Ambassador Skarstein with a keynote contribution to a debate on women quotas
18.5.2011 г. //
On May 5, 2011, Norwegian Ambassador to Bulgaria Mrs. Tove Skarstein took part in a debate entitled “Quotas for Women at Decision Making Positions”, arranged by the Pari Daily. The event sought to draw the public attention to the advantages of introducing gender quotas, so as to secure effective gender balance in high-ranking positions.
H.E. Tove Skarstein shared Norway’s experience with the introduction of women quotas in Norway and elaborated on the challenges Norwegian society had met. Mrs. Skarstein stressed that women quotas are not an instrument for giving jobs to incompetent women, but a means to put a stop to providing jobs to less competent men only because they are men.
A number of Bulgarian women on high-level positions took part in the debate, including former EU Commissioner Meglena Kuneva and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova. The Vice-President of the European Commission Viviane Reding made a special video address to the participants in the debate.
The presentation of H.E. Tove Skarstein is available here.