European & International News

International news globe All the latest news from the European Union, its member states, and beyond.

European & International News
Ireland: The Shame and the Pain – the failure of the State in its duty of care

Posted on 19 September 2014 |

[Brussels, 18 September 2014] On Tuesday the 9 September, an emotional and deeply disturbing public hearing was held in the European Parliament with a delegation of Irish women who experienced institutional abuse in “Mother and Baby” homes, throughout Ireland (north and south) by state-funded institutions run by religious orders.
The Public Hearing organised by MEP Martina Anderson (GUE/NGL), heard survivors tell their painful stories of being forced to give their children for adoption at a (...) Read more
European & International News
UK: Delivering for women globally: Womankind’s vision for the next UK Government

Posted on 18 September 2014 |

[London, 18 September 2014] A new Womankind policy briefing, launched in September 2014, calls on the incoming Government to ensure that its internationally-focused work delivers for women.
Today, Womankind is launching a new policy briefing to outline how the next UK government can and must deliver for women after the upcoming general election.
The briefing, entitled “ Delivering for women globally: Womankind’s vision for the next UK Government”, outlines priority actions to address the (...) Read more
European & International News
The Economist Is Just Plain Wrong

Article of Helen Rubenstein, Advocates for Human Rights

Posted on 11 September 2014 |

[Advocates for Human Rights, September 2014] An editorial from The Economist, “Prostitution and the internet: More bang for your buck,” contends that the internet offers the solution to the social ills associated with prostitution. Despite the magic of the internet and the appeal of a classic free-market analysis, our work at The Advocates for Human Rights combating sex trafficking has shown that prostitution is not and never will be a normal service industry. The Economist’s analysis purports (...) Read more
European & International News
UN Women Beijing+20 campaign: women and the economy

Posted on 5 September 2014 |

[September 2014] In 2015, the Beijing Platform for Action runs 20. As part of UN Women’s Beijing+20 campaign, this month’s focus is on the Women and the Economy. You can find more information on UN Women Beijing+20 website: facts and figures, take the quizz!, interview with Christine Lagarde, news from the world and videos, resources.
Many doors have opened. Women today are farmers, factory workers, CEOs of companies, scientists, engineers, doctors, and hold many other jobs that may have (...) Read more
European & International News
Germany: "Prostitution - who gives advice to our government?"

Article published in EMMA, on 4 September 2014

Posted on 5 September 2014 |

[EMMA, 4 September 2014] After publishing our investigation on the "whores" who give advices to our government concerning the change to prostitution law, canadian-based blogger and writer Sabine C. Becker translated our article into English immediately. Here is her translation.
In the middle of the summer, BILD.de came out with the provocative headline: “These Whores are Government Advisors”. And then readers who were so inclined found out that the “whores”, Johanna Weber (46) and Fabienne (...) Read more
European & International News
Jimmy Carter Urges Ireland to Take the Lead against Trafficking and Prostitution

Posted on 2 September 2014 |

[Brussels, 2 September 2014] Former US president Jimmy Carter has called on Ireland to take a lead in introducing legislation to target the buyers of sex. In letters to the Taoiseach (head of government), the Minister for Justice and all members of the Oireachtas (parliament), Mr Carter urged politicians to act with a "sense of urgency" to protect prostituted women and girls.
Backing a recommendation made by the Oireachtas Committee on Justice last year to criminalise those who purchase (...) Read more
European & International News
Germany: Abolition 2014 denounces the lobby of the sex industry towards the federal government

Posted on 25 August 2014 |

Press release on the hearing of the BMFSFJ [German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth] about the regulation of the prostitution industry on 12 June 2014, published on 26 June 2014 (1)
On 12 June 2014, the BMFSFJ held a hearing on the planned reform of the prostitution law in order to gain a "comprehensive picture" on the subject. The hearing was held behind closed doors. Already in advance, the public had been left in the dark about whom the Federal (...) Read more
European & International News
International Youth Day 2014: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights matter for Young People’s Mental Health!

Posted on 25 August 2014 |

[Brussels, 25 August 2014] August 12 was International Youth Day. You can read below the press release As a result of various intersecting factors,[2] young people in the Global South, particularly young women and girls, often have little or no access to SRH information and services, and experience unintended or unwanted pregnancies. In turn, adolescents and young women aged 15-24 account for 40% of all unsafe abortions worldwide, and three million unsafe abortions occur every year among (...) Read more
European & International News
The Istanbul Convention to protect women against all forms of violence enters into force!

Posted on 31 July 2014 |

EWL welcomes the entry in to force on the 1st of August of the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
Known also as the “Istanbul Convention”, this convention obliges governments that have ratified it to counter all forms of violence against women. They will have to take specific steps to fight rape and sexual violence, stalking, sexual harassment, domestic violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
EWL has been (...) Read more
European & International News
Girl Summit 2014, to put an end to violence against Girls!

Posted on 24 July 2014 |

(London, 22 July 2014) On 22 July, the UK government and UNICEF hosted the first Girl Summit, aimed at mobilising domestic and international efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation. To get concrete change, the girl Summit has launched a pledge for everyone to support. Watch the video “What does freedom mean to you?”, produced to support the Girl Summit.
10 reasons to watch it! #Freedomls
Child, early and forced marriage affects (...) Read more