11th Barbara Prammer Symposium

“Gender budgeting is a prerequisite for policies that aim to ensure equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for all people.“

– Barbara Prammer

Registration is essential and can only be done online. The closing date for registration is Tuesday, 14 January 2025. Please observe the Parliament’s security regulations and bring a photo ID with you to show. It will be possible to follow the Symposium in English, just some workshops will only be in German. Registration here.

Venue: Parlament: Lokal 2, “Elise Richter Saal”, Dr.-Karl-Renner Ring 3, 1017 Vienna

Public spending—such as on public transport, playgrounds, or social projects—has a profound impact on daily life. For those aiming to advance equality, effective tools are essential, and gender budgeting is one such powerful instrument. Where does funding go, who benefits, and how can budgets be made gender-inclusive?

The Fourth World Conference on Women and the resulting Beijing Declaration adopted 30 years ago marked a major milestone for advancing women’s rights. Gender mainstreaming and, by extension, gender budgeting were set as goals. Whilst these principles have, as a result, been enshrined in the EU Treaties in 1997, Austria became the first country worldwide to include gender budgeting in its constitution. Since 2009, federal, state, and municipal budgets are required to strive for gender equality. However, the journey from goals to implementation remains challenging.

Which societal groups benefit from government initiatives, laws, subsidies, or tax incentives? How are public funds allocated? Existing international legal frameworks along with the Austrian constitution provide a clear mandate, and this event seeks to bring it to life. Together with experts from the EU, federal, and municipal levels, we will discuss the prerequisites for a feminist and gender-equitable fiscal and budgetary policy.

Programme

09:00 Admission

10:00 Opening

• Andreas Babler, SPÖ Club Chairman and Federal Party Chairman

10:15 Opening talk

• Eva-Maria Holzleitner, SPÖ Women’s Chairwoman

• Doris Bures, President of the Karl-Renner-Institut

• László Andor, Secretary General of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies

10:45 Keynote
‘Money. Power. Equality. Lessons learnt on a global level’

• Diane Elson, em. Professor at the University of Essex, Great Britain

11:15 Keynote
‘Gender budgeting in Austria: status quo and perspectives’

• Katharina Mader, Chief Economist, Momentum Institute

End of the part open to the media

12:00 Lunch buffet

13:00 Workshops (programme will follow)

15:00 Coffee break

15:15 Plenary presentation

16:00 End of the 11th Barbara Prammer Symposium

Moderation of the day: Sonja Kato, www.sonja-kato.at

Read the agenda in German here.

About the Barbara Prammer Symposium

The Barbara Prammer Symposium is an annual event dedicated to exploring pressing social and political issues through the lens of equality and inclusion, inspired by the legacy of Barbara Prammer, a trailblazer for women’s rights and democratic values in Austria. The symposium brings together experts, policymakers, and activists to discuss challenges and opportunities in advancing gender equality, with a particular focus on progressive policies and practices such as gender budgeting. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the event seeks to drive meaningful action toward a fairer and more equitable society.

For more information regarding the project and this event, please do not hesitate to contact Julia Wild, Project Officer (julia.wild@feps-europe.eu)