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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.

IP/10/237
Brussels, 5 March 2010


Ahead of International Women's Day, the European Commission strengthened and deepened its commitment to equality between women and men with a Women's Charter. This political declaration sets out five key areas for action and commits the Commission to building a gender perspective into all its policies for the next five years while taking specific measures to promote equality (see also IP/10/236 <http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/236&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en> and MEMO/10/65 <http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/10/65&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en> ).

"This Charter represents the commitment of the Commission to making gender equality a reality in the EU. Women and men still face widespread inequalities, with serious repercussions for economic and social cohesion, sustainable growth and competitiveness, and the ageing of Europe's population. It is therefore important to include a strong gender dimension in the future Europe 2020 strategy that the Commission will develop in the next five years. Especially in times of crisis, we need to incorporate the gender dimension in all of our policies, for the benefit of both women and men," said President José Manuel Barroso.
The Charter presents a series of commitments based on agreed principles of equality between women and men. It aims to promote:
* equality in the labour market and equal economic independence for women and men, namely through the Europe 2020 strategy;
* equal pay for equal work and work of equal value by working with Member States to reduce significantly the gender pay gap over the next five years;
* equality in decision-making through EU incentive measures;
* dignity, integrity and an end to gender-based violence through a comprehensive policy framework;
* gender equality beyond the EU by pursuing the issue in external relations and with international organisations.
The Charter responds in particular to the European Parliament's request to step up action to tackle violence. "I am particularly proud to be in charge of putting in place a comprehensive and effective policy framework to combat gender-based violence. Gender-based violence is a violation of fundamental rights, in particular human dignity, the right to life and the right to the integrity of the person. I will ensure that strong measures on the eradication of female genital mutilation are part of the strategy," said Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Vice-President of the European Commission.
A new Eurobarometer survey on gender equality also released today shows that 62% of Europeans believe that gender inequality still exists in many areas of society. The survey also reveals that Europeans' top two priorities for action in this field are tackling violence against women and closing the gender pay gap (respectively 92% and 82% of respondents believe these issues should be addressed urgently). In addition, 61% believe that decisions at EU level have an important role to play in the fight against gender inequality.
The Charter will be followed by a new strategy for gender equality to be adopted by the Commission in mid-2010. The strategy will provide a coordinated framework for action across all EU policies.

The initiative comes 15 years after the Beijing Platform for Action agreed at the United Nations' Fourth Conference for Women. It follows a commitment made by President Barroso to establish a Women's Charter in his speech on International Women's Day 2010
 
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