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| UfM adopts new project to support women’s empowerment in the Mediterranean |
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| European Commission gives guidance to Europe's insurance industry to ensure non-discrimination betwe |
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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 |
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| Female mentors to help woman entrepreneurs to get started |
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Project duration: October 2009 - September 2012. |
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| Brussels, 30/05/2011 (Agence Europe) |
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| First European Equal Pay Day highlights EU earnings gap |
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| Statement by the EWL on the adoption of a new Pact for Gender Equality (2011-2020) |
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| UN 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 |
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| Tackling the gender pay gap – Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers |
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CONFERENCE EUROPEAN YEAR OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL 2007 (Date: 28/12/2007)
REPORT GRACE ATTARD EESC GROUP III MEMBER
23.11.2007
CLOSING CONFERENCE
EUROPEAN YEAR OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL 2007
Lisbon 19-20 November 2007
Monday 19 November 2007
The Conference opened with welcome speeches by
H.E. Prime Minister of Portugal, Jose’ Socrates
Portuguese Minister for Labour and Social Solidarity – Jose’ Vieira da Silva
Director General for Employment and Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission - Nicolaus van der Pas and
Vice-President of the European Parliament Rodi Kratsa –Tsagaropoulou
The 4 Rs – RIGHTS, REPRESENTATION, RECOGNITION AND RSPECT were highlighted
Reference was made to EU legislation over the years, at different stages on Equality for All
The importance of addressing equality issues at all levels – EU, national, regional and local and the involvement of all stakeholders were also highlighted
PANEL 1:
KEYNOTE SPEECHES ON DIVERSITY AND EQUAL 0PPORTUNITIES
FIRST SPEAKER: Esther Mucznick: Vice-President of the Jewish Community and Member of the Commission for Religious Freedom, Portugal emphasised the need for legislation to be enforced regarding religious freedom
SECOND SPEAKER: Lydia La Riviere-Zijdel: International Consultant on Gender, Diversity and Sport spoke about gender and multiple discrimination
THIRD SPEAKER: Trevor Phillips: Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Great Britain spoke about institutional inertia and the need for positive action. Individuals suffering from mental health should be more strongly represented. The Year of intercultural dialogue should serve to continue the work that has been carried out in 2007
PANEL II:
THE YEAR’S LEGACY PROMOTING EQUALITY AND NON DISCRIMINATION
FIRST SPEAKER: Elsa Pais: National Co-ordinator of EYEO, Portugal spoke about the experience of preparing for such a conference. She highlighted the initiatives carried out in Portugal
A portal – equality for all
A reward for school children’s initiatives in the area of equality
The use of cartoons breaking down inequalities to target the very young
SECOND SPEAKER: Joanna Kluzik-Rostkowska, Former Minister of Labour and Social Policy, member of Polish Parliament and responsible for the Polish National Implementing Body (NIB), Poland spoke about the initiatives carried out in Poland,
including education campaigns with the participation of representatives from different countries working in the field of anti-discrimination, workshops for local representatives implementing anti-discrimination policies at local level, publication of information and best practices about the six areas of discrimination, awareness raising project for newly-elected local representatives
THIRD SPEAKER: Sinikka Keskinen: EYEO National Contact Point, Finland spoke about the work carried out in Finland during the Year. Although the European Year is not expected to solve long-term problems of inequality problems, attention should still be paid to encourage development sin this field
FOURTH SPEAKER: Equinet – European Network of Equality Bodies spoke about the importance of networking and the sharing of good practices. He also referred to access to information. He also highlighted that goods and services to be extended to all areas of discrimination, positive action, and the need for a percentage of European Structural Funds to address inequalities in particular social inclusion
FIFTH SPEAKER: Sylvia Meehan: AGE Platform, Ireland spike about senior citizens and the fact that only recently awareness of age discrimination has become widespread.
