TIME FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS, TIME FOR A UNITED FEMINIST EUROPE

The state of women’s rights in