Emma Bonino first became involved in politics because she wanted to change the law in Italy. As a student she became pregnant, although she had been told she could never have children. She chose to have an abortion - which was illegal in Italy at the time, and was shocked by the hypocrisy of the doctors she met who wanted large sums of money to perform a "secret" operation.
"I wanted to change the situation of clandestine abortion in my country - maybe because I've experienced the same tragic experience and I thought there was such an enormous amount of hypocrisy. Everybody knew that thousands of women were undergoing clandestine abortion, with economic exploitation, humiliation - but nobody wanted to change the law. So at the beginning when I decided that was the goal that I had very clear in my mind."
Bonino joined the Radical Party and was elected to the Italian Parliament in 1976. In 1978 she succeeded in her aim of legalising abortion.
Emma Bonino gained a reputation for being outspoken in her campaigns - she fought for landmines to be banned and for the end of the death penalty. When she was offered a post as one of Italy's two European Commissioners in 1995, with responsibility for Consumer Affairs, she made her feelings clear. She did not accept the limited role she had been given and was then also offered responsibility for the common Fishery policy and for Humanitarian Affairs. Her leadership style has always been very direct and straightforward.
As a woman Commissioner for Fisheries, Emma Bonino faced much opposition from fishermen. She inherited some tough cuts on fishing which she had to impose. She chose to speak directly to the British fishermen rather than imposing these cuts from her Brussels office. She was frank and honest with them and believes she gained their respect. She sees dealing with this kind of tension as part of the job for a woman in politics.
"I said since the beginning, look I am not an expert about it and frankly speaking, it took some time for the fishery sector to accept a woman as a commissioner. But I would say that even if we had very tough disputes, at the end of the day the relation was of a frankly mutually strong respect and being a woman in politics, I am prepared to face these kind of difficulties."
"I really refused since the beginning to be labelled again only on
the responsibility of Health, Education or the so-called more feminine field;
so I've been trying not to be trapped another time on the same cliché that
are applied to women. So "well you've joined politics, ok, you've been elected
in parliament, ok, we must accept you but please go back to your Health Committee
or Education Committee" seemed to me another cliché which I simply
refused."
As Humanitarian Rights Commissioner, Bonino travelled to some of the most dangerous and sensitive areas of the world including Kosovo and Rwanda. She was determined not to be trapped by the stereotypical roles - the softer options - traditionally given to women such as Education, Peace and Health and has continued to fight for equal opportunities for all as individuals.
"I really don't like to talk of women as a category. I think that we are individuals and as such we are all of us different and we should simply decide not to give up and simply try to be accepted as we are. The difference is that men always thought of themselves that they were better equipped for politics of some other powerful sector. We must absolutely fight to be allowed the same opportunity, the same rights, the same duties."
Many women who succeed in politics remain single. Emma Bonino never married or had children of her own, although has had two foster children and other partnerships. Does she feel that she has sacrificed her personal life for her goals?
"Well first of all this is partly true only, in the sense that I am a normal being so I have links as everybody, simply maybe I didn't go in front of a mayor or a priest, which doesn't mean that I live in a sort of vacuum in some way. Secondly for a few years since 76-82 I had two foster children so I think that at the end of the day I feel a normal human being with normal loves and links even if none of them have been normally legalised as everybody would expect. But that I repeat doesn't mean I'm living in a sort of a vacuum as if loves and feelings wouldn't count, they are a very important part in my life."
Bonino feels that there are costs involved in politics - it's frustrating and demanding with few rewards, but if you feel passionately that you want to change society, then you should go for it.
"If you think of politics like any other job, don't do it, try another job, because it is too little rewarding, quite often frustrating and really too demanding. But if you feel in yourself that it is a passion for you, that you really want to change something for society, do it, be aware that it is really tough but do it if you feel that it is a passion."
Haleh Afshar's summarises the particular qualities Bonino has demonstrated:
"Emma Bonino has shown the qualities that women politicians have to the very best. She has shown that she is powerful, that she is assertive, that she can be a good politician in a man's world. But she also has the human touch, she is willing to go and (confront) aggressive men who do not admire her ... and to actually talk to them like human beings. And she is also a fighter, she stands up and demonstrates, she doesn't give up being a streetfighter just because she is a high powered politician."
In March 1999 all the European Commissioners resigned in protest when the Commission was accused of corruption and inefficiency. Emma Bonino is now back serving as an MEP for Italy. She is still an active campaigner, currently involved in a campaign to put an end to the death penalty. In 1999 she stood as a candidate for the Italian Presidency.
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