SIXH SPEAKER: Isidiro Rodriguez, Secretary Foundation for Roma, Spain spoke about the need to address discrimination of the large numbers of Roma people in Europe and their economic contribution to society. He urged the EU to specifically address this issue
SEVENTH SPEAKER: Faila Pasic, Face of the Year, Slovenia spoke about their activities which targeted children with special needs
AFTERNOON SESSION
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP 1: ACCESS TO RIGHTS
Chaired by Richard Howitt, Member of the European Parliament, UK
WORKSHOP 2: EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND GENDER MAINSTREAMING
Chaired by Alexander Rosa. Portuguese NIB
WORKSHOP 3: SOCIAL INCLUSION AND MULTIPLE DISCRIMINATION
Chaired by Isle Brands Keri’s, Latvian Centre of Human Rights
WORKSHOP 4: DIVERSITY, MIGRATION AND INTERCULTURAL DIALOGU
Chaired by Jean Lambert, Member of the European Parliament UK
Tuesday 20 November 2007
PANEL III: PAVING THE WAY TOWARDS EQUALITY FOR ALL
Voices from Civil Society
SPEAKERS
Representative of Portugal’s EYEO NGOs – Odette Fiona
Director of AGE – Anne-Sophie Parent
President of European Disability Forum – EDF- Hyannis Vardakastranis
President of European Network again racism – ENAR – Bushy Quash
President of European Women’s Lobby – EWL Kristy Cutoff
Executive Director of ILGA-Europe – Patricia Prineville
SHORT CONTRIBUTIONS BY SOCIAL PARTNERS
Confederation Secretary of ETUC – Catalane Peskier
Vice-Chair for the Social Affairs Committee BusinessEuroep Ingo Vladimira Dfbalova
Reporter of the Social Affairs Committee of CEEO – Tina Weber
Director, Social Affairs of UEAPME – Lillian Volozinskis
Speakers highlighted the importance of including diversity in the labour market, the need for access to qualifications that address market needs for all and addressing the issue of migration in a comprehensive manner
MINISTERIAL ROUND TABLE: FROM THE YEAR’S LEGACY TO A NEW GOVERNANCE TOWARDS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
Speakers highlighted the need to develop initiatives to mobilize all stakeholders to take action and ensure active policies of non-discrimination for all in the workplace.
Other areas highlighted were: immigration policy, border security, and gender equality in particular addressing the pay gap
Other points raised were:
Addressing multiple discrimination
Co-operation between the different grounds (6) of discrimination in an equal and not hierarchal manner
Addressing discrimination of groups with different sexual orientation
Addressing the needs of ethnic minorities
Equality to be mainstreamed in all EU policies
The need for independent equality bodies
The importance of involving NGOs at all levels
The challenge to have cohesion while celebrating diversity
WORKSHOPS CONCLUSIONS – REPORTS
THE LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE
Keeping up the momentum for change
Awareness – a pre-condition; addressing prejudices and attidutudes
Effective legislation
Omissions in legislation
Political and moral will for implementation
Test cases to evaluate legislation
Awareness for people exposed to discrimination
Informing and sensitizing marginalized groups of their rights
Building dialogue and support between the six grounds of discrimination
Better and more accurate data collection
The role of business in addressing diversity in particular immigration; creating workplaces free of discrimination
Several proposals of good practices for business
CLOSING SESSION
High representative of the UN secretary-general for the alliance of civilisations – Jorge Sampaio, Portugal (video message) UN representative: ‘Modernizing, changing the way we do things’
Director-general for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission – Nikolaus van der Pas
Portuguese Secretary of State of Social Security – Pedro Marques
Portuguese Secretary of State from the Council of Ministers Presidency Jorge Lacao
Director Equality between Women and Men, Action against discrimination, Directorate General, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, European Commission Belinda Pike, UK
HONORARY AWARDS FOR INITIATIVES carried out in 2007
Poland - audio visual
Belgium -visual
Czechoslovakia - poster campaign
Portugal - information material
LOOKING AHEAD
2008 has been designated as the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. In the UK, the National Co-ordinating Body is known as the EUCLD; and the responsible government department is DCMS. EUCLID plans to host a number of events in 2008 to mark the
European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Events include conferences, exchange of fairs and training seminars throughout the UK
In addition to the events, organizations interested in the European Year are encouraged to sign up to the partner section of the EYID 2008 website, which offers a unique networking platform for all people involved in the European Year
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/eyeq/
www.europeanyearofequalopps.org.uk
www.equalityhumanrights.com
www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu (EU website)
http://inter.culture.info (UK website)
EUROPEAN YEAR OF INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE:
Events include conferences, exchange of fairs and training seminars throughout the UK
In addition to the events, organizations interested in the European Year are encouraged to sign up to the partner section of the EYID 2008 website, which offers a unique networking platform for all people involved in the European Year
For more information:
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/eyeq/
www.europeanyearofequalopps.org.uk
www.equalityhumanrights.com
www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu (EU website)
http://inter.culture.info (UK website)
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