 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
| 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Council of Women
Approved Resolutions AGM 2002
REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY
The National Council of Women in conference assembled at its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 26 January 2002,
Reaffirms its policy as expressed in its resolutions and recommendations over the past years, and urges the authorities to take action on outstanding issues, particularly past resolutions on
- Legislation on the Rights of the Child;
- The establishing of the necessary protocol according to WHO directives regarding medical examination in alleged rape cases;
- Legislation on Non-Governmental Organisations.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
NCW, aware that the issue of domestic violence needs to be addressed with urgency, because it causes harm to the family unit and society as well as the individuals concerned,
Urges Government to speed up legislation, and to incorporate new and more rigorous provisions that reflect the severity of the offences not only by one partner to another, but also to closely related persons;
Recommends improved ways of supporting victims through further training for the professional groups with whom they come into contact; this includes extensive training for personnel in the criminal justice system, social welfare and health services;
Also recommends that it includes mandatory therapy for perpetrators
Also recommends that the issues of gender equality and domestic violence be emphasized in the education of professionals such as those in the teaching, medical, legal, social welfare and pastoral areas;
Also urges Government to provide support structures for victims of domestic violence who require mental health support but do not require hospitalisation.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH
NCW, mindful of the importance of the physical and mental health of children and young adults and aware of
- violence in the home where children are affected both physically and psychologically;
- the ever-younger age of drug addicts;
- the problem of child abuse,
Recommends:
- that perpetrators be given adequate court sentences and treatment, and be removed from the victim’s proximity;
- that coping skills be taught to victims, and that centres be made available, where therapies can be offered and where victims can be followed up by professional personnel.
LEGISLATION ON TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
NCW notes with satisfaction the recent amendments to the Immigration Act and the Criminal Code, and Malta’s signing of the Palermo Protocol;
Aware that the law has still to be enacted in Malta,
Urges Government to include in the law, a clear definition of trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation, and to take immediate steps to prevent the proliferation of this abuse.
Recommends that police and crime prevention forces be trained to deal with international prostitution and abuse of children, and techniques to recognize victims and profiteers of such trafficking;
Recommends that the dignity and rights of these individuals be upheld.
And further recommends the strengthening of collaboration with crime prevention organisations at international level.
GENDER EQUALITY LEGISLATION
NCW notes with satisfaction the publication of the White Paper on Employment and Industrial Relations Act, which includes regulations on maternity, parental and urgent leave entitlement;
Aware that the signing of the Joint Assessment Paper by Malta and the EU Commission has committed all social partners to the implementation of gender equality legislation;
Urges Government to speed up Gender Equality Legislation.
WOMEN: EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NCW, aware that two important targets of the Government’s industrial relations policy is to raise the female participation in the labour market and to fully utilise human resources;
Aware also that both the public and the private sector need to contribute to economic growth;
Notes with satisfaction the incentives in this year’s budget, which encourage individuals to set up their own business or partnership in business;
And urges Government to further facilitate the access and participation of women in the labour market by:
- Providing affordable services to support working parents;
- Offering incentives to parents who work to reduce the burden of child care costs;
- Offering tax incentives and other rewards to employers in the private sector who introduce practices that encourage the participation of women in the labour market;
- Developing financial tools to assist women entrepreneurs;
- Widening access to vocational training systems, particularly in areas not usually accessed by women.
MALTA’S EU ACCESSION PROCESS
NCW, aware of the crucial state in Malta’s EU accession process;
Aware that the forthcoming chapters on the Environment, Agriculture and Food Safety are of particular concern to Malta;
Urges Government to ensure that impact assessment studies are carried out, so that the negotiation process can truly reflect the Maltese situation, economically and socially;
And strongly recommends that the infrastructure of these areas in particular be strengthened to reach international standards for the benefit of society.
Further urges Government to ensure that NGOs have access to EU information, technical and financial assistance, as outlined in the EU report on Civil Society and Social Dialogue of the Social Policy.
THE ENVIRONMENT
NCW, aware of the Environment Protection Act 2001 and that 2002 is the International Year of Ecotourism;
Also aware of the pressing environmental issues that Malta is facing and the financial costs involved in dealing with these problems;
Notes with satisfaction the forestation initiative of Government;
Urges Government to speed up the infrastructure for the separation of waste at source;
Recommends a hard-hitting and persistent campaign in the mass media to make the general public aware of the need to safeguard our islands from further environmental degradation;
Also recommends that schools, youth organisations and similar groups be encouraged to adopt local derelict areas and take responsibility for looking after them – thus harnessing voluntary help to government projects and cutting down costs.
|
|