decisions are defined mainly by men, who are convinced to be acting in the interest of all; whereas women are discriminated against when it comes to employment, that they are the poorer section of the population and that they are more affected by bad functioning of cities in area as such as housing, lack of mobility, and violence in particular. For all these reasons, women have a direct interest in improving urban development and rural planning; whereas town planning considers only nuclear families in which a woman's lot is largely reduced to housework and a man's job is usually away from home. This model, which has fixed social stereotypes, has been less typical for several decades now and no longer represents but a minority, is gradually being replaced by new types of families which town planning has neither foreseen nor taken into account, thereby creating renewed dysfunction and social tension. whereas many European and cities world-wide are going through a crisis and jeopardising social balances and peace. This state of affairs is due to problems which must be solved as a whole. Obsolete urban theories and methods curb any development or innovation, and generate and perpetuate cities in crisis. The Charter of Athens of Le Corbusier, architect in France, which divided cities into single-function districts introduced distortions and has led, in time, to serious disturbances. Tangible results are troubled city districts, social outcasts, as well as the social and economic costs arising from commuting between the home and the work place. Pollution and heavy traffic in cities are also due to urban policies. Quality in city life is seriously jeopardised and if cities are to have any future at all, this handicap has to be tackle. whereas cities are faced with major and unprecedented challenges for achieving the following objectives : environmental preservation and sustainable development, improved quality of life for all, including increased equality, solutions to urban malfunctions and the fight against exclusion, active and balanced democracy for a plural society, in which women are actively involved.
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