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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 2010 highlights healthcare reform and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups
The Annual General Meeting of the National Council of Women was held on Saturday 30 January, at the Victoria Hotel, Sliema. President Grace Attard highlighted the need for proactive policies for the short and long term, in the Council's commitment to identify and address future situations. 'The year 2009 has been a time of unprecedented circumstances, not least by the current global economic, financial and social crisis and the negative impact on women in particular in employment and on gender equality policies in general. However,' the crisis can offer new opportunities for Member States to evaluate their current policies and from the lessons learnt during this difficult time realise the value of strengthening the gender perspective in all fields of policy.' In line with Government Policy on the reform of Public Health , the resolutions submitted for approval concentrated on public health measures and on areas that require particular attention in the case of vulnerable groups reflecting the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010 The year 2010 represents an important step for the future of gender policies because it marks the end of the actions promoted by the "Roadmap for Equality between Women and Men 2006-2010" and the review for post 2010. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979), is under review as we commemorate its 30th anniversary, the 1995 UN Beijing Platform for Action and its 12 critical areas of concern, again under review as we commemorate its 15th anniversary (Beijing 15), the 2000 UN Millennium Development Goals 10th anniversary and the commitments recently taken by Governments at the 98th session of the International Labour Conference ILO (2009). Grace Attard thanked the members of the various committees and the representatives of the affiliated organizations, who more than ever, have been very dynamic and augured that working closely together will remain a priority in the forthcoming months.
In conclusion she stated that there is the need to work towards further developing a European and global perspective. 'There is no longer room for isolation - we have to become European and global in our thinking, our attitudes, policy formulation and more so in practice if we want NCW to be truly engaged and effective in its mission for the benefit of society' The General Assembly also discussed and approved a number of resolutions, dealing with
1. The Right Prosthesis for Breast Cancer - Action for Breast Cancer Foundation
2. Health promotion/prevention by family health nurse/midwife in the community MUMN
3. Consumer driven health services MUMN
4. A National Sexual Health Policy
5. Cancer Screening
6. Extension of Maternity Leave
7. Subsidy or tax refund to those women opting to uptake private medical care such as breast care or cervical screening MUMN
8. Legal Aid
9. Vulnerable Refugees
10. SEC – MATSEC Children with Learning difficulties
11. Regulations re energy friendly buildings The Assembly also approved declarations on
European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010
European Year for Volunteering 2011
Action Plan on Domestic Violence The assembly unanimously approved bestowing Honorary Life Membership on Dr Joanna Drake 'for her outstanding contribution to Maltese society, through her efforts in promoting Malta’s entry into the European Union and her continued valuable work in European Union representation and administration'. The Executive Committee Members for 2010 are President Grace Attard, Vice Presidents: Doreen Micallef, Mary Gaerty, Nadya Ann Mangion, Hon. General Secretary Doris Bingley, Hon. Treasurer Therese Cassola, Members: Maria Camilleri, Helga Ellul, Jean Killick, Dr Mariosa Vella Cardona, Dr Mercedes Schembri Wismayer, Ruth Falzon, Maud Muscat, M’Rose Zahra and Dr Claudine Zarb, NCW Legal Advisor
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