[Video] “Femmes et Pouvoir”: The first-ever national forum for political women

A look at the need for gender equality in politics, and an invitation for Hillary Clinton

In this video, produced by MyScienceWork, meet Julia Mouzon, the founder of the forum “Femmes & Pouvoir”, as she presents the importance of reaching gender equality in politics. Inspired by the career of Hillary Clinton, Julia invites the former US Secretary of State to the second edition of the forum, to be held in Paris on November 29th and 30th.

In this video, produced by MyScienceWork, meet Julia Mouzon, the founder of the forum “Femmes & Pouvoir”, as she presents the importance of reaching gender equality in politics. Inspired by the career of Hillary Clinton, Julia invites the former US Secretary of State to the second edition of the forum, to be held in Paris on November 29th and 30th.

In France, as in any country, women are underrepresented in political life. Since the law on parity was passed on 6 June 2000, candidate lists in regional council elections and in municipal elections for towns with a population greater than 3,500 must show an equal representation of men and women. This legislation marked an increase in the number of women policy makers on the regional and municipal level. Today, 38% of municipal councilors and 48% of regional councilors are women. However, only 14% of mayors of municipalities and 27% of representatives to the National Assembly are women.

The question of fair and balanced political representation is part of a greater need for balance and diversity that contributes to the richness of our economy, political life and human society. Femmes & Pouvoir is a two-day forum organized every year for women elected into office. It gathers hundreds of political women from all over France—Paris, Angers, Nantes, Reims, Grenoble, Lyon, Bordeaux—and from every position along the political spectrum.

During the event, elected representative women are able to debate and share their experiences, their ideas and their ambitions. It is a place for networking where women meet role models in politics, and find support and inspiration for their political career.  All the more so as, Femmes et Pouvoir organizes various workshops: how to have a good sense of repartee, how to handle press relations… practical tools aimed at helping women in their political career.

The first edition of the event took place in December 2012 and welcomed high-ranking politicians such as Michèle Delaunay, current Minister for the Elderly, Chantal Jouanno, former Minister of Sport, and Bruno Le Maire, former Minister of Agriculture, in addition to members of Parliament and elected women from all over France.

This year, the Femmes & Pouvoir forum will again gather numerous outstanding political personalities, who will take part in debates and workshops to provide elected women with some answers and to share their own experience of politics.

In this video, get a feel for the forum and hear Julia Mouzon’s special invitation for Hillary Clinton.