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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. |
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| 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. |
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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 |
| 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.
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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”. |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| UN Women |
| The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided to establish UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of 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 |
| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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NCW AGM 2012 highlights quota systems for women in forthcoming Local Councils and General Elections
The Annual General Meeting of the National Council of Women was held on Saturday 21 January, 2012 at the Palace Hotel, Sliema. Outgoing president, Grace Attard spoke about the evolvement of NCW over the years, including crucial developments which NCW has been been quick to respond to. NCW has been addressing gender equality areas that are becoming more relevant to our society today, both at national and EU in the fast changing scenario that we are living in - women in science and research, women’s role in the financial crisis, women entrepreneurs, youth and domestic violence, the follow-up to the extension of matenity leave, the EU Years for Volunteering and Active Ageing and many others. Grace Attard thanked all the Executive Committee members and NCW members who worked with her throughout her term of office as a team, without which NCW cannot move strongly ahead in its vision for a better society. In its resolution, the AGM Assembly highlighted the importance of quota systems in forthcoming Local Council and General Elections urging political parties to rethink their strategies and adopt action plans for recruiting an equal number of women & men making party politics more inclusive. The principle of capitalising on the potential of all individuals (over 50% women) in decision-making should be the foundation for any democratic decisions to be taken in the immediate future. NCW urges political parties is to introduce more concrete measures (quota systems) such as the zipper system, on ballot sheets, alternating women and men throughout the list, to ensure a mass of at least 30% participation of women, as required to be realistically effective in the decision making process of our political system.. Due to the short time available for elections, Government and political parties should immediately reach agreement within their decision-making internal structures and make public the measures they are to take to comply with the above recommendations for elections 2012-2013. Political Parties and Government need to study and explain clearly what gender quota measures are, as misconceptions in society give the impression that meritocracy is not a priority. In her message to the Assembly, incoming President Mary Gaerty made an emphasis on Intergenerational solidarity and the importance that people of all ages meet, share experiences, knowledge and skills. The Council , she said can be a showcase of this solidarity where women of all ages can contribute and gain from one another. She also asked all members for their support and participation to keep up the important work that the Council has been doing since its inception. Touching on the subject of entrepreneurship, the president emphasised the need to assist women, especially those self emplyed. The General Assembly discussed and approved a number of resolutions, dealing with Engaging Youths in the Elimination of Domestic Violence, Women’s Representation in Local Councils and Parliament; Oocyte Vitrification as an alternative to Embryo Freezing during IVF Treatment; Proper Designated Space in the Breast Clinic at Mater Dei Hospital; an Adequate Prosthesis Fitting Room; Follow-up to the Extension of Maternity Leave; the 2012 EU Year for Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity; Addressing Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy; NCF - Lejn Edukazzjoni ta' Kwalita' ghal Kulhadd and Improving Measures regarding Refugee Status to Asylum The Assembly approved Honorary Presidency on Dr Mercedes Schembri Wismayer MD for her pioneering work in gender equality in particular in the field of medicne and health and Honorary Life Membership on Dr Irene Sciriha for her outstanding contribution in the field of research and science, in particular as Maltese female representative on the Helsinki Group The Executive Committee Members for 2012 are President Mary Gaety, Vice Presidents Grace Attard MQR, Pauline Azzopardi, Nadyanne Mangion Hon. General Secretary Doris Bingley, Hon. Treasurer Therese Cassola. Members: Roselyn Knight, Evelyn Vella Brincat, Maria Stivala, Judith Debono, Doreen Micallef, Priscilla Muscat, Diane Xuereb, Mary Rose Zahra, Helga Ellul MQR and Dr Claudine Zarb, NCW Legal Advisor Mary Gaerty President NCW
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