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| UfM adopts new project to support women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean |
| A project aimed at developing women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean through the development of effective field projects and the setting up of networks and platforms, was adopted by Senior Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) at a meeting held last month. |
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| European Commission gives guidance to Europe's insurance industry to ensure non-discrimination betwe |
| Brussels, 22 December 2011 – The European Commission has adopted guidelines to help the insurance industry implement unisex pricing, after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that different premiums for men and women constitute sex discrimination. |
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| Prevention is key to ending violence against women, says UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay |
| [UN, New York, 5 July 2011] Prevention of violence against women was the focus of a discussion on women’s human rights held last month at the UN in Geneva in the framework of the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
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| Commonwealth People’s Forum provides crucial interface between governments and civil society |
| Perth, Western Australia hosted the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) from 25th to 27th October 2011 in the run up of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from 28 to 30th October 2011. These meetings are held every two years.
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| Female mentors to help woman entrepreneurs to get started |
| Brussels, 15 November 2011. A new European network of mentors to promote female entrepreneurship through the sharing of know-how and experience has been launched today by the European Commission. Women only account for 34.4% of the self-employed in Europe. |
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| SCOOP: Socio-economic Sciences: Communicating Outcomes Oriented to Policy |
| SCOOP: Socio-economic Sciences: Communicating Outcomes Oriented to Policy is supported by the European Union under the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities 7th Framework Programme for Research.
Project duration: October 2009 - September 2012. |
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| Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of victims of gender-based and domestic violence |
| Brussels, 16/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Europe has created a convention to protect the victims of gender-based and domestic violence. It was presented in a press conference at the European Parliament on 15 June with José Manuel Bota, chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Eva-Britt Svensson, chair of the EP women's rights and gender equality committee. |
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| Brussels, 30/05/2011 (Agence Europe) |
| In adopting the report by Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, Greece) on women and business leadership on 25 May, the European Parliament (EP) women's rights/equal opportunities committee calls on the Commission to prepare “a road map setting specific, measurable, appropriate and realistic targets, with a timetable, for the achievement of balanced representation”. |
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| Youth on the Move – starting on the journey through life |
| For many young people in Europe, the final years of school and the transition from education into work present major challenges. The economic crisis has only increased the obstacles they face in obtaining the skills and qualifications needed to secure a satisfying job and a secure place in society.
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| First European Equal Pay Day highlights EU earnings gap |
| Women in the European Union earn on average 17.5% less than men during their lifetimes. This stark figure will be highlighted tomorrow during the first EU-wide Equal Pay Day. This day – 5 March – marks the extra number of days in 2011 that women must work to match the amount of money earned by men in 2010. The European Commission is committed to closing the gender pay gap and published an overall strategy for gender equality in September 2010 (see IP/10/1149 and MEMO/10/430). This year’s Equal Pay Day, which aims to raise awareness of the pay gap, comes ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.
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| Statement by the EWL on the adoption of a new Pact for Gender Equality (2011-2020) |
| [Brussels, 16 March 2011] The EWL has issued a Statement in the aftermath of the Council of the EU’s adoption last week of a new Pact for Gender Equality 2011-2020. While welcoming the renewed commitment of the Member States to the fulfilment of the EU Treaty ambitions in relation to equality between women and men, the EWL regrets that no binding concrete measures, including targets, are foreseen in the Pact, except the renewed commitment to the Barcelona childcare objectives.
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| UN Women |
| The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided to establish UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
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| Self-employed workers to gain maternity and pension benefits under new EU law |
| Self-employed workers and their partners will enjoy better social protection – including the right to maternity leave for the first time – under new legislation endorsed by EU governments today. |
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| More women in top jobs key to economic growth, says EU report |
| Only one in 10 board members of Europe's biggest listed companies is a woman and all central bank governors in the EU are male. |
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| Tackling the gender pay gap – Frequently Asked Questions |
| Why do we need to tackle the gender pay gap?
At 18% across Europe, the gender pay gap remains intolerably high and stubborn. Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles. |
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| Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers |
| Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers agreed by EU ministersEuropean Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Parents will have the right to longer parental leave, under new rules agreed by EU ministers today. |
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Report of the EuroMed meeting on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society
The second EuroMed ad hoc meeting on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society was organized under the Slovenian Presidency, at the European Commission, Charlemagne, Room Roy Jenkins, Rue de la Loi Brussels on 12 June 2008
Following the first ad hoc meeting of expert senior officials held on 22 October 2007 and aimed at reviewing the first year of implementation of the Istanbul conclusions on “Strengthening the role of women in society in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, it was proposed to hold 2 such ad hoc committee meetings yearly. The first one was deemed having a specific thematic focus on one of the main objectives of the Istanbul conclusions, whereas the second would aim at reviewing globally the achievements of the EuroMed partners under the three pillars of these conclusions
The theme chosen was: Participation of Women in Political Life in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, (Istanbul conclusions, pillar 1 “Women’s Political and Civil Rights”)
Chair thanked the EESC for its contribution to the meeting in making available a number of opinions that highlight the importance of gender equality in all areas in society
Grace Attard, EESC member of the Euromed follow-up meeting gave a brief presentation on the remit of the EESC
She highlighted the role of the EESC in promoting the role of the EU in promoting gender equality in its external relations, the Istanbul Conclusions through civil society in the region.
Also highlighted the valid contribution of the Euro-Mediteranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions, with particular reference to the Athens 2007 Summit and the forthcoming Morocco Summit in September 2008
The first part dealt with the participation of women in national, the regional and local political life, the electoral system, quotas and other legislative and administrative measures. The discussion focused on obstacles in implementing such measures which included: the need for relevant changes in legislation, change of culture, in particular in political party measures, measures to ensure that women’s numbers are reflected in the different constituencies, the need to give visibility to women, not least through the media. eliminating stereotypes of both men and women, the need of better co-ordination of NGOs working in the field of women’s rights, educating society at large on the values of female participation in politics to ensure that measures give positive voting results and strengthening family-friendly measures and reviewing time frames of parliamentary sessions to be more family-friendly
The second part dealt with social, economic and cultural changes.
The discussion and conclusions focused on: Each euromed country to study one aspect of decision-making in political life in their country, take action to bring about change and report on changes made – 2007-2008, 2009 as a result of their action, Quality education at all levels, for all age groups on gender equality in all areas of society, Integrating the participation of women in political life in other areas that influence women’s access to political life as well as Women in decision-making in Trade Unions, in economic decision-making, in the judiciary, on government boards etc, strengthening networks of women and men in political decision-making, strengthening networks of women’s NGOs, Revising policies regarding positive action measures and /or quotas at national level and political party level, Women in the Media and Internet, equal participation at all levels, portrayal of women, eliminating gender based language and stereotyping, training for women to participate effectively as media actors
Other areas discussed were: The Euromed dimension to be taken up by the European Institute for Gender Equality, The newly set up EuroMediterranean University in Slovenia to ensure equal participation of women and men in all areas, in particular in political/social sciences, Ensuring that the debate on the Mediterranean Union includes gender equality at all levels of decision-making
Grace Attard
EESC member
REX Section
Euromed follow-up Committee
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