The year 2024 is a NICE anniversary year, we are turning 30!
Brainstorming that began in 1993 led to the official registration of KENA, an organization uniting the women of the Estonian Central Party, in 1994. The active women of the Center Party at that time considered the women’s movement important, giving a stronger platform to the issues raised by women. Our first president was Siiri Oviir, the author of the idea and an advocate for women’s rights, a founding member of the Estonian Center Party. KENA is a women’s political association that unites women belonging to the Center Party and our common world view and values.
In Estonia’s largest political party, more than half of the members are women, similarly, more than half of the people in our country are women. Our ranks include women from various professions. There are scientists, pedagogues, salespeople, women at home with children and dignified seniors – we can say that we are a cross-section of Estonian women.
The employment rate of Estonian women aged 20-64 is one of the highest in the European Union.
According to Eurostat, in 2021, the employment rate of women aged 20-64 in Estonia was 77.5%, which is one of the highest in the European Union. Unfortunately, we cannot be proud of the representation of women in politics and executive positions. Although compared to the previous Riigikogu elections, the percentage of women in the electoral lists of political parties has gradually increased, according to experts, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
KENA’s main goal has been to empower women in politics, in forming common positions on political issues important to women. KENA values traditions and supports women to maintain their femininity, but considers it equally important that a woman be a valued leader and a respected specialist.
Women in politics, what is the place and expectations of our women?
Tiina Raitviir wrote in 1996 that the problem starts with candidacy: the proportion of female candidates is small, the proportion of those who get into parliament is even smaller. As a rule, fewer votes are cast for one female candidate than for one male candidate. Implicitly, the difference between the number of votes given to one female candidate and one male candidate can be considered as an indicator of the value of women compared to the value of men. Calculations at the time showed that the “price” of a woman was 60 – 80% of the price of a man. About the same ratio of values applied in the average salary of women and men at that time.
The following factors have prevented the entry of women into Estonian representative assemblies: the socio-cultural situation in modern Estonia, the historical tradition of female politicians and the women’s election movement.Women choose women!” absence, as well as regarding politics as dirty work.” Isn’t that a familiar situation? How is it that in 30 years practically nothing has changed in matters concerning women, but even then, a topic considered taboo has undergone diametrical changes – an example could be given of same-sex marriage.
We are convinced that the entry of women into politics, their entry into decision-making levels, contributes to the balanced development of our society. The existence and quality of democracy does not depend only on how smoothly the power institutions function in the country, but on the activity and values of the entire nation, and especially the citizens of the country. There is no way around the question – what is the relationship of women with politics and power in Estonia and what should it be like. Too many unresolved problems have accumulated in Estonian society to be satisfied with the current political leadership of the country. From the point of view of the survival of Estonians as a nation, the most painful problem is the steadily decreasing birth rate. Women can and must have a say here, because women know what hinders the growth of the family. Equally problematic is the issue of welfare reform. Women must learn to put pressure on power.
How to increase the share of women in politics – we will start looking for answers to this question in the anniversary year. Obviously, the problem is not only in our party, but in society in general. If it is not possible to increase the proportion of women in the elected representative bodies, it is also not possible to increase the motivation of women. If you use women only as a background force, as a handout, then a great potential remains untapped. It is in the party’s power to shape the social norm that women fit into politics just as well as men.
What is the position of KENA in today’s Center Party?
Today, there is a record number of women on the board of the Estonian Center Party. In the European Parliament, the representative of the Center Party is Jana Toom, the secretary general of the party is Anneli Ott. The board of our party includes 5 women: Jana Toom, Marika Tuus-Laul, Ester Tuiksoo, Ülle Juht and Gert Üprus-Tarn. Of the 6 members of the party’s revision committee, 3 are women: Eha Võrk, Reet Trei and Eevi Paasmäe.
In 2025, we aim to once again elevate the “striped lists” to glory. By the way, social scientists also point to the necessity of striped lists in improving the life of our society.
2024 is a NICE anniversary year! We are entering the business thirties.
KENA has well-established traditions, which we celebrate in our anniversary year.
We choose KENA of the year, we are looking for Estonian Family of the Year nominees. The KENA board plans quarterly field trips with clubs in the region, as well as meetings in the Riigikogu, which have become a good practice. We are waiting for invitations from active women to the regions. A wise woman belongs to the Center Party!
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