Press releases

Press release microphone icon For more info, background information, quotes or visual materials, or to organise an interview with our staff or members, do not hesitate to contact the EWL Communications and Media Officer Elvira Buijink via buijink@womenlobby.org.

  • Press releases

    Signed but not sealed, women’s rights activists tell UN

    1 March 2010

    Posted on 1 March 2010 |

    Campaigners call for urgent action to launch the new UN women’s agency
    Women’s rights and antipoverty organizations gathered in New York ahead of the annual meeting of the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women called on governments to deliver on past promises to create a UN-led women agency. Following years of discussions and pressure from activists, governments agreed in September 2009 to create a new women’s agency. Since then, no concrete actions have been taken, campaigners (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Need to face up to structural nature of male violence against women, says European Women’s Lobby

    17 February 2010

    Posted on 17 February 2010 |

    If the future convention of the Council of Europe fails to address the structural phenomenon of male violence against women, the European Women’s Lobby won’t be in a position to support it.
    A few days before a new meeting of the CAHVIO (Ad Hoc Committee on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) in Strasbourg (22-24 February), the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) delivers a strong message to all Council of Europe countries. An observer to the CAHVIO, the EWL extends (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Women’s organisations dispute ‘good news’ of nomination of nine women to new Commission and point to gender stereotyping in the distribution of the portfolios

    7 December 2009

    Posted on 7 December 2009 |

    Over the last few weeks, the 27 men and one woman who make up the European Council have been heartily congratulating themselves on their supposed sensitivity to equality between women and men and the fairness they demonstrated in appointing a number of women to top positions in the Council of the European Union and Commission. The European Women’s Lobby (EWL), representing more than 2500 women’s associations from across Europe, feels that congratulations are not quite in order.
    ‘This is not (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Prostitution in Europe: 60 Years of Reluctance

    1 December 2009

    Posted on 1 December 2009 |

    Sixty years ago, December 2, 1949, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. Since then, 74 countries have ratified it, including 18 of the 27 member countries of the European Union. ‘Prostitution and the accompanying evil of the traffic in persons for the purpose of prostitution are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person and endanger the welfare of the individual, the (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Women’s NGOs demand European action to end male violence against women

    25 November 2009

    Posted on 25 November 2009 |

    On the International Day on the eradication of violence against women, women’s NGOs call for a strong Council of Europe (CoE) Convention on combating male violence against women. On 1-3 December, delegates from the 47 CoE countries will meet in Strasbourg to discuss the first draft of a new CoE convention aiming at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) warmly welcomes this text, that proves a strong political will to address (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Open letter to the EU Heads of Government ahead of the 19 November Brussels European Council

    19 November 2009

    Posted on 19 November 2009 |

    The European Union, democracy and fundamental rights for both women and men – one step forward, two steps back!!!
    Dear European Heads of Government,
    You will this evening take the final decisions on the nominations for the so called ‘EU Top Jobs’, namely the President of the Council and EU foreign policy chief. Five among you will also be deciding on your choice of Commissioner.
    So far, these negotiations have proceeded ‘behind closed doors’, in a manner unbefitting to European democracy and (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    The new UN Special Representative on women in armed conflict should be a woman, says European Women’s Lobby

    30 October 2009

    Posted on 30 October 2009 |

    The United Nations Security Council on 30 September unanimously adopted Resolution 1888 mandating the Secretary General to appoint a Special Representative on women, peace and security.
    With rape being a widespread weapon of war, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the European Union, has warmly welcomed this move to give high-level political attention to this issue, and has written a letter to Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General, to (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Open letter to the EU Heads of State and Government ahead of the 29-30 October Brussels European Council

    26 October 2009

    Posted on 26 October 2009 |

    Is democratic representation of both women and men too much to ask for in 21st Century Europe?
    Dear European Heads of State and Government,
    We, representatives of more than 2500 women’s organisations from across the 27 European Union (EU) Member States and three EU candidate countries, write to remind you, our representatives, of your democratic duty to ensure that women are represented in the highest levels of European governance.
    It will be an exciting moment when you, as our elected (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Increased trafficking in women due to EU tolerance for the prostitutional system

    Posted on 13 October 2009 |

    Press Realease ahead of EU Anti-trafficking Day 18 October 2009
    According to the UN, 79% of trafficking in human beings is for sexual exploitation. Unsurprisingly therefore, more than 80% of these victims are women. To mark its third Anti-trafficking Day, the EU will hold a Ministerial conference on 19-20 October which will focus on global partnerships from a European security and justice perspective. Commenting on this upcoming event, Brigitte Triems, President of EWL, says: ‘The European (...) Read more

  • Press releases

    Rape is not a game!

    22 May 2009

    Posted on 22 May 2009 |

    The Amazon.com online sale of a Japanese rape simulator computer game called “RapeLay” has sparked strong reactions both amongst NGO’s and the press.
    This video game features a man whose aim is to track down and rape women and girls, mothers and their daughters, and to make them “enjoy” the experience. The player starts the game by attacking and raping a woman and her two little girls on the subway. The game also includes sexually assaulting each woman and girl on a train, as well as gang (...) Read more

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