In 2018, the CDIS-UNESCO study shows that the gender equality objective in Romania has not been approached yet due to the legislation and the lack of studies concerning gender equality. As for education, the differences between women and men are the smallest. The Romanian legislation and the educational system are comprehensive; therefore, boys and girls have equal rights and chances in accessing education. The recorded differences in Romania are not so high concerning the involvement in the labour market and the chances of women obtaining equal jobs to men. The biggest difference between women and men relates to the participation in politics and everyday life decisions (79% men versus 21% women in politics and decision-making).
The Romanian system needs improvement regarding gender equality or a more precise gender equality legislation adjustment. In this regard there is a strategic commitment for equal gender chances which was established in the period 2016-2019. This commitment regards five key action domains: equal economic independence for women and men; equal remuneration for equal work responsibilities; equality in decision-making; dignity, integrity and discontinuing gender-based violence; and promoting gender equality outside the EU.
Furthermore, there is a difference between men’s and women’s perceptions in the context of cultural and social values: the “CDIS-UNESCO” study shows a result of 58% regarding the level of positive assessment of gender equality, where 53% milestone equals to the statement: ”Men make better political leaders than women do” and 75% milestone equals to: ”University is more important for a boy than for a girl”. This result follows the strategic directions as prescribed in the European Strategic Commitment to Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, 2016-2019, which contains five priorities and key actions:
- Increasing the participation of women in the labour market and equal economic independence for women and men;
- Reducing the wages, earnings and pensions gaps between women and men and fighting against poverty among women;
- Promoting equality between women and men in the decision-making process;
- Fighting against gender-based violence and supporting and protecting victims;
- Promoting gender equality and women’s rights around the world.
There have been no objective reasons for discrimination in Romania – the law on unitary wages does not differentiate between men and women and, although an increase of the number of men in management positions is noticed, there are no signs of a trend, according to the results of the study.
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