On this occasion we would like to share with you some background information on the current situation of women scientists in research and higher education institutions throughout the Europe, kindly prepared by the Project GENDERA - Gender Debate in the European Research Area (see below).

• European Commission, DG Research, Scientific Culture and Gender Issues Unit
• She Figures 2009: Statistics and Indicators on Gender Equality in Science
• European Commission (2002), Women in industrial research: a wake up call for European industry
• European Commission (2003), Waste of Talents: Turning Private Struggles into a Public Debate
• European Commission (2004), Gender and Excellence in the Making
• European Commission (2005), The European Charter for Researchers – The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers
• European Commission (2005), Women and Science – Excellence and Innovation – Gender Equality in Science
• European Commission (2006), Women in Science and Technology – The Business Perspective
• European Commission (2008), Mapping the Maze: Getting More Women to the Top in Research
• European Commission (2009), The Gender Challenge in Research Funding – Assessing the European national scenes
• European Commission (2009), Women in science and technology – Creating sustainable careers
• Commission staff working document - Accompanying document to the Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Equality between women and men – 2010
• European Centre for Women and Technology
• European Platform of Women Scientists
• UNESCO

Source: GENDERA (project information brochure)

About International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day was commemorated for the first time on 19 March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, following its establishment during the Socialist International meeting the prior year. More than one million women and men attended rallies on that first commemoration.

In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women’s Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

Source: UN WOMEN