EWL News

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

EWL News
First European Equal Pay Day must be followed by concrete targets and multidimensional strategy, says European Women’s Lobby

Posted on 3 March 2011 |

[Brussels, 04 March 2011] The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) today welcomed the launch of the first ever European Equal Pay Day that will in 2011 fall on Saturday 05 March, an initiative that already existed in many Member States and that is supported by women’s organisations. The concept of Equal Pay Day aims to illustrate the gap between women’s and men’s wages in Europe which stands currently at 17,5% : the average European woman would have to work until 5 March 2011 to earn the same income as (...) Read more
EWL News
ECJ ruling against sex discrimination in insurances key victory for women’s rights, say civil society organisations

EWL/AGE Joint Press Release

Posted on 2 March 2011 |

[Brussels, 02 March 2011] The European Court of Justice (ECJ) yesterday delivered its ruling in the Test-Achats case (C-236/09) concerning sex discrimination in insurance premiums. The EU’s highest Court ruled that different insurance premiums for women and men are not compatible with the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. Member States are not allowed to derogate from the principle of equality between women and men in their national legislation. The ‘opt out’ clause in the Council’s Directive (...) Read more
EWL News
EU Member States must guarantee equality by giving migrant women autonomous status, says EWL Associate Member, the European Network of Migrant Women

Posted on 28 February 2011 |

[Brussels, 28 February 2011] Officials, experts and representatives of civil society gathered today in Brussels for the launch of the third edition of the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), a long-term project which evaluates and compares what governments are doing to promote the integration of migrants in all EU Member States and several non-EU countries. Among the findings of the latest report is an issue of particular concern to the European Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW): few (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL calls for paternity leave as a precondition for more work-life balance for both women and men

Posted on 25 February 2011 |

[Brussels, 25 February 2011] On Tuesday 22 February, the EWL submitted its response to the European Commission’s Stakeholder Consultation on possible EU measures in the area of paternity leave. In its contribution, the EWL highlighted how EU measures in the area of paternity leave would be an important contribution to moving towards an equal share of care work between parents, to a more equal sharing of paid and unpaid work between women and men, and to the promotion of gender equality.
The (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL submits amendments to the CSW draft Conclusions

Posted on 24 February 2011 |

[New York, 24 February 2011] The European Women’s Lobby is currently actively contributing to the debate on the draft conclusions of the UN 2011 Commission on the Status of Women conclusions. Please find below the EWL amendments to the conclusions on “Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work”.
Draft presented by: Bureau of the Commission on the Status of (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL members in Turkey launch feminist publishing house

Posted on 23 February 2011 |

[Ankara, 23 February 2011] Ayizi Kitap Publishing House - the first feminist publishing house - was this week founded in Turkey by a number of influential feminists linked to the EWL. Ilknur Ustun - former country coordinator of the EWL in Turkey, Selma Acuner - former delegate to the EWL Administrative Board from Turkey - and Akus Bora - well-known feminist academic and activist - are the founders of the publishing house. In addition, Ms Hatice Simten Cosar, member of the EWL Board of (...) Read more
EWL News
European Disability Forum awaits implementation of EU commitments

EWL members’ news

Posted on 22 February 2011 |

[EDF, Brussels, 21 February 2011] Leaders of the European disability movement debated during the weekend about the main issues that European Union institutions will be dealing with in the upcoming months. These were formed after very decisive developments in disability rights legislation and policies in 2010. European citizens are feeling the effects of the financial crisis in their everyday lives and we want to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are protected and promoted (...) Read more
EWL News
Does Italy fear women’s financial power? EWL Coordination in Italy reacts to attempts to block legal quotas for women’s representation on company boards

Posted on 21 February 2011 |

[Rome, 18 February 2011] The Italian Coordination which represents twenty among the major national women’s associations, networks and groups within the European Women’s Lobby in Brussels, expresses its criticism about what is happening Italy in last days.
The very recent attempt by Confindustria (Entrapreneurs’ National Association), ABI (National Banks’ Association) and ANIA (National Insurances’s Association) along with 53 amendments, to the draft law in matters of quotas on the Boards of (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL joins other NGOs in requesting Consultation on EU Roma Strategy

Posted on 17 February 2011 |

[Brussels, 15 February 2011] A group of European and Hungarian Romani and non-Romani organisations sent a letter to the Hungarian government, currently holding the EU presidency, and the European Commission, appealing for open consultation with NGOs on EU Roma policy related initiatives. Brigitte Triems, EWL President, co-signed the letter on behalf of the organisation.
Recognising the important commitment of the Hungarian Presidency and the European Commission to developing a European (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL delighted at acquittal of Pinar Selek - extends support for continuing struggle

Posted on 11 February 2011 |

[Brussels, 11 February 2011] The EWL and the EWL Coordination in Turkey are delighted at the news of the acquittal of Turkish feminist activist Pinar Selek. In June 2010, the EWL adopted an Emergency Motion at its General Assembly calling for support for Pinar Selek. The EWL and its membership will continue to extend this support through any further proceedings faced by Ms. Selek. Below, read the EWL Emergency Motion, and an article by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights on (...) Read more