Watch the recording of our illuminating and practical interactive fourth online encounter with Jessica Newberry Le Vay on Climate change and mental health: common causes, common solutions? held on 25th June 2024. Watch the recording of our brilliant, informative third online encounter with Catherine Flick on Deepfakes and Stereotypes: Generative AI and the Impact on Women held on 17th January 2024. Watch the recording of our inspiring second online encounter with Dame Irene Hays DBE of Hays Travel held on 10th October 2023. Watch this space for our next online encounter planned for January 2024! Watch the recording of our successful first online encounter with Myroslava Hartmond on Why Art Matters: Lessons from Ukraine held on 14th June 2023. Save the date for our next online encounter, this time with Dame Irene Hays, on 10th October at 6pm! EUW was born in Cold War Europe in 1953 out of a desire to promote freedom, justice, equality and cultural enlightenment and a belief that this way we would avoid war on our continent.
We are now all appalled at the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threat it poses to our Western democracies. Sadly this is war. As each day passes more and more refugees are streaming out of Ukraine and humanitarian aid of every kind is needed. We may not be able to fight but we can help in other ways. EUW has contacted the women in Ukraine who had applied to join EUW before Putin’s unprovoked attack and has also been in touch with our Polish colleagues. We understand that they need first aid items, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, ladies toiletries, tampons and sanitary towels, nappies, wet and dry wipes, toothpaste, adult and children’s’ tooth brushes, baby milk, jars of baby food, nappy cream not to mention towels, blankets, sleeping bags, duvets with high TOG ratings, thermal items of clothing, torches and batteries. The list really is endless. However money may be more help than physical resources but to avoid fraud it must be sent through official agencies in Poland. British Section does not have the resources to organise aid directly but we can as individuals do all we can to help our local charities who do. So please do what you can to help the Ukrainians and we pray that the nightmare we see unfolding on our TV screens every day will come to a swift end. **UPDATE** Members may be interested to know that donations can be made to: the Disasters Emergency Committee via their website: www.dec.org.uk or via GoFundme.org.UK. There are 15 DEC member organisations: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision – see: https://www.dec.org.uk/member-charities. We in EUW British Section stand with our Ukrainian sisters in their belief in freedom and justice and we sincerely believe that the greatest violence against women is war.
The UN Women Civil Society Division has shared a letter to Civil Society from the new Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Sami Bahous. See: 20.10.21_Letter_to_Civil_Society.pdf
Statement by the European Union of Women Executive Board and the Legal and Human Rights Commission1/9/2021
Statement by the European Union of Women Executive Board and the Legal and Human Rights Commission September 2021 Women and girls in Afghanistan are in danger of being exposed to many forms of gender-based violence and gender inequality. Serious consideration must be given to measures to prevent discrimination, violence, harassment, trafficking and other forms of exploitation and abuse. Women remaining in Afghanistan and all refugees must be protected by the relevant international legislative instruments relating to equality and the status of refugees as well as the applicable human rights conventions. All nations should ensure the application of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Afghanistan is a Party. We send our thanks to our sister NGOs who have been in the country for some time and we know that many of them are keen to stay and carry on their work. We call on all governments to use their diplomatic channels to protect and support these NGOs. In its Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023 the Council of Europe strongly emphasises the need of protecting the rights of refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls and we strongly endorse this. EUW urges the EU Member States to have regard to the legislative framework of the Common European Asylum System, which balances the interests of the EU with the interests of those in urgent need. In addition, we call on all governments and organisations to use NGOs such as UN Women to manage humanitarian aid and funding for rebuilding projects. It is through the NGOs already there that women can be supported. All funding should be in accordance with a funding framework where women are equally the beneficiaries. Note to Editors
The European Union of Women (EUW) is composed of women in public life, female members of the European Parliament and national parliaments, and professionals in local communities drawn from Christian Democratic, Conservative and like‐minded political parties in 15 countries. Founded in The Hague in 1954, it is a NGO with consultative status with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. RESPONSE
The EUW British Section Board were appalled at the proposal by the Prime Minister to break international law with clauses 41 to 45 of the Internal Market Bill. As an international organisation, they believe it is doing untold damage to the UK’s reputation not just in Europe but across the world. In the House on 21st September, Rt Hon. Theresa May MP said: “I cannot emphasise enough how concerned I am that a Conservative Government are willing to go back on their word, to break an international agreement signed in good faith and to break international law”. Therefore, on 24th September, Patricia Taylor wrote on behalf of the Board to Theresa May, who was once an EUW member, offering EUW British Section’s full support to her stand on this and applauding her actions, she also indicated that British Section would take this further. A letter was also sent to the Prime Minister informing him of EUW British Section’s disappointment. No replies have yet been received. Since then, now that the Bill is going to Committee Stage, individual letters have been sent to those Peers who are members of the relevant committees informing them that British Section is strongly opposed to clauses 43 and 45 in particular as they are morally wrong and incompatible with the principles of democracy and upholding the rule of law. The letters also expressed concern that the clauses will be re-inserted repeatedly by the Lower House, despite the Upper House rejecting it initially, and noted that British Section hoped the Upper House would stand firm. A further letter has also been sent to Theresa May informing her what British Section has done. |
oTHER news2024 Commissions Topic: The impact of social media on women and girls. Archives
January 2024
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