EWL News

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

EWL News
EWL members contribute to appeal to ECJ against forced sterilisation of women with mental disabilities

Posted on 8 September 2011 |

[Brussels, 08 September 2011] The European Disability Forum, an EWL European member organisation, has been active in a coalition of human rights groups speaking out against the practice of forced sterilisation of women with mental disabilities in France in a case presented to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
In news released by the Mental Disability Advocacy Centre, on the 16 August, the Center for Reproductive Rights, European Disability Forum, Interights, International Disability (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL members in Hungary organise conference on prostitution and trafficking

Posted on 8 September 2011 |

[Brussels, 08 September 2011] MONA Foundation for the Women of Hungary, member of the Hungarian Women’s Lobby, is organising a conference on prostitution and trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation on 23 September in Budapest. Sexual exploitation and trafficking to this end of primarily women and girls is occurring on a large scale within Hungary, while many Hungarian women and girls are trafficked out of Hungary to other countries in Europe such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, (...) Read more
EWL News
Slovenia - EWL members’ activism in solidarity with women of Poland and Russia on reproductive rights

Posted on 6 September 2011 |

[Brussels, 06 September 2011] The Women’s Lobby of Slovenia and their members recently organised two protests in solidarity with the women in Russia and Poland, where there are serious attempts in the parliament to diminish their right to legal and safe abortion.
These rights are threatened by radical conservative political forces and christian religious fundamentalism. Protests took place on 06 September 2011 at 12.00 and 13.30 in front of the Russian and Polish embassies in Ljubljana. (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL issues Statement calling for decisive action by companies and the EU for parity on company boards

Posted on 1 September 2011 |

[Brussels, 01 September 2011] In a context of increased debate and attention surrounding the benefits of binding measures for the participation of women in decision-making in the private sector, the EWL has issued a Statement on ’EU Legislation for the Equal Representation of Women and Men on Corporate Boards’. At present, women represent just 12% of board members and less than 3% of company chairs in Europe. Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, has given companies until (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL writes to Heads of Political Groups in the EP urging nominations of more women for top posts in January 2012

Posted on 1 September 2011 |

[Brussels, 02 September 2011] In January 2012, the European Parliament will hold mid-term elections for the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Parliamentary Committees, as well as for a new parliamentary Bureau. The EWL has this week dispatched letters to the Heads of the Political Groups in the European Parliament urging them to ensure an equal number of women and men are nominated for these positions, with the aim of reaching parity in decision-making positions within the of the Institution. (...) Read more
EWL News
Pregnancy and Maternity leave – Are women paying the price of the financial and economic crisis?

Posted on 31 August 2011 |

[Brussels, 31 August 2011] The EWL recently reported the case of a woman in Belgium who was rewarded six months pay when the Court ruled that she was discriminated against as a result of her pregnancy after her initial short term contract was not renewed. The article also highlighted the fact that the Belgian Institute for Equality between Women and Men had registered 42 complaints related to pregnancy/maternity in 2010 alone.
This information cohorts with the information collated in the (...) Read more
EWL News
EWL thanks Eva-Britt Svensson for her outstanding contribution to advancing women’s rights as Chair of the European Parliament’s FEMM Committee

Posted on 31 August 2011 |

[Brussels, 31 August 2011] The EWL has greeted the news of the resignation of Ms. Eva-Britt Svensson from the European Parliament due to health issues with great regret.
Commenting on The Parliament.com, EWL Secretary General Cécile Gréboval said that the contribution of Ms. Svensson to advancing women’s rights has been tremendous during her time as Chair of the Women’s Rights Committee in the European Parliament.
"Ms Svensson was able, thanks to her skills, commitment and expertise to (...) Read more
EWL News
Belgium - EWL members launch ’AUWCH (Ouch!) Award’ for sexist talk or behaviour and compete for advertising space

Posted on 22 August 2011 |

[Brussels, 22 August 2011] The Nederlandstalige Vrouwenraad, EWL member organisation in Belgium, has launched a ’painful prize for sexist talk or behaviour’: the AUWCH (Ouch!) Award.
The AUWCH Award rewards persons or organisations which ‘brace the glass ceiling, reject quota laws, keep women’s salaries low and inequality high’. We invite anyone who has experienced or seen discriminations or sexisms to nominate the responsible actor for the AUWCH Award through the dedicated website: (...) Read more
EWL News
Portugal - EWL members publish CEDAW shadow report

Posted on 18 August 2011 |

[Brussels, 17 August 2011] The EWL Coordination in Portugal, the Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights, has published its shadow report prepared for the 42nd CEDAW Session, for the country report about Portugal.
The publication is composed of two parts: The main part contains the shadow report and the recommendations of the CEDAW Committee to Portugal and an explanatory interview with Regina Tavares da Silva, member of the Platform and ex-expert of the Committee. The leaflet has articles (...) Read more
EWL News
WAGGGS partner with UN Women in global campaign to stop violence against girls

Posted on 17 August 2011 |

[Brussels, 16 August 2011] Girls in every country across the world are being subjected to many forms of violence – this is wrong and must stop. Girls have the right to live free from violence and the fear of violence. They need to be aware of their rights – and find the voice to create a global movement to end violence.
EWL member organisation, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, is partnering with UN Women as part of our campaign to ‘Stop the violence. Speak out for girls’ (...) Read more