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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.

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.

Civil society representatives gathered in Perth to discuss and debate key issues facing Commonwealth People.　The theme of this year’s Forum was "Driving Change for a Dynamic Commonwealth"

The Forum was officially opened by the Hon. Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister of Australia in a ceremony also addressed by Premier of Western Australia, The Hon. Colin Barnett MLA, Commonwealth Secretary-General H.E. Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Foundation Chair, Madam Simone de Comarmond and Commonwealth People’s Forum Chair, Ms Sue Ash.

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said "the mark of any civil society was how it treats its most vulnerable in society. Forums like this are important because they provoke debate and remind governments that we can always do better".

Commonwealth Secretary-General H.E Kamalesh Sharma described the Forum as a "vibrant expression of the Commonwealth family in action."

The Forum continues to be a crucial part of the interface between governments and civil society. Central to these discussions is a powerful statement from civil society representatives of the 54 member association calling on Heads of Government to act urgently to strengthen the role of civil society so that the Commonwealth can become a "meaningful vehicle for change."

300 accredited delegates from Australia and the wider Commonwealth debated the issues raised in the statement which they presented during the round table dialogue between civil society representatives and Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on Thursday 27 October in Perth.

The theme for CHOGM 2011 was "Building National Resilience, Building Global Resilience", which reflected the importance of addressing　pressing challenges at multiple levels: as individual states, as members of the Commonwealth, and as part of the global community.

During their retreat the Heads of Government discussed sustainable development, the threat of climate change for large and small states, developed and developing, also recognised that food security is one of the most difficult and pressing challenges facing the world and discussed issues facing small states. The leaders agreed that there should be a charter of the Commonwealth by 2012 This was a central recommendation of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report. There will be a process of consultation on the content of the charter as was recommended by the EPG. The charter will bring together the Commonwealth's values, principles and aspirations in one clear and powerful statement. There are 104 recommendations in the EPG Report. The leaders have asked foreign ministers to do some further work on 102 recommendations

The Commonwealth People’s Forum had space for eight one day workshops and seventeen learning journeys.

Doris Bingley participated in the Gender & Women’s Rights Assembly. She made a presentation at the Gender meeting on NCW & ECICW’s role in Europe. Gender equality is one of the fundamental principles of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality (PoA) 2005-2015　provides the framework within which organisations can contribute to　advancing gender equality in Commonwealth countries. This workshop explored mechanisms for taking forward　the recommendations of the PoA Review and how these can be supported. Doris Bingley also contributed to the Education, Technology & Innovation Assembly. She distributed papers from Malta’s Ministry of Education on e-learning initiatives that the Maltese Government has in place to make technology accessible and user friendly for teachers and students. The Government of Malta wants to ensure that students are ready for the knowledge based economy that awaits them.

Doris Bingley

NCW Hon General Secretary

President European Centre of the International Council of Women
 
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