European & International News

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European & International News
EWL welcomes Council of Europe Multiannual Gender Equality Strategy

Posted on 14 November 2013 |

[Brussels, 13 November] The European Women’s Lobby welcomes news from the Gender Equality Commission of the Council of Europe this week. The Committee of Ministers adopted the Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy for the years 2014-2017. This marks the beginning of a new period of building on the groundwork that has already been laid, and continuing to advance the gender equality agenda in Europe!
According to our correspondent, the Strategy emanates from an unprecedented mobilisation (...) Read more
European & International News
New indicators to monitor progress of EU2020 strategy for "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth"

Posted on 12 November 2013 |

[Brussels, 4 November 2013] New indicators for monitoring the EU2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth were announced in a press release from the Eurostat office on 29 October 2013.
Their flagship publication entitled Smarter, greener, more inclusive? - Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy serves to compliment policy monitoring efforts by providing statistical data relevant to each area of the EU2020 strategy, namely employment, research & development, (...) Read more
European & International News
Sign the German petition "Call against the system of prostitution"

Posted on 12 November 2013 |

[Brussels, 12 November 2013] The German magazine EMMA has launched this week a petition, supported by 90 celebrities, calling for the abolition of the system of prostitution in Germany. A common letter has been sent to Chancellor Merkel, asking for a change of legislation: "Germany has become Europe’s hub for trafficking of women and a paradise for sex tourists from neighboring countries". The letter states that the system of prostitution updates the traditional and growing inequalities (...) Read more
European & International News
Call for statements 52nd Session of the UN Commission for Social Development (Deadline 15 November)

Posted on 30 October 2013 |

The 52nd Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD) will meet at United Nations Headquarters in New York under the priority theme "Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social integration and full employment and decent work for all". This year will be devoted to the policy segment of the cycle.
Information for NGOs submitting written statements for the 52nd Session of the Commission for Social Development.
Only NGOs in General and Special (...) Read more
European & International News
Northern Ireland lifestyles "could fuel human trafficking"

Article published on UTV on Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Posted on 30 October 2013 |

[Brussels, 30 October 2013] The EWL is closely following the developments in Northern Ireland regarding the legislation on prostitution and trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation. The article below presents an exhibition addressing the consequences of human trafficking and exploitation, and displayed at the Northern Ireland Assembly, in Belfast.
Northern Ireland lifestyles ’could fuel human trafficking’
An exhibition highlighting the consequences of human trafficking and (...) Read more
European & International News
UN Security Council Takes a Historic Stand Supporting Abortion Access for Women Raped in War

Posted on 24 October 2013 |

(Press release, The Global Justice Center, New York, 18 October 2013) In an historic first, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a ground-breaking resolution supporting abortion services for girls and women raped in armed conflict. Although the Security Council did not use the term “abortion” in Resolution 2122, its language makes clear that Member States and the UN must ensure that all options are given women impregnated by war rape: “noting the need for access to the full (...) Read more
European & International News
UN Women campaign highlights search results bias - Women should.....

Posted on 24 October 2013 |

(Brussels, 22 October 2013) Internet search giant Google is an online repository for many things, but a recent campaign run by UN Women is highlighting deeply ingrained sexism that is present online.
Searching google today, using ’women should’ and ’women should not’ as terms, we found the following search results come up as most popular.
UN Women is running this advertising campaign to highlight the clear and present sexism. A series of ads, developed as a creative idea for UN Women by Memac (...) Read more
European & International News
7th EU Anti-Trafficking Day Addresses the Links between the Internet and Trafficking in Human Beings

Posted on 24 October 2013 |

(Vilnius, 18 October 2013) In order to mark the Seventh EU Anti-Trafficking Day, the Lithuanian Presidency and European Commission organised a conference entitled "Exploring the Links between the Internet and Trafficking in Human Beings: Cyberspace for Prevention, not Recruitment"in Vilnius on 18th October 2013.
On this occasion, experts from different governments, law enforcement, national rapporteurs or equivalent mechanisms, civil society organisations and academics, as well as the (...) Read more
European & International News
MEPs vote overwhelmingly to support measures to shut down trafficking

Statement by the Immigrant Council of Ireland

Posted on 24 October 2013 |

(Strasbourg, 23 October 2013) An overwhelming vote by MEPs for measures to shut down a €25 billion human trafficking trade must be followed by concrete action at both National and EU level, according to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
The Council is welcoming the vote of 526 to 25 to support measures including the targeting of those who use trafficking victims for sexual and labour exploitation.
The European Parliament report said 270,000 people a year are being trafficked within the EU (...) Read more
European & International News
First-ever asylum case for victim of human trafficking and prostitution

By thinkSPAIN , Monday, October 21, 2013

Posted on 23 October 2013 |

(Press Release, Think Spain, 23 October) Spain has for the first time ever granted asylum to a woman who fell victim to human traffickers.
The Nigerian lady was brought over to Spain on a patera, or sailing boat loaded with African immigrants of the same type as those which recently capsized off the shores of the Italian island of Lampedusa.
She was forced into prostitution to pay a ’debt’ of 20,000 euros she discovered she had incurred with the mafia-style racket which had forced her into (...) Read more