“Ensuring Equality for Fathers: Addressing Discrimination and Strengthening Parental Rights in Greecee

This complaint letter is addressed to you in the context of your institutional role as the guarantor of the rights of all citizens, regardless of gender. It raises a matter of fundamental importance: the continued omission by the State to recognize and equally protect fatherhood within the framework of family and social policy, thus creating a landscape of indirect discrimination and sexism against men and fathers.

The Constitution (Articles 4, 21, 25) guarantees the equality of all citizens and the protection of the family without gender discrimination. The ECHR (Articles 8, 14), the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (Articles 7, 21, 33), CEDAW, and Directives 2006/54/EC, 2010/18/EU, and 2019/1158/EU oblige states to ensure substantial equality and prevent discrimination. The case law of the European Court of Human Rights (Mennesson v. France, Sporer v. Austria) affirms the full protection of the family life of all parents.

Inequality is recorded in the absence of an institutional framework for single-parent fatherhood, the unequal access of fathers to leave and benefits, and the one-sided targeting of policies in favor of mothers. Reports (ELSTAT, OECD, UNICEF) and national data demonstrate the social and economic consequences for fathers.

To address this inequality, the following are required:

Equal Support Measures:

• Establishment of measures that equally support fathers, such as the right to parental leave with coverage of contributions.
• Strengthening the role of fathers in parenting policies.

Review of the Legal Framework:

• Fair treatment of all citizens in matters of parenthood (re-examination of the ban on single-parent fatherhood).

Transparency and Participation:

• Inclusion of fatherhood organizations in public consultations.

Media and Social Discourse:

• Call for the media to comply with Article 5A of the Constitution, without indirect defamation of the male gender.

Demographic Strategy:

• A plan that strengthens all family members, with an emphasis on social cohesion.

• To assess the compatibility of policies with equality and the Constitution.
• To document the consequences for fathers and provide evidence of the gaps.
• To propose binding policies and public campaigns against stereotypes.

Additionally, we request the evaluation of Greece’s compliance with the Council of Europe’s Recommendations (CM/Rec(2015)4), and the introduction of indicators for measuring equality that include the paternal dimension.

Ensuring equality is a constitutional obligation imposed by the Constitution, Union law, and international law.

 EU Guidelines on Gender Equality and Their Impact in Greece

1. EU Gender Equality Strategy (2020-2025)
   The EU Gender Equality Strategy focuses on strengthening gender equality, with particular emphasis on issues such as equal pay for equal work, protection of women from violence, and increasing women’s participation in politics and business. However, this strategy also highlights significant gaps in addressing the rights of men, particularly fathers, in the field of parental care. Specifically, the strategy does not include specific policies to recognize and support the role of fathers in the family and society.

   Source: European Commission, “Strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019”.

2. Directive 2006/54/EC on Equal Pay and Benefits at Work
   This Directive is important for eliminating the pay gap between men and women for the same work and ensuring equal opportunities in the professional field. However, men are often excluded from parental leave and other social benefits that are widely applied to women. In Greece, as in other EU countries, there is no full equality in parental leave and support for men and fathers compared to women.

   Source: European Commission, “Directive 2006/54/EC on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation”.

3. European Court of Justice Decision on Gender Equality
   The European Court of Justice’s ruling recognizes the equality of men and women in the workplace but also highlights the need to balance parental leave policies to include men equally with women. Greece, although having adopted policies in favor of women in the family sector, needs to revise its legislation to promote full equality in parental rights.
4. European Commission’s Communication: Guidelines on Protecting Women from Violence (2020)
   The European Commission published a communication providing guidelines on protecting women from violence, while also recognizing the need to support men who suffer from violence and abuse. In Greece, as in other countries, policies must be developed that provide support and protection for men who are victims of violence or oppression.

   Source: European Commission, “Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Tackling Gender-based Violence in the EU” (2020).

5. Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
   This article ensures equal pay for equal work but does not adequately cover the needs of men in parental leave and their rights as parents. In Greece, as in other EU countries, the need for full equality of rights between men and women in the area of parental care remains unaddressed.

Positions of Ursula von der Leyen and Policies on Female Equality
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen women’s presence in the economy and society. However, her policies have been criticized for lacking strong support for men, particularly in relation to social policies for fathers.

Lack of Supportive Policies for Fathers and Men
Ursula von der Leyen’s strategy acknowledges the needs of women but often neglects the needs of men, especially in the areas of parental leave and family care. In Greece, the legislation on parental leave remains incomplete regarding the full equality of fathers’ rights with those of mothers.

Conclusions and Application in Greece
The EU’s policies and guidelines on gender equality, as well as Ursula von der Leyen’s positions, highlight the need for a fairer approach to gender equality. Despite significant steps taken to strengthen women’s rights, there is a clear need for more equal treatment of men, especially fathers, in matters of parental care and family support.

In Greece, legislation must be revised to address the needs of men as parents, ensuring equal rights in parental leave, and strengthening their presence in gender equality policies. Additionally, protection for men from gender-based violence should be enhanced, and their equal participation in all levels of social and professional life should be recognized.