EWL News

News typewritter Latest news from the European Women’s Lobby in Brussels

EWL News
WILPF publishes new edition of PeaceWomen

Posted on 17 January 2011 |

[Brussels. 17 January 2010] EWL member organisation the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has issued the 121st edition of PeaceWomen ENews, featuring women, peace and security news, events and resources from peacewomen.org.
This issue is titled ’An Active Agenda for Women’s Advocates in 2011’ and includes: 1. Editorial by Michelle Reyf 2. Women, Peace and Security News 3. Featured WPS Events, Resources & Initiatives 4. Security Council Monitor 5. Translation (...) Read more
EWL News
EDF welcomes EU ratification of UN disability convention

EWL member news

Posted on 6 January 2011 |

The EWL and its member organisation the European Disability Forum (EDF) celebrate a landmark victory in human rights battle as EU signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
[EDF Press Release - Brussels, 5 January 2011] The European Union has officially ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 23 December, becoming the first intergovernmental group to sign on to any human rights treaty. The European disability movement worked hard to (...) Read more
EWL News
Czech Republic: Not a Country for women?

Posted on 3 January 2011 |

by Alexandra Jachanova Dolezelova, member of the Czech Women’s Lobby and Vice-President of the European Women’s Lobby
The concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against women from October 2010 alert to a persistent lack of special measures for improving the situation of women in the Czech Republic, including with regards to such important issues as discrimination in the labour market or domestic violence.
The Czech Republic occupies the 65th rank of (...) Read more
EWL News
Wishing you all the best for 2011!

Posted on 22 December 2010 |
EWL News
EWL issues Position Paper on violence against women

Posted on 21 December 2010 |

[Brussels, 21 December 2010] The European Women’s Lobby has adopted and published a Position Paper entitled ’Towards a Europe free from all forms of male violence against women’ which comprises the position and recommendations of its membership on the serious issue of male violence against women in the EU. The document gives a strong analysis of male violence against women as the main structural expression of gender inequality and denounces its persistence in the 21st Century as an archaic (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL delighted at appointment of current Secretary General to post of EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator

Posted on 15 December 2010 |

[Brussels, 15 December 2010] The European Commission yesterday announced the appointment of Ms. Myria Vassiliadou, current Secretary General of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) to the new post of European Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. According to the Commission press release, Ms. Vassiliadou will ‘elaborate existing and new EU policies relevant to the fight against trafficking and provide overall strategic policy orientation for the EU’s external policy in this field’.
Reacting to the news, (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL issues 8 Priorities for the incoming Hungarian Presidency of the EU

Posted on 10 December 2010 |

[Brussels, 10 December 2010] On 01 January 2011, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) will pass from Belgium to Hungary. The European Women’s Lobby (EWL), with more than 2500 member organisations the largest association of women’s organisations in the EU, calls on the Hungarian Presidency to continue to be a driving force for women’s rights in Europe and, in particular, to ensure progress in the adoption of gender-related legislation which is currently on the table and to (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL calls for action to tackle inequalities in access to healthcare for undocumented migrant women and children

Posted on 9 December 2010 |

[Brussels, 09 December 2010] On the eve of Human Rights Day 2010 - focusing this year on the theme of ’Human Rights Defenders Who Act to End Discrimination’ - the EWL co-organised a Public Hearing in the European Parliament to help raise awareness on the issue of inequalities in access to health care services for undocumented migrants - including pregnant women and children - in many EU countries. Following the event, the EWL and its partners issued a joint press release calling for action. (...) Read more
EWL News
Cyprus - MIGS calls on government to support strong EU maternity leave provisions

Posted on 9 December 2010 |

[Brussels, 9 December 2010] EWL member organisation in Cyprus, the Mediterranean Institute for Gender Studies (MIGS) has issued a Press Release expressing disappointment at the outcome of this Monday’s social affairs Council meeting in Brussels when ministers rejected a legislative proposal of the European Parliament giving 20 weeks fully paid maternity leave tor new mothers and 2 weeks to fathers. MIGS is calling for transparency from the Cypriot government and a public dialogue on the (...) Read more
EWL News
NGO Coalition on Intergenerational Solidarity welcomes EPSCO decision to declare 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations

Joint Press Release

Posted on 8 December 2010 |

[Brussels, 8 December 2010] We are pleased that the EPSCO Council supported our call and has decided to extend the title for the proposed European Year 2012 to “Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations”.
We welcome the objectives of the Year, i.e. “to encourage and support the efforts of Member States, their regional and local authorities, social partners, civil society and the business community to promote active ageing and to do more to mobilise the potential of the rapidly growing (...) Read more