The fourth world conference on women held in Beijing in 1995 had a major effect on European gender equality policy. The final document committed governments to what was termed as a “gender mainstreaming” approach. In 1997, the treaty of Amsterdam made gender equality a shared responsibility of the European Union and mandatory for member states. However, implementation was largely left to individual member states.

In Germany, debate over the implementation of these directives went on for years until the General Equality Act was passed in 2006. Article 3 of the German Constitution applies the principle of gender equality, which requires equal living conditions for men and women and equal status in politics, business and culture through planning, implementation and evaluation.

Women in Germany have systematically played a wider role in politics since the 1990s. The percentage of women in Parliament has risen to 31 percent during the course of 20 years. Finally, Germany has a woman chancellor. However, at the beginning, women had to establish discrimination in court in order to gain their rights.

The women parliamentarians who now represent nearly a third of the German Parliament have been able to influence the policies that govern all matters related to women. This is reflected in the establishment of a Ministry for Women and Social Affairs and the support the government offers for the implementation of policies regarding women and children.

German national development policies include funds for projects run by women in service of women. According to officials, women have proven to be more farsighted in planning long-term projects with more efficiency and effective approaches. They assert that discussions between men and women are beneficial for everyone in government and the private sector.

In 2000, a new law was passed creating an employment quota system for women until balance is achieved. This was applied on condition that women train for better qualifications. It required the employment of women officials in each government department or organization to ensure that equal opportunities were provided for women and also to monitor the application of the government policy of gender equality.

The private sector was required by law to apply gender mainstreaming. Every two years companies must produce a performance report on their application of the law.

Studies today reveal that there has been great progress in achieving gender mainstreaming in the public sector; however, the process is still slow in the private sector, and women continue to struggle for equal opportunity.

One of the most powerful lobbies for women is The National Council for German Women’s Organizations. It strives to translate government policies and legal rights into social realities. The Dentscher Frammrat is the national council of more than 50 national women’s associations and organizations. It has special adviser status at the UN Economic and Social Council and is a member of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL). As a political lobbying group, its activities are aimed primarily at the federal government and Parliament. It presents its positions in letters and statements as well as at hearings. Representatives are in touch with ministers and their staff and have frequent consultations with members of Parliament.

The council is represented in a number of commissions and civil society alliances, and it promotes communication among member associations. Delegates from the member associations meet once a year to debate and formulate policy positions and necessary measures to protect women’s political, economic and social interests.

Some of its main demands include equal pay for equal work; halt in the expansion of the low-wage sector, establishing need-oriented child care facilities to achieve a better work-life balance for both men and women.

On average, women earn less than men, live longer, and depend more often on social welfare. Therefore, to prevent female poverty, the council’s demands include a pension for a comfortable retirement and nondiscriminatory rates for private old-age pensions, life and health insurance.

The council also emphasizes the need to address neglect in medical research for women, which has often led to inappropriate treatment. They stress the need for medical research oriented toward women and gender equality in all health-related decision-making bodies.

Another powerful lobby for women is The Green Foundation or Heinrich Boll Foundation. It works toward achieving gender justice and better gender relations. Its activities include panel discussions with German politicians and government officials. To apply gender mainstreaming, the foundation is engaged in awareness campaigns at schools and universities. Its members act as consultants and advisers to help implement the process of gender mainstreaming within a structured, organized plan.

Members provide workshops and seminars at the local level and lobbying on the international and regional levels. To guarantee women representation, foundation members monitor the application of the quota system as a legal tool to achieve equality.

The German Green Foundation has organized a series of gender democracy dialogues as part of its political education efforts. Its experts have advanced the idea and vision of gender democracy in society for the past seven years, and they have provided consultants for other organizations to implement and introduce gender mainstreaming rules.

Meanwhile, a project supervised by the Ministry of Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth Affairs titled, “Balance Between Family and Work Life,” showed that mothers in leadership positions are highly dedicated and motivated leaders.

Implementing the policy of gender equality and mainstreaming has become a common task and organizing principle of German foundations and government departments. This has led to a transformation of the culture of discrimination against women and the application of government measures to enforce the necessary laws and regulations in order to achieve the desired goals.

There are many lessons to be learned from the German experience. Saudi Arabia is signatory to the United Nations’ anti-discriminatory charter and is committed to implementing mandatory international gender equality laws. However, Saudi women still suffer from discrimination due to gender bias and unjust laws and regulation. Women are deprived from taking leadership positions; they are not decision-makers, and there are no clear regulations that govern the work force or the business environment. The payment and promotion system is corrupt and suffers from nepotism and favoritism. Women in business and the work force are paid lower wages, and they do not receive transportation and housing benefits as the men do. There are also no appropriate laws to provide them proper nursing facilities for their children.

Stricter laws should be applied against spousal abuse. Measures should be taken to abolish the husband’s right to restrain his wife. Women suffer from the policy of male guardianship imposed on every female — old or young — as well as the ban on women driving and segregation laws. These are but some of the discriminatory practices that Saudi women are struggling to eliminate.

Our government has a responsibility to enable women to assume leadership positions. Government officials and company CEOs should put in place a job evaluation system to examine their organizations’ treatment of women and men and introduce effective improvement where inequality is found.

The German model of a monitoring authority that supervises the implementation of government gender equality laws and anti-discrimination regulations could be a great solution for Saudi Arabia. Moreover, a Ministry for Women’s Affairs with a socio-political vision could be the ideal way to advance women’s rights and promote their interests. It is always beneficial to learn from the experience of others. We do not have to reinvent the wheel.

— Samar Fatany is a Jeddah-based radio journalist. She can be reached at [email protected]