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Dutch Women Demand Quota for Top Positions Over 200 women at the top of their professions in The Netherlands have signed a Manifesto for a Quota demanding that legislation for a 40% quota for women on all non-executive Boards of listed companies, and governmental and semi-governmental organisations. The Manifesto, initiated by Woman Capital, an executive search firm, was sent today to the members of the Dutch Parliament, the Cabinet and the Social Economic Council. The Manifesto commemorates that in spite of many earlier initiatives and commitments given by corporations and other organisations, gender diversity has not been implemented at top management levels. The number of women on Dutch Boards has never risen above 6%; at the current rate the expectation for 2035 is 12%. Bercan Günel, partner at Woman Capital, makes it clear that women’s patience has run out. ”Women have been understanding of the fact that change takes time and they have trusted the common sense of organisations. They had hoped that top management would understand the need for diversity. But far too little has been achieved. We are therefore forced to request Parliament to implement quota legislation.”
The Manifesto also sets a time frame for implementation: within 5 years. By 2014 there should be 40% women appointed to non-executive Board positions. The experience in Norway, where a law was enacted in 2006 for a 40% quota by 2008 , shows that a quota is both achievable and effective. Gunel: “Gender diversity at the top management levels leads to better performance, women at the top are role models for younger women. As women become more visible and more accepted they are more likely to be appointed to other top positions.” Society currently has a great need for change. With the political agenda focused on resolving the economic crisis, it is the duty of politicians, managers, labour union leaders and shareholders to use every possible measure that will contribute to substantial improvement in the performance of organisations and society as a whole. During this time of transformation the participation of women is indispensible. Günel: “We hope that policy makers in The Hague will realize that they are now responsible for making this happen. Not appointing women in top positions is a huge waste of talent. Women are not the problem, they are the solution. The Manifesto for a Quota is posted on www.quotamanifest.nl in Dutch and English, along with the names of the signatories. It is possible to add your name as a signatory in support of the Manifesto on the site. //// Woman Capital is an executive search firm specialised in women for top executive and non-executive positions in both the private and the public sectors. These last years we have seen a growing dissatisfaction and unease with the lack of true gender diversity. We have noticed that the women in our network have begun to believe that the only effective way to achieve any kind of a critical mass for diversity is to ask for quota legislation. That is why we have taken the initiative, together with 15 women, to write a Manifesto to express our dismay and demand action. The text was then sent to 300 women whom we asked to support by signing. 215 women have signed. Their motivations for doing so are also posted on the website. //// For more information please contact Bercan Günel, Partner at Woman Capital
(*) From an article in a recent NYT Magazine: The Women’s Crusade by NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF and SHERYL WuDUNN, Published: August 17, 2009
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