1. EUROPEAN WOMEN’S LOBBY Policy Update October 2011 EWL Board meeting 23 October 2011

2. Follow up to motions 1.Justice for Women – Olympic Games London 2012 The French coordination of the EWL - CLEF - is taking the lead in implementing this motion. Call for interest for participation in a (virtual) working group coordinated by CLEF Request to sign petition Create a support committee of prominent persons Letters to national olympic committees (model letter will be provided)

3. Follow up to motions 2. The role of women in the democratic transformation of their societies in the Middle East and North Africa. Activities: Participation in meetings on the topic President participating in mission in Tunisia Drafting of a project proposal on exchange between relevant women’s organisations in Europe and women’s organisations in MENA countries Fundraising for project

4. Follow up to motions 3. EWL to counter forces trying to undermine gender equality and women's rights Activities: Encouraging members to act and to be part in national delegations for UN CSW 2012 Plan organisation of side event on the topic during UN CSW 2012

5. EU Presidencies: Polish Presidency of the EU - June to December 2011 Focus on conciliation policies EWL invited to speak at Equality Summit European Parliament: New FEMM Committee Chair: MEP Mikael Gustafsson General

6. Themes covered Social and economic policy Violence against women Women in decision-making Women and immigration, integration and asylum

7. LOBBYING EFFORTS ON THE PROPOSED MATERNITY LEAVE DIRECTIVE July 2011: Members Maternity Leave consultation Protection, all workers, full pay Protection, transition, full pay Next steps: FEMM Committee oral question 2011-12: Efforts to unblock Directive in Council: national lobbying toolkit planned. Carers’ leave – consultation Social Platform – recommendations on care – December 2011

8. EUROPEAN YEAR FOR ACTIVE AGEING AND SOLIDARITY BETWEEN GENERATIONS Advisory Committee - opinion on the gender dimension of active ageing EWL a key member of the AGE Coalition Manifesto + Roadmap + EWL joint statement with AGE on older women (8 March 2012) EWL position on call to abolish mandatory retirement age active ageing = longer working life mandatory retirement age – maintained? Under what conditions? Active ageing before retirement: low women’s employment rate in 54 to 65 age group Active ageing after retirement age: beyond 65 years or official retirement ages

9. EU FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 June 2011 – Commission proposal negotiations EWL aims: Introduce gender budgeting in the EU budgetary process Increase transparency Guarantee the access of CSOs to EU funding Secure sufficient and predictable budget for gender equality

10. EU FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES 2014-2020 Finance programmes Commission funding proposals by end 2012 - European Parliament and governments to negotiate ‘Rights and Citizenship’ and ‘Justice’ – new EU programmes to provide funding for gender equality and VAW European Social Fund – specific action and gender mainstreaming

11. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN EIGE study on sexual violence Participation of 34 experts – Complexity of definitions, lack of data, services, training, campaigns. Follow up: Barometer? EWL lobbying on the Council of Europe Convention Identified by the Observatory as a possible action for the EWL Conference in Bratislava EWL Observatory on violence against women EWL panel on NGO Observatories at the International Women’s Health Meeting – 16 September 2011, Brussels

12. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN EU new Victim’s package EC Proposal for Minimum Standards for Victim’s Rights Directive (May 2011) Reports from the European Parliament on support and protection of victims of crime, mutual recognition of protection measures in civil matters (EPO) Due Diligence project Indicators to measure State compliance of their obligations to prevent, protect against, prosecute, punish and provide redress for VAW.

13. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN EWL lobbying for an EU Strategy and Year to end VAW: European Women’s Voice – Inaugural edition on VAW EWL-WAGGGS-IWHM event on 20 September in the EP – ‘Ending violence against women and girls & European Union internal and external policies: The way forward’  press release + contacts EWL President at EC conference on gender equality – panel on VAW, 20 September, Brussels EWL collaboration with European NGOs on VAW & participation to international conferences Coalition for an EU Year – Ongoing call for partners  27 European NGOs, around 60 national NGOs, around 150 individual signatories & decision-makers

14. PROSTITUTION EWL campaign ‘Together for a Europe free from prostitution’ EWL national actions: Press conference, Paris, 21/9 (CLEF) Conference on trafficking and prostitution, Budapest, 23/9 (MONA) Conference on trafficking and prostitution, Lisbon, 20/10 (Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights) Seminar on prostitution, Brussels, 1/12 Large press coverage of all events 6 Campaign partners (Ireland, Scotland, France, USA) 9 Supportive MEPs (Denmark, Sweden, France, Hungary, UK) 3 supportive personalities from the cultural world (France, Canada) Video clip watched more than 80,000 times Updated website

15. EWL lobbying: trafficking in human beings at EU level EWL participation and input on EC consultation meetings EWL participation in EC event on EU Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October 2011, Warsaw EWL and UN event on violence against women and trafficking on 27 October, Brussels, with EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator EWL lobbying: sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) EWL letter to Obama on the right to abortion for women and girls raped in armed conflicts – August 12 th campaign (Global Justice Center) EWL letter to Polish Prime Minister on the law on family planning + call for action EWL forthcoming strategy on SRHR (outcome of issue group) TRAFFICKING & SEXUAL RIGHTS

16. WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING Women on Boards Initiative of Commissioner Reding: pledge for private enterprises and future EU legislation? Quota legislation in several Member States: Belgium, France, the Netherlands – strength of legislation varies Member consultation and EWL statement. Political decision-making Action on EP mid-term elections Work on EP report Women in politics Reviving coalition of women decision- makers for parity Mentoring project?

17. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ‘For Diversity. Against Discrimination’ Input into European Commission Directorate-General for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship’s Pan-European information campaign on anti-discrimination

18. MIGRATION, INTEGRATION, ASYLUM September 2011: Contribution to the Draft opinion on the gender dimension of integration of migrants of the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. October 2011: Endorsement of a joint letter of Asylum Aid (with 143 supporters) to the UK Border Agency on making gender equality in the asylum process a key strategic priority for the Agency. November 2011: Follow-up advocacy action to “en-gender” the European Asylum Support Office with ILGA-Europe and Amnesty International - End FGM Campaign, Malta.

19. Project: “Equal Rights. Equal Voices. Migrant Women in the European Union” 26/27 September 2011: EWL Participation and recommendations to the Final Report of the Gensen Project “Enhancing gender-Sensitivity and a harmonized Approach to gender Issues in European Asylum Practices” September 2011: EWL Amendments on Care Recommendations by integrating a gender perspective regarding migrant domestic care workers of Social Platform October 2011: Submission of the Nomination for the Civil Society Prize to the European Economic and Social Committee

20. Project: “Equal Rights. Equal Voices. Migrant Women in the European Union” Contribution to the participation of migrant women’s organisations in EU-level and international meetings Film documentary: “Breaking the Stereotypes of Migrant Women Research study: “Migrant Women’s Access to Labour Market” Taking place in 6 countries to December 2011 Production and launch of website www.migrantwomennetwork.org Making EU Network of Migrant Women visible Networking tool Increasing EU and national political participation

21. Project: “The Right to Family Reunification” Joint work on the impact of family reunion legislation and policies on migrant women’s lives EPIM project Sept. 2010 - Dec. 2011 EP hearing – 10 November 2011 Producing two video clips on the dependent status of women and the increase of reception conditions by member states Lobbying tool kit on family reunification

22. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!