PRAGUE
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In 2009 the European Women’s Circle again organised a politico-cultural trip into a member state of the European Union which joined the EU in 2004 during the eastern enlargement. In June 20 women travelled to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic held the presidency of the Council of the European Union that term, during which the Treaty of Lisbon was adopted, the financial crisis had to be dealt with, and the telecommunication frequencies had to be divided among the 27 EU member states. The chairwoman of the women’s union of the conservative KDU-CSL party, Marie Jilkovà, and representatives from different regions of the country received our group on the Czech parliament. The work in women’s policy is more difficult in the Czech Republic because no equal opportunities’ laws were ratified yet. The percentage of unemployed women was higher than that of men, and women earned on average 25% less than men. The Czech women present at our reception had strong reservations about public daycare in both kindergartens and schools, as the current generation of mothers is still aware of the negative connotations of this institution during communist times. The women of the KDU-CSL were very interested in the concept of centrally organising private daycare and educating women for this job, as it is done in North Rhine-Westphalia. The exchange of ideas was mutually beneficial and interesting for both the Czech and the German group. The European Women’s Circle’s cultural programme in Prague, the Golden City, included the Hradcany, the Castle District steeped in history from which the Holy Roman Empire was ruled under Charles IV in the Middle Ages. The first German university was founded in Prague and economic and political developments were initiated here. The Defenestration of Prague started the Thirty Years’ War. Also, our group visited some of the magnificent churches from the time of the Counter-Reformation. These and the beautiful squares, historic alleys, and the Charles Bridge across the Vltava bear witness to an age-long cultural development, the knowledge of which improves our mutual understanding. |
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