EWL News

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

EWL News
OBR 2014 in the European Parliament: on 12 February 2014, decision makers are rising for justice!

Posted on 6 February 2014 |

[Brussels, 12 February 2014] In the framework of the One Billion Rising (OBR) Global Campaign 2014, initiated by V-Day, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is organizing a unique event at the European Parliament, co-hosted by MEP Isabelle Durant, to raise awareness on violence against women.
In 2013, OBR was a huge success: one billion people in 207 countries rose and danced to demand an end to violence against women, including highly committed MEPs and Commissioners who took part in a (...) Read more
EWL News
International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, 6 February 2014

Posted on 5 February 2014 |

[Brussels 6 February 2014] The European Women’s Lobby recognises Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as one of the most extreme forms of violence against women and a violation of women’s human rights.
All forms of violence against women result from patriarchal structures, where men make decisions for women and girls, ‘punish’ them for ‘breaking the rules’, and make female family or community members agree on that situation.
As such, FGM stays in opposition to the principle of equality between women (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL members engaged on the European Week of Action to support women in Spain and Abortion rights in Europe

Posted on 5 February 2014 |

[Brussels, 5 February 2014] EWL members and partners organisations are organising activities all over Europe to show their support women in Spain and the right to access free and safe abortion in Europe.
The Belgium EWL members, CFFB and NVR, the French Coordination to the EWL, the Slovenian Women´s Lobby, Women’s Network Croatia, the EWL members in the UK, the Netherlands Council of Women, the Italian-LEF, the Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights, the Women´s Council of Denmark, the Swedish (...) Read more
EWL News
European Women’s Lobby invited to EP hearing on "Sexual exploitation and Prostitution - Its impact on gender equality"

Posted on 5 February 2014 |

[Brussels, 7 February 2014] The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) has been invited to present its work and the situation in Europe regarding prostitution, at a hearing organised by the S&D group on 19 February 2014 in the European Parliament. This hearing aims at feeding into the discussion of the Members of the European Parliament on the report of rapporteur Ms Honeyball, to be adopted in plenary the week of 24 February.
The EWL welcomes this event, which is important to bring relevant (...) Read more
EWL News
The European Women’s Lobby contributes to the consultation "The future of Home Affairs"

Posted on 4 February 2014 |

[Brussels, 4 February 2014] In January, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) contributed to the consultation of the European Commission (EC) on the future of Home Affairs. In its contribution, the EWL focused on three main issues: trafficking in women, violence against women, migration and asylum. Please click here to see all contributions submitted to the EC, including EWL’s contribution.
The EWL is happy to see its members and partners’s contributions (including of the European Network of (...) Read more
EWL News
More than 2000 people joined the demonstration to support abortion rights in Spain and Europe!

Posted on 31 January 2014 |

[Brussels, 30 January 2014] More than 2000 people gathered together in Brussels to protest against the new draft bill to restrict the abortion in Spain and demand access to abortion everywhere in Europe. The European Women´s Lobby want to thank all the participants who joined and expressed their solidarity with the women in Spain and Europe.
The demonstration, co-organised by the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the European Humanist Federation (EFH), the Platform “Abortion Rights”, the (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL at Industry All European Trade Union Equal Opportunities Working Group

Posted on 31 January 2014 |

[Brussels, 30 January, 2014] At the annual conference in Frankfurt of IndustryAll European Trade Union Equal Opportunities Working Group, Lisa Hult from the European Women’s Lobby presented the effects austerity policies are having on women in Europe as well as the work that the EWL is doing in this area, such as producing alternative Country Specific Recommendations for the European Semester. The presentation, and the EWLs video-clip on austerity, was well received and set off a unique (...) Read more
EWL News
European conference highlights women’s rights violations related to mail order bride

Posted on 30 January 2014 |

[Brussels, 29 January 2014] The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) took part in a very interesting discussion on the issue of mail order bride, on 29 January 2014 in the European Parliament. Hosted by MEP Britta Thomsen and organised by the NGO Oasis, the event aimed at looking at the impact of the business of International Marriage Brokers (IMB) on women’s rights. EWL Interim Coordinator Pierrette Pape explained how the trivilisation of such business leads to violations of women’s rights.
Indeed, (...) Read more
EWL News
Getting ready for One Billion Rising Brussels Europe: 14 February 2014!

Posted on 30 January 2014 |

[Brussels, 23 January 2013] One Billion Rising Brussels Platform has met this week to keep working on the organisation of the event that will take place on the 14 February 2014 in Brussels, in front of the Palais de Justice.
The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) works hand to hand with its Belgian members, le Conseil des Femmes Francophones de Belgique (CFFB) and the Nederlandstalige Vrouwenraad (NVR) in the organisation of this extraordinary Brussels event of the One Billion Rising Global (...) Read more
EWL News
The complex and emotive debate on abortion in Europe

Euronews, U Talk, 24 January 2014

Posted on 30 January 2014 |

In this edition of U-Talk we hear both sides of the debate argument on abortion
Julie in Paris asks: “The U-turn by the Spanish government on abortion is seen by some as a backwards step for womens’ rights in Europe. What do you think?”
The first response is from Virginie Mercier of the French- based anti-abortion campaign March for Life.
“The issue of abortion is not only about women’s rights but it’s about the right of the unborn child. The child in utero already has his/her own freedom, (...) Read more