Press release by EWL
The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) expresses grave concern over the systemic violations of and backlash against women’s rights in Europe and the world and calls on political leaders to step up their actions.
During its General Assembly (GA) meeting held in Brussels on 7-8 June, EWL adopted five Statements on the situation of women in Gaza, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. We condemn the appalling violations of women’s human rights in these countries, which remain invisible in the face of war, conflict, and systematic oppression; women are leaders of change and must be in the driving seat to rebuild peaceful societies. In addition, four motions were adopted relating to the backlash, the repression of protestors in Serbia, access to abortion rights and the condemnation of the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war.
Newly elected EWL President, Dina Loghin, states, “the time has come for women’s voices to be heard, to speak out against the ultimate expression of patriarchy namely the rise in tensions, conflicts and war in a world in turmoil, rolling back progress made in achieving women’s rights and gender equality of the past decades. This is intolerable and we will not stand by silently, we want action NOW!”
Dina Loghin was elected as President, along with Vice Presidents Edite Kalnina and Anne Negre, Treasurer Maria José Landeira Østergård, and members Teresa Nevado, Daniela Dimitrievska, and Marion Boeker.
Together, they form the Executive Committee that will oversee EWL’s activities for the next two years.
The EWL will forward and address the key messages in the five Statements and four motions to EU political leaders in the coming days, as well as to the international community. These include the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the European Parliament, the EU High Level Representative, the EU Presidencies (Poland, Denmark, and Cyprus), the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, and the UN Secretary General.
The GA also commemorated 35 years of the European Women’s Lobby, founded in 1990. “We will not wait another 35 years to make change happen”, states EWL President Dina Loghin.
For further information, please contact:
EWL: ewl@womenlobby.org
Mary Collins, EWL Secretary General: collins@womenlobby.org
Gaïa Dufour, EWL Communications officer: dufour@womenlobby.org
Download our press release here
