Publications

Ticking Clocks - Alternative 2012 Country-Specific Recommendations to strenthen women’s rights and gender equality in the Europe 2020 Strategy (September 2012)

[Brussels, 11 January 2013] The EWL is pleased to announce the publication of the first edition of its “Ticking Clocks” report, which aims to provide input for the European Commission annual drafting of recommendations to the Member States in socio-economic policies. The report has been drafted with the input of the EWL’s member organisations and is the first of many as the EWL continues to monitor, assess and propose recommendations to strengthen women’s rights and gender equality in the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Since the introduction of the European Semester as a means to implement the Europe 2020 Strategy (2010), economic governance has taken a predominant place on the European stage, with the result that gender equality as a specific objective has slipped off the political agenda. This is also reflected in the Europe 2020 Strategy where there is no specific objective to achieve gender equality. Instead, there is an implicit assumption that women and men are at the same starting point on the labour market as one of the objectives aims to reach an employment target rate of 75% by 2020 for both women and men. While the Europe 2020 Strategy is the overarching signpost aiming to lead the EU towards a smart, competitive and inclusive economy, economic governance is blurring the way forward as economic policies and strategies are becoming more disconnected from the real lives of women and men throughout the EU.

The stakes are high as the economic and financial crisis and subsequent austerity measures are hitting women hard. The impact of the recession on women is likely to become more acute over time as the effects of labour-market shifts are increasingly felt within households, and cuts in public expenditure affect public services and the many women who work in them and use them. The recession is having a significant and damaging impact on specific groups of women who face multiple disadvantages: young and the elderly, migrants and ethnic minorities, the low-skilled, those with short-term contracts, single mothers, women in rural areas, those aged over 45, women with disabilities and women returning to work after childbirth.

The following report gives a voice to the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) member organisations with regards to their analysis of and recommendations for a more gender sensitive Europe 2020 strategy. This is the first year that the EWL’s members have engaged in this way and it can be expected that this will continue to be the case until meaningful consultation and structural changes are carried out which are fully inclusive of women.

The members of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) drafted ‘alternative’ country-specific recommendations, on the basis of an analysis of the National Reform Programmes (NRPs). This is their response to bridging a democratic gap which is happening as tensions arise between, on the one hand, pressure on Member States to severely reduce public deficits and, on the other hand, the absence of a full gender equality analysis (as well as a social impact analysis) to ascertain the impact of public deficit reductions on (in)equality between women and men as well as the impact on increasing inequalities, poverty and social exclusion as a direct result of austerity. While it cannot be denied that the socio-economic impact is part of a global crisis, women’s contribution to moving out of the crisis should not be underestimated. In fact, there will be no future vision if women continue to be on the margins of economic power and decision-making. This requires more stringent and coherent gender equality objectives, targets and strategies across the broad spectrum of macro and socio economic policies.

• Download the EWL report: Ticking Clocks: “Alternatice 2012 Country-Specific Recommendations to strengthen women’s rights and gender equality in the Europe 2020 Strategy” in pdf format

The Price of Austerity: The Impact on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Europe (Oct 2012)

[Brussels, 14 November 2012] The findings of the EWL study, The price of austerity – the impact on women’s rights and gender equality in Europe , reveal that while austerity measures are hurting women, men, girls and boys across the European Union (EU), women are particularly hit the hardest. Because public sector employment and public services concern women to a far greater extent than men, any change in the public sector will impact on women more. Austerity measures that seek to reduce public deficits by cutting public sector jobs, services and benefits directly impact on women. Narrowing gender gaps in employment, unemployment and pay are not to be interpreted as growing gender equality but rather a deterioration of the working and living conditions for all.

Not a he-cession after all...the untold story behind the statistics

As predicated in the previous joint EWL/Oxfam publication in 2010, Women’s poverty and social exclusion at a time of recession – An invisible crisis?, the first ‘wave’ of the crisis was a private sector crisis which impacted more on the male dominated sectors of the economy (car industry..), the extension of the crisis to the public sector impacts on women more.

Based on a survey of EWL member organisations as well as other sources, the study maps the pattern of the impact of austerity measures on women and gender equality. Focusing on three areas, namely, cuts in public sector jobs and wages, cuts in services and benefits and cuts in funding for women’s rights and gender equality the findings reveal that the crisis is not a he-cession after all, as the official statistics do not tell the full story. For example, while women’s unemployment rate is close to that of men’s, statistics fail to capture the fact that when women become unemployed they tend to withdraw from the labour-market or as involuntary part-time workers they are counted as being employed. Cuts in public services and benefits translate into a care crisis, as reductions in care services, cuts in child, disability, carers’ benefits and reductions in tax credits, are translating into the privatisation of care. Cuts in statutory leave, including parental and paternity leave, are preventing men from taking their share of care, with the result that women’ real choices to engage in paid work on the labour market are compromised.

