European & International News

International news globe All the latest news from the European Union, its member states, and beyond.

European & International News
Still no justice for women survivors of wartime rape in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Posted on 12 April 2012 |

[Amnesty International, 11 April 2012] "It is time the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina enacted its 2010 commitment to ensure justice, truth and reparation for hundreds of survivors of wartime sexual violence, Amnesty International said in a briefing published today.
"Nearly two decades after the end of the war, hundreds of women continue to live with the effects of rape and other forms of torture, without proper access to the medical, psychological and financial assistance they need (...) Read more
European & International News
Limited access to contraceptives in the EU is a human rights problem

Posted on 30 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 30 March 2012] On 28 March, the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) invited decision-makers, NGOs and health professionals to discuss the failure to facilitate contraceptive access in EU Member States as a human rights problem.
Lack of contraception coverage by public health insurance and lack of accurate information on contraceptives is a major problem for women in many EU Member States. Invited speakers gave a full picture of the situation in the EU, and informed the audience (...) Read more
European & International News
Bachelet lists the priorities of UN Women for the 2012

Posted on 30 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 30 March 2012] To mark the first anniversary of the operations of UN Women, the Secretary General of the new UN women’s entity Michele Bachelet has addressed parters with a letter that lists the priorities of the UN Women for the 2012.
"This is the century to end discrimination and violence against women. The time is now. Equality depends on each of us. From the government that changes its laws, to the company that advances equal pay and opportunity, to the mother and father that (...) Read more
European & International News
Basic rights for crime victims across the EU

Posted on 29 March 2012 |

[European Parliament, Brussels, 29 March 2012] All crime victims should have the same basic rights across the EU, and should have their specific needs assessed, under a draft EU directive setting minimum protection standards unanimously endorsed by the Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights committees on Tuesday. An estimated 75 million people are victims of crime every year in the EU.
When crimes happen abroad, differing cultures, languages and laws can create serious problems. The draft (...) Read more
European & International News
Turkey has to do more to improve women’s condition, says MEPs

Posted on 28 March 2012 |

[European Parliament, Brussels, 27 March 2012] If Turkey wants to be seen as a model for the Arab spring countries, it should continue with reforms, including improving the fight against discrimination and violence against women, says the European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights in a resolution approved on Tuesday. The vote follows a visit of a committee delegation to Turkey last February. Emine Bozkut (S&D, NL), rapporteur on the resolution on women in Turkey and member of last (...) Read more
European & International News
Turkey: Turkey the first country to ratify the European Convention To Combat Violence Against Women

Posted on 23 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 19 March 2012] On 14 March, Turkey ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, following a decision taken by the Turkish parliament in November 2011.
Seventeen other member states have also signed the Convention since its opening for signature last May in Istanbul.
The Council of Europe has called on European governments to follow Turkey’s lead so as to permit the treaty’s rapid entry into force.
The (...) Read more
European & International News
MEPs’ outrage leads Strauss-Khan to cancel appearance in European Parliament

Posted on 22 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 21 March 2012] The ex-International-Monetary-Fund-chief Domique Strauss-Kahn has cancelled his appearance in the European Parliament, due to the outrage of MEPs across party lines and gender. He had been invited to a speak about the financial crisis just one day before French prosecutors were to decide whether to press charges over his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring.
"In the name of our struggle for the dignity of women, we are opposing this invitation," Hungarian (...) Read more
European & International News
Majority of Europeans consider gender inequalities a serious problem

Posted on 22 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 22 March] Majority of Europeans view gender inequality as a serious problem. Two recent opinion polls, on gender equality in general and women in decision-making in specific, reveal that Europeans expect EU-level action, in particular to bring more women to company boards.
Gender inequalities in Europe
A survey on gender inequalities in the European Union commissioned by the European Parliament for the International Women’s Day reveals that although a majority of Europeans (...) Read more
European & International News
MEPs and civil society call urgent action to unblock the Anti-Discrimination Directive

Posted on 22 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 21 March 2012] Work on the EU Anti-Discrimination Directive that has been blocked by the member states since 2008 must start again, say MEPs, civil society and experts.
European Parliament hearing, organised by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs this week, revisited the current state of EU legislation on equal treatment, equality and non-discrimination before and after the Lisbon Treaty and identified its scope and limitations across grounds of (...) Read more
European & International News
V-Day season in full swing

Posted on 21 March 2012 |

[Brussels, 21 March] This year over 5,400 V-Day events are taking place in all around the world, raising funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls. Check out the V-Map, find an event near you and don’t miss this opportunity to blend your activism with art and passion!
On 06 March, nine women MEPs performed The Vagina Monologues at the European Parliament. It was an extraordinary evening, which not only inspired a new energy and constituency in the Parliament, but finally (...) Read more