European & International News

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

European & International News
Decisions in Brussels

Ever wondered how?

Posted on 23 October 2013 |

(Brussels, 22 October) The European Women’s Lobby and other Brussels based advocacy and lobby groups have been mapped by the New York Times. In an article called ’Clustering Near the Seat of Power’ the newspaper maps the organisations that have signed the transparency register. More than 5,700 corporations, lobbying firms, law firms and nonprofit groups have joined a registry of institutions that lobby the European Union, of which about 2,000 have offices in Brussels.
“As the European Union (...) Read more
European & International News
Almost all abord for women on boards!

Vote passes 40 for, 9 against and 2 abstentions

Posted on 14 October 2013 |

(Brussels 14 October) From the European Commission’s Press Release
The European Parliament’s Committees on Legal Affairs (JURI) and Women’s Rights & Gender Equality (FEMM) have today voted (40 for, 9 against and 2 abstentions) to support a proposal by the European Commission to address the gender imbalance on company boards in Europe. With this vote, the European Parliament (which decides with the Council of Ministers on an equal footing on this proposal), paves the way for further (...) Read more
European & International News
Your health matters!

EWL members NWCI celebrate International Day of the Girl

Posted on 11 October 2013 |

(Brussels 11 October) One third of young women avoid doctor due to fear of not being treated well - NWCI’s The Y Factor launches "Your Health Matters" Campaign To celebrate International Day of the Girl, today, The Y Factor, National Women’s Council of Ireland’s youth initiative, will launch Your Health Matters, a health information campaign run by and for young women that aims to build positive attitudes to young women and their health.
Deirdre McCaughey, 26 from Monaghan and volunteer with (...) Read more
European & International News
International Day of the Girl 2013: Leyla Hussein shares her story

Posted on 11 October 2013 |

(Brussels 11 October) Leyla Hussein is a survivor of FGM. She now lives in the UK, and shares her story with the Independentnewspaper. Leyla is an activist, co-founder of Daughters of Eve and an inspirational woman and here shares her story of how she experienced Female Genital Mutilation when she was a young girl, aged only six years of age, and how this particular formative event has stayed with her for the rest of her life. The END FGM Campaign is run by Amnesty International and Leyla (...) Read more
European & International News
Nobel prize for peace awarded to chemical weapons watchdog

Posted on 11 October 2013 |

(Oslo 11 October) The Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. Among the short list for the prestigious award included Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai shot by the Taliban in the Swat Valley for her vocal and international (...) Read more
European & International News
Trafficking in Human Beings and Gender – the EU Perspective

Posted on 11 October 2013 |

(Brussels, 30 September 2013) EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström delivered a statement at the Ministerial Round Table concluding the Inter-ministerial conference: "The New York Convention 65 years later: observations and new perspectives", co-organized by Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and Minister for Home Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Joëlle Milquet and the Minister for Women’s Rights of France, Najat Vallaud Belkacem in Brussels on 30 September 2013. In her speech (...) Read more
European & International News
Malala Yousafzai - winner of the Sakharov Prize 2013

Posted on 11 October 2013 |

(European Parliament, 10 October 2013) Pakistani campaigner for girls’ education Malala Yousafzai is the laureate of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2013, following today’s decision of the Conference of Presidents (EP President and political group leaders). She will be invited to receive the award at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 20 November.
"By awarding the Sakharov Prize to Malala Yousafzai, the European Parliament acknowledges the incredible strength of this young woman. Malala (...) Read more
European & International News
When will abortion become legal for women in Northern Ireland?

New Statesman journalist tackles the issue

Posted on 10 October 2013 |

Frances Perraudin writing for New Statesman asks when will abortion become legal for women in Northern Ireland?
(Brussels 10 October) When will abortion become legal for women in Northern Ireland?
Protestors gathering for the International Day for the Decriminalization of Abortion want better reproductive rights for women in developing countries, but few are aware of the problems faced by women in Northern Ireland. By Frances Perraudin Published 28 September 2013 10:00
When Suzanne Lee, (...) Read more
European & International News
13 missed opportunities for intervention that may have saved Savita’slife

An ‘appalling indictment of State failure’

Posted on 10 October 2013 |

(Brussels 10 October) The Irish Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
It concluded that the ’findings of this investigation reflect a failure in the provision of the most basic elements of patient care to Savita Halappanavar and also the failure to recognise and act upon signs of her clinical deterioration in a timely and appropriate manner.
The Authority identified, through a review of Savita Halappanavar’s healthcare record, a number of missed opportunities which, had they been (...) Read more
European & International News
Ada Lovelace Day - women in science and technology - 15 October

Celebrating women who

Posted on 10 October 2013 |

(Brussels 10 October) Help us celebrate the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths around the world by sharing your photos and stories. Ada Lovelace, Analyst (& Metaphysician)
In 1848, in her notes, Ada described how codes could be created for devices to handle letters and symbols along with numbers. She also theorized a method for the engine to repeat a series of instructions, a process known as looping that computer programs use today. For her work, Ada (...) Read more