European & International News

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European & International News
Africa - Women Call for Greater Role in Peacekeeping

Posted on 10 October 2011 |

[IPS, South Africa, 30 September 2011] African women who bear the brunt of the continent’s conflicts now demand to play a defining role in peacekeeping.
A resolution to foster women’s political participation in the domain of peacekeeping and conflict management was accepted on Friday at the 2011 Women’s Platform for Action in Africa (WPAA).
Under the auspices of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the WPAA meeting emphasised the urgent need for better female representation at national levels, (...) Read more
European & International News
Ireland - Government commits to meet human rights obligations on abortion under UN pressure

Posted on 6 October 2011 |

[Irish Family Planning Association, Dublin, 06 October 2011] In a momentous day for women in Ireland, UN member states took a stand for Irish women’s reproductive rights today (06.10.11) at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva during an examination of Ireland’s domestic human rights record.
Member states refused to accept vague promises from Minister for Justice Alan Shatter on the abortion issue and demanded concrete legislative action. They also called for firm timelines on the (...) Read more
European & International News
MEPs urged to back rights of domestic workers

The Parliament.com, Thursday 06 October 2011

Posted on 6 October 2011 |

[The Parliament.com, Brussels, 06 October 2011] Parliament has been urged to draft a resolution on the "need for better protection" for domestic workers.
MEPs have also been encouraged to support and promote ratification and implementation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention on domestic workers.
The convention states that domestic workers who care for families and households "must have the same basic labour rights as those available to other workers".
If ratified, (...) Read more
European & International News
WIDE calls on EU to ensure strong gender perspective in Busan forum on aid effectiveness

Posted on 6 October 2011 |

[Brussels, 06 October 2011] The WIDE Network has published a reaction to the European Commission’s Communication Proposal for the EU Common Position for the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, Busan.
In September the European Commission released a Communication COM (2011) 541 outlining a Proposal for the EU common position for the 4th High level Forum on aid effectiveness, Busan (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0541:FIN:EN:PDF). In a reaction to this (...) Read more
European & International News
UK MEP calls for more support for working mums

By Martin Banks

Posted on 4 October 2011 |

[The Parliament.com, Brussels, 04 October 2011] British Conservative MEP Marina Yannakoudakis has called for more support to allow working mothers and other women to start up or grow their small businesses.
Speaking at the Tory conference in Manchester, Yannakoudakis said, "As a mother and a businesswoman, I know how daunting setting up a small business can be.
"Giving women fair access to start-up and expansion grants, while targeting women with the right information about how to launch (...) Read more
European & International News
Mikael Gustafsson appointed as first man ever to the chair of EP Women’s Rights Committee

Posted on 3 October 2011 |

[European Parliament, Brussels, 03 October 2011] On Monday, Swedish MEP Mikael Gustafsson (GUE/NGL) was the first man to be elected chair of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee since its establishment in 1984. After his election, by acclamation, Mr Gustafsson said: "I feel overwhelmed and honoured. The committee has put their trust in me, and I will do my outmost to live up to that trust".
Declaring that he would strive to continue the work of the former chair Eva-Britt (...) Read more
European & International News
ECWR prepares its Operation Room for the Monitoring of the 2011 Parliamentary Election from a gender Perspective

Posted on 3 October 2011 |

[Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights, Cairo, 14 September 2011] In its continuing effort to enhance women’s role in the Egyptian political sphere and follow the mechanisms and means that guarantee equality in women’s representation, ECWR is going to monitor the 2011 Parliamentary and Shoura Elections from a gender perspective.
For this purpose, ECWR is preparing its Operation Room that will be in charge of the monitoring and will undertake the following missions:
First Mission: Technical (...) Read more
European & International News
Male feminist runs for chair of EP Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee

Posted on 29 September 2011 |

[European Parliament, Brussels, 29 September 2011] The candidate for the chairmanship of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality is a man. Mikael Gustafsson (SE) was proposed by the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) group. He formally joined the European Parliament at this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg, thus replacing Mrs Eva-Britt Svensson (SE) who had to resign from her mandate for health reasons on 01 September.
The election for the chairmanship will take (...) Read more
European & International News
European Women’s Forum of the Left adopts centenary resolution

Posted on 28 September 2011 |

[Brussels, 28 September 2011] Following the European Women’s Forum of the Left, which took place in Warsaw, Poland on 26-27 August, delegates adopted a Resolution laying out their demands and recommendations addressed to European Parliament, the Polish Government, political parties and other political, national governments and academic institutions and civic organisations.
Preamble
After 100 years of constant struggle for gender equality, the necessity to redefine women’s political rights (...) Read more
European & International News
Women’s enterprise: the ‘secret weapon’ for recovery of UK economy?

Posted on 26 September 2011 |

[Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, London, 26 September 2011] Already female-led businesses contribute more than £75 billion to the economy - and their role in growing the economy, and creating and sustaining new jobs, is crucial to recovery and growth.
But despite this level of activity, women are too often invisible within the business arena, and at a time when many businesses are struggling to survive and grow, there is a danger that the progress made to date will (...) Read more