[Brussels, 27 January 2015] The European Women’s Lobby invites you to the official presentation of the publication ‘European Women’s Voice: Women’s Economic Independence in Times of Austerity. The need for a ‘Pink Deal’’
Wednesday 28 January 2015 – 17h-19h30
Venue – European Women’s Lobby offices – Rue Hydraulique 18 // 1210 Brussels
Tomorrow, on 28 January, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) will officially present its magazine European Women’s Voice dedicated to the theme Women’s Economic Independence in Times of Austerity.
Pink Deal
In this publication, EWL members from Greece, Scotland, Italy and Slovenia, academics and other authors attempt to unravel how ongoing austerity measures are impacting on women’s economic independence and lives and call for a new Pink Deal. This feminist economic model provides a new vision for society and the economy, for example by joining-the-dots between care and work, to enable both women and men to become equal participants in care and paid work throughout their lives.
“It is clear that austerity measures have had a huge impact on women’s employment, health, income, pensions and work-life balance. Austerity measures have proven to be failing citizens in general, and in particular, women. It is vital that women are seen as actors for change and development as we need a new economic model which requires the full participation of women in all areas of life,” states Joanna Maycock, Secretary-General of the EWL.
Post 2015
2015 is a window of opportunity to strengthen women’s rights throughout the world. 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals as well as the renewal of the European Commission’s own Strategy on Equality between women and men, all of which should firmly place women’s rights and gender equality at the centre of the European and international political agendas.
Also, the EWL draws on lessons from feminists from the Global South where structural adjustment programmes have proven that women bear the biggest brunt; we make it clear that business-as-usual policies are not an option.
Viviane Teitelbaum, EWL President. “We expect the European Union to take a leadership role in shaping a new world order where women’s rights are firmly anchored. As the publications shows, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments are vital to mitigate the long term consequences of austerity measures taken in Europe today.”
#PlayTheGame
Find out what it’s like to be a woman in Europe today on the board game attached to the European Women’s Voice magazine and make your way through life with the obstacles, bumps and solutions in times of austerity. #PlayTheGame
Each month during 2015, EWL focuses on one of the 12 interdependent 12 critical areas of concern in the BPFA. We kick-start this year in review with a focus on Women’s economic independence.
Link to magazine: http://bit.ly/1yXec13
For more information, interviews, background or visual materials, please contact Elvira Buijink, Communications and Media officer at European Women’s Lobby; Tel: +32 2 210 04 40; buijink@womenlobby.org, and see www.womenlobby.org.
Note to editors: The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the European Union (EU), working to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. EWL membership extends to organisations in all 28 EU Member States and three of the candidate countries, as well as to 21 European-wide organisations, representing a total of more than 2000 associations.
