[Brussels, 7 November 2013] The EWL European Political Mentoring Network aims to empower women from ethnic minorities ahead of the May 2014 European elections and, ideally, to increase their representation in the European Parliament (EP). The Network addresses the lack of gender parity and ethnic diversity in political decision-making at European level. It was officially launched on 09 April 2013 at the EP in Brussels. The mentoring network is the first of its kind at European level and it is inspired by a political mentoring programme developed by our project partner KVINFO in Denmark.
From January 2013 to the European elections in May 2014, the EPMN will connect 11 women MEPs (the mentors) with 11 women from a migrant or ethnic minority background and different political parties, who are interested in running for the 2014 European elections (the mentees). The purpose is to better prepare the mentees to compete for the next European elections, by sharing advice and experiences during one-to-one meetings.
Watch the first webdocumentary on the project online.
The EWL Mentoring Project was developed within the framework of the EWL 50/50 Campaign, which aims to improve the representation of women in the EU institutions and put issues related to women’s rights and gender equality high on the EU agenda.
Supported by the European Commission and Open Society Foundations.
