William Penn Life, 2006 (41. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
2006-04-01 / 4. szám
Magyar Matters Plight of Hungarian women reflected in lack of representation in Parliament from The Budapest Sun Hungarian women who want to make their voices heard in politics will now have even more difficulties than in past years, as the number of female representatives in Parliament has further decreased. The Budapest Sun reported last November that only Greece, among EU member states, has a lower percentage of female representatives in parliament than Hungary at six percent. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Hungary's world wide ranking was 100th in 2005, with nine percent, but dropped to 104th place by the beginning of 2006, behind, among others, Bulgaria (36th, 22.1 percent), Croatia (39th, 21.7 percent), the U.S. (67th, 15.2 percent) and Romania (86th, 11.2 percent). Diána Pécsi, a political scientist for the Hungarian Women's Association earlier told The Budapest Sun, "In Hungary, women's positions in society are still very traditional, even compared with neighboring countries, which explains these numbers." According to the Tárki Social Research Institute, women are also reluctant and unable to enter a political life characterized by "insecurity, lack of transparency and conflict." According to a UN report issued last year, for a country to represent female issues, at least 30 percent of all parliamentary representatives need to be women. While 20 countries worldwide, such as Rwanda (1st, 48 percent), Denmark (5th, 36 percent) and Germany (16th, 31 percent) can fulfill this criteria, Hungary is way off. "In Hungarian politics women appear only as small color spots, as well as in Hungarian society at large," Dr Judit Azsbót, head of the Hungarian Women's Association told The Sun. "Their roles are very limited. It could be compared to modem slavery," she said. "They are afraid to enter politics because of the negative tone there and to encourage them is one of our main tasks," she explained. Azsbót's view is supported, in part, by a recent European Commission study which reports the margin between men's and women's pay is 11 percent. While women, on average, work one hour more than men per month, they are paid a tenth less than their male colleagues in the same positions. In Hungary, unemployment ratios between women and men reflect the situation in the European Union as a whole. In Brief]_____ Hazelwood club to host dinner PITTSBURGH, PA ~ The Hungarian Club located in the Hazelwood section of Pittsburgh will host its Annual Venison Dinner-Dance on Saturday, April 22. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. with dancing to follow at 8:00 p.m. Music for the evening will be provided by Dorothy & Co. The event will also feature a raffle, a Chinese auction and door prizes. Tickets are $20 per person and will be sold at the Exhibit features work of refugee NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ ~ The Museum of the American Hungarian Foundation will be exhibiting 50 works of artist Balácz Szabó April 9 through Oct. I. A survivor of the 1956 Hungarian uprising who fled to America, Szabó is known world-wide for his vivid, dreamlike surrealist paintings. For more information and museum hours, call 732-846-5777. Experience a true taste of Hungary.- Learn the Hungarian language.- Enjoy homemade Hungarian food.- Practice Hungarian traditions. Sign up today! Hungarian Heritage Experience Reservation Form August 6-12, 2006 • Penn Scenic View, Rockwood, PA Name: Address: Phone: WPA Certificate Number Fee = $275 per person (includes lodging, meals and instructional materials) Make check payable to "William Penn Association" Mail this form and check to: Hungarian Heritage Experience, William Penn Association 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 William Penn Life, April 2006 7
