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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.

Declaration on Women and the European Convention (Date: 14/04/2003)


14 April 2003

Valery Giscard D’Estaing
Chairman of the European Convention

National Council of Women of Malta (NCW Malta)
Declaration on Women and the European Convention

NCW Malta has been closely following developments in the European Convention regarding gender equality.

There has been a significant number of Convention members requesting that gender equality be included in Article 2 Part I of the new Constitutional Treaty. We wish to support these Convention members by insisting that equality between women and men be included in Article 2, Part I.

NCW Malta strongly supports:
The declaration and proposals of
• The Extraordinary Conference held in Athens 31 March 2003 by the Network of Parliamentary Committees for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in the European Union and
• The European Conference on ‘Social Rights, a lever for Equality, Proposals for the European Constitution’ organised in Athens on 2 April 2003. organised within the framework of the Greek Presidency of the European Union.

Reaffirms the importance of making gender equality in all fields a visible component of the European Constitution and
Requests the Convention to fully integrate the following concerns in the first part of the future European Constitution:

• Equality, which incorporates equality of women and men, should be included in he Constitution and a value of the European Union.
• The elimination of inequalities and the promotion of the equality of women and men should be a transversal objective of all policies and actions of the European Union.
• Protection against violence should be one of the objectives of the EU.
• The Charter of Fundamental Rights, as proclaimed in Nice should be incorporated in the future Constitution.
• An article of direct effect should be included which prohibits gender discrimination and guarantees equal rights for women and men; it should also provide for positive actions to eliminate gender inequalities in all fields, including ensuring the balanced participation of women and men in decision-making.
• An article should be included providing for the protection of pregnancy, maternity and paternity as well as reconciling of family, professional, political and social life of women and men in all fields, an unfavourable treatment, directly or indirectly related to these situations should be prohibited.
• Equality of women and men and the fight against all form of gender discrimination should be a shared competence of the European Union
• Balanced representation of women and men is part of the principle of participatory democracy and positive measures that lead to true equality in representation in political institutions should be established
• Gender mainstreaming in all policies and actions of the EU should be reaffirmed as a transversal mechanism to reach de facto equality.
• In the area of freedom, security and justice, the Union should be able to adopt measures to prevent and combat all forms of violence including trafficking
• We reiterate that provisions in the future European Constitution guarantee that the ‘acquis communautaire’ in the field of gender equality is fully maintained and further strengthened
• The future European Constitution should use gender-neutral language.

We are confident in your commitment to the full realisation by all women of their human rights and very much hope that you will be able to support our position in the upcoming discussions within the Convention on the Future of Europe.


Grace Attard
President NCW Malta
 
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