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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
UN Women
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided to establish UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Beijing 10 European Review

B (Date: 01/01/2005)

Beijing 10 European Review

The NGO Forum to review the Beijing 10 for the UNECE Region, and the Inter-Governmental ECE preparatory meeting for the implementation of the Beijing platform for action, were held between 12 to 15 December at the Palais de Nations, Geneva. Doris Bingley represented NCW Malta in the NGO Forum and Dr Janet Mifsud, Commissioner for Gender Equality participated in the Intergovernmental preparatory meeting

The agenda consisted of a number of important issues including: 1. Women and the Economy: In the regard of employability a number of challenges were highlighted with the overall goal of achieving gender equality within a productive and high employment society. Engendering macroeconomic policies, inter alia by integrating gender equality in trade-related capacity-building programmes, is essential to enhance women’s opportunities and participation. Enhancing labour standards and decent paid income to ensure the economic independence of women and recognising paid and unpaid care-giving are also essential to the economy
There is the need to Intensify the design, implementation and promotion of family friendly policies and services. Recognising the need for integrated approach to women’s self-employment and entrepreneurship.and promoting access for women to financial, investment and trade sectors were also highlighted.

2. Social security and pensions were largely related to integrating women’s unpaid work experiences, the need for high-quality gender equality indicators, data and benchmarks and the need for gender mainstreaming. There is also the need to assess the incentives of tax and benefit systems on the employability of women.

3. Institutional mechanisms need to be ongoing to foster gender equality & gender mainstreaming as a component of good governance through sufficient resources and reinforced cooperation of relevant stakeholders.

4. Trafficking in the context of Migration: the discussion on trafficking focused on patterns and causes of national, regional or international responses and on the economic roots of trafficking. There is a need for countries to address the human rights abuses and the root causes of trafficking, including economic causes, in women and girls, in all countries and to ensure that anti-trafficking strategies have a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach.

Emerging Issues: The Beijing Platform provides a comprehensive framework for working in partnership to promote gender equality. However during the past ten years a number of new issues emerged due to technological progress, new economic thinking, social changes and geopolitical developments in the region.
There is also the need to continually work on improving methods of gender-based analysis, gender mainstreaming, monitoring change, in order to identify and address evolving patterns and trends.

At the inter governmental conference the chairperson concluded that the member states of the UNECE reaffirm the Beijing declaration and platform for action and stress the importance of strong sustained political will and commitment at national, regional and international level.
 
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