Return to the past?

The EWL study questions the long term impact of austerity measures on women’s rights and gender relations, particularly equality between women and men. The impact of austerity measures could roll back years of progress. Women’s employment rate in 22 countries is back to 2005 levels, a far cry - which will require massive investments – from the EU’s headline target to reach a 75% employment rate for women and men by 2020. When States fail to provide public services and reassess their role in income and wealth distribution, women pay the price. More worryingly gender equality is damaged as the danger of a return to entrenched traditional gender roles and expectations put women’s economic independence seriously at risk.

Silencing women’s voices

The erosion of gender equality institutional mechanisms at national level, coupled with reductions in funding to women’s NGOs, especially those providing vital services, the demand for which is increasing in times of austerity, impacts on women’s capacity to respond in terms of service delivery, protection of women’s rights and advocacy. Austerity is silencing women’s voices.

Recommendations in the study call on Member States to safeguard vital services use gender impact analysis and gender budgeting tools. The European Commission must take a leadership role to halt the damage that is being done in recommending to Member States to reform labour markets and undertake social welfare reforms which are directly resulting in austerity measures. Finally, the study urgently invites women’s NGOs to engage in budgetary processes and to lobby finance ministers.

• Download The Price of Austerity by the European Women’s Lobby in PDF format

European Women’s Voice - Her Future: Intergenerational solidarity from a gender equality perspective (April 2012)

We are proud to share with you the Spring 2012 edition of the EWL’s magazine European Women’s Voice! This issue is dedicated to discussing intergenerational solidarity from a gender equality perspective and it is the EWL’s contribution to the ongoing European Year on Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

Until now, gender equality issues have not been at the core of the European debate on active ageing and solidarity between generations. The third edition of the European Women’s Voice, entitled ‘Her Future – Intergenerational solidarity from a gender equality perspective’, fills this gap and outlines a life-cycle approach to women’s rights and gender equality.

The articles of this edition of European Women’s Voice invite us to look at a range of gender equality issues from care to pay and pensions from a life-cycle perspective, with the aim of understanding and improving the situation of women at all stages of their lives. The publication also provides a stimulus for discussions on how women’s organisations can turn generational differences into a source of energy and new vision.

For more information and to order printed copies, contact the EWL Communications and Media Officer Leanda Barrington-Leach (barrington@womenlobby.org / (+32) 02/210 04 27).

‘Equal Rights. Equal Voices. Migrant women’s integration in the labour market in six European cities: A comparative approach’ (2012)

Joint research study by the EWL and the ENoMW

[Brussels, 05 April 2012] Targeted national and local policies make a difference in integrating migrant women to the labour market, reveals a new study by the European Women’s Lobby and the European Network of Migrant Women. These policies include, among other things, developing efficient systems for recognition of qualifications obtained by migrant women in third countries and the possibility of top-up training opportunities for those lacking certain competencies.

The study points out that too many well-qualified migrant women are employed in low paid jobs, especially in cleaning and caring. This means that despite the importance of these jobs, currently societies do not fully benefit of migrant women’s skills and qualifications.

The comparative report, entitled ‘Equal Rights. Equal Voices. Migrant women’s integration in the labour market in six European cities: a comparative approach’, helps us to understand the characteristics and particularities of the integration process of migrant’s women in EU in the field of employment and education.

It assesses the current situation and progress on migrant women’s integration into the labour market based on studies of six European Union (EU) cities: Athens, Dublin, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Madrid and Marseille. The study looks at the specific impact that local, regional and national integration policies have had on migrant women’s employment. It aims at opening up a debate on the specific gendered impact of integration policies, especially concerning their experiences of participation in the labour market.

Based on the analysis of what has already been done and of the still existing huge gaps, the study proposes how legislation and other policies could be made more effective for the benfit of migrant women and as a consequence the whole society– both at the EU level and at national level.

The findings of the EWL and ENoMW’s study can help us to reach an increase of skilled migrant women into appropriate work and to make the formal labour market more accessible for less- qualified migrant women.

Women on Boards in Europe: From a Snail’s Pace to a Giant Leap? (2012)

EWL Report on Progress, Gaps and Good Practice

[Brussels, 29 February 2012] Decisive intervention makes a difference in increasing the representation of women in company boards, reveals the European Women’s Lobby’s new report on progress, gaps and good practice as regard to women on boards in Europe.

The report, entitled ‘Women on Boards in Europe – From a Snail’s Pace to a Giant Leap?’ assessess the current situation and progress in ten European countries. It provides a comprehensive overview of the measures adopted in the recent years at national level to increase the representation of women in the boardrooms.

Based on the analysis of what has already been done, the report proposes how legislation and other policies could be made more effective – both at the EU level and at national level.

The findings of the EWL’s report can help us reach equal representation of women and men in boardrooms across Europe - sooner than in the 50 years time it would take with the current rate of progress.

Download the EWL report here.

Lobbying Kit - EU Directive on the right to family reunification in Europe: What is at stake for migrant women? (January 2012)

[Brussels, 18 January 2012] In the context of the European Commission public consultation on the right to family reunification, the European Network of Migrant Women and the European Women’s Lobby have launched a lobbying campaign that calls for gender-sensitive EU policies on family reunification.

The ENoMW and the EWL have produced a Lobbying Kit that helps organisations and individuals to get involved. The Lobbying Kit provides useful background information, and it offers several tools to effective lobbying for EU family reunification policies that uphold the rights and meet needs of migrant women.

We are calling on the European Commission to enforce the current EU Directive on the right to family reunification, rather than reopen legislative negotiations, which, given the current political climate, could be detrimental to migrants. In particular, we call on the EU and the member states to ensure the Directive is implemented in a gender-sensitive manner.

Dowload the Lobbying Kit and join our call!

European Women’s Voice - Autumn 2011: ‘The other half of gender: feminism and men’s role in achieving equality’ (December 2011)

[Brussels, 23 December 2011] In October 2011, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) organised an inaugural seminar on the topic of men and feminism, which provided a forum for reflection on masculinities, anti-feminism, initiatives of feminist men and equality policies involving men. The aim of the seminar was to update ourselves on current thinking and action concerning men’s role in the struggle for gender equality, and to consider how we can work together to bring about a society founded upon feminist values.

This second edition of the European Women’s Voice, ‘The other half of gender: feminism and men’s role in achieving equality’, brings together the contributions of the speakers at the seminar and of other committed experts. We would like to thank them warmly for their expertise, availability and efforts. We have tried to make this publication enriching and interesting. For us, the issues raised inform our work for equality between women and men and the promotion of women’s rights in Europe. We hope you enjoy the articles within and that they provide stimulus for further discussion!

The seminar couldn’t have taken place without the support of the Institut pour l’Egalité des Femmes et des Hommes (Belgium) and Vleva, the liaison agency for Flanders-Europe. We thank them for their help.

Her Future... What’s it worth to you? (November 2011)

The EWL is delighted to announce the launch of its latest publication: ‘Her Future... What’s it worth to you?’. This report highlights the range of activities undertaken by the EWL and its members at local, regional, national, European and international levels over 2010-2011 and appeals for support for the cause of women’s rights and gender equality in Europe. Please consider what these values are worth to you and support the work of the EWL by becoming a Friend of the EWL and joining in our awareness-raising and lobby actions. We very much hope you will enjoy reading this publication, and will disseminate it widely among your friends and networks.

Family Reunion Legislation in Europe: Is it Discriminatory for Migrant Women? (2011)

By Eleonore Kofman
Social Policy Research Centre
Middlesex University, UK

© 2011 European Network of Migrant Women

Project coordinator: Selmin Çali?kan, European Women’s Lobby
Graphic design: Leanda E. Barrington-Leach, European Women’s Lobby
Cover photo: Dietmar Temps, Flickr

Download the publication in PDF format:

EWL Barometer: National Action Plans on Violence against Women in the EU (August 2011)

The European Women’s Lobby is pleased to unveil its 2011 Barometer on National Action Plans (NAPs) on violence against women.

Thanks to the work and expertise of the experts to the EWL Observatory on violence against women, the EWL has produced a strong policy document analysing NAPs on violence against women.

The Barometer aims to take stock of existing NAPs, voice NGO satisfaction with the consultation process held by their government when drafting/implementing/evaluating the NAPs, and highlight women’s organisations’ assessments of the NAPs in their countries.

The Barometer is a very important tool to get a European overview of national actions on violence against women and compare European countries with regards to their commitment to eradicate such violence.

EWL members and experts, as well as other women’s organisations, are invited to use it to push for concrete and comprehensive national action to eradicate all forms of male violence against women, as well as to put pressure on their governments to ensure that they consult NGOs at all levels of their policy processes.

The Barometer comes at a key time with regards to European policy developments on violence against women. The Council of Europe is finalising its third report on the implementation of Recommendation Rec(2002)5 on the protection of women against violence, based on a questionnaire sent to Council of Europe member states. The Council of Europe is about to adopt a Convention on combating and preventing violence against women and domestic violence. The European Council and the European Parliament have been calling for months on the European Commission to come up with a European Strategy to eradicate all forms of male violence against women.

In this context, the EWL Barometer reflects women’s organisations’ call for concrete policy action at European level to build a Europe free from all forms of male violence against women.

To download the Barometer in PDF format, click on the image below.