European & International News

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European & International News
Women of Tahrir: Frustration at revolution’s failures

Posted on 6 January 2012 |

[BBC, 06 January 2012] It was a photograph that shocked the world - an Egyptian military policeman beating a protester in a hijab with sticks and dragging her along the street so that her clothes were torn open. It seemed to symbolise the vulnerability of women in a society that has changed little since last year’s revolution.
Many Egyptian women felt they had few rights or protections under President Hosni Mubarak, but the sense of liberation after he fell raised many women’s hopes. (...) Read more
European & International News
Danish EU Presidency reveals priorities on the area of gender equality

Posted on 4 January 2012 |

[Danish EU Presidency, 04 January 2012] During the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU three dossiers on the area of gender equality will dominate the work of the Council: women and environment, women on boards and gender-based choices of education.
EU follow-up on the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing 1995
Since 1999, the European Union has evaluated the follow-up on the 12 critical areas of concern from the Platform for Action (PfA) adopted by Member States and (...) Read more
European & International News
11 October declared International Day of the Girl!

Posted on 23 December 2011 |

[Brussels, 23 December 2011] The United Nations has declared October 11 as ‘International Day of the Girl Child’, following an extensive campaign by civil society organisations working on girls’ rights, such as Plan International and World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts.
Girls face double discrimination due to their gender and age, and are the most marginalised and discriminated group across the globe. This new world day will help to prioritise girls’ rights as the salient issue (...) Read more
European & International News
European Commission guides insurance industry on unisex premiums

Posted on 23 December 2011 |

[European Commission, 22 December 2011] The European Commission has today 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. In its ruling on the Test-Achats case on 1 March 2011, the Court of Justice gave insurers until 21 December 2012 to treat individual male and female customers equally in terms of insurance premiums and benefits (...) Read more
European & International News
Spain - Regional Authority to Close Women’s Support Services

Posted on 20 December 2011 |

[Women Against Violence Europe, 20 December 2011] On 15 December 2011 the governmental Woman’s Institute (El Instituto de la Mujer) has informed the public about the plans of the authorities in the central Castilla-la-Mancha region to close 85 counselling centres and 13 shelters that have room to house 96 women survivors of domestic violence.
Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) expresses deep concern about the plans of the regional government of the Castilla-La Mancha region to curtail (...) Read more
European & International News
Daphne programme: Funding must be ensured to combat violence against women, young people and children, says FEMM Committee

Posted on 20 December 2011 |

[European Parliament, 20 December 2011] The Daphne programme’s funding must be held at a level comparable to that of the earlier programme and its profile within the new generation programme remain high, bearing in mind its success, its effectiveness and its popularity, said the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee on Tuesday in a resolution on the DAPHNE programme: results and prospects, noting that the Daphne programme would from 2014 be incorporated in the new Rights and (...) Read more
European & International News
Egypt - Joint Statement: Continued Militarization: Increased Violence Against Women Human Rights Defenders During Dispersal Of Cabinet Sit-in

Posted on 19 December 2011 |

[Nazra for feminist studies, Cairo, 18 December 2011] "The targeting of Women human rights defenders seen over the course of an entire day, when the sit-in at the cabinet building was dispersed at dawn on December 16, is a continuation and clear escalation of militaristic policies aimed at Women human rights defenders, employed consistently by the former regime prior to the January 25 revolution.
The policy of targeting Women human rights defenders is part of attempts by those currently in (...) Read more
European & International News
UN issues first report on LGBT human rights

Posted on 18 December 2011 |

[United Nations, New York, 15 December 2011] The first ever United Nations report on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people details how around the world people are killed or endure hate-motivated violence, torture, detention, criminalization and discrimination in jobs, health care and education because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
The report, released today by the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (...) Read more
European & International News
European Commission appoints woman as first ever scientific advisor

Posted on 14 December 2011 |

[Brussels, 14 December 2011] The European Commission has appointed Anne Glover from the UK as its first ever scientific advisor. Ms. Glover’s task will be to provide high-level, independent, scientific advice to the Commission throughout the policy process. The EWL is pleased to see a woman appointed to this prominent position, in particular as women are severely under-represented in key decision-making positions in the sector areas of research, science and innovation. According to EU (...) Read more
European & International News
IFJ denounces extreme levels of violence faced by women journalists worldwide

Posted on 13 December 2011 |

[Gender and Media Diversity Centre, Johannesberg, 13 December 2011] In a letter addressed to UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon to mark the International Day of Violence Against Women on 25 November, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) highlighted the high levels of violence women journalists face while carrying out their professional duties.
The IFJ denounces aggression, threats, political pressure, violence, rape and abuse that women journalists have to face due either to (...) Read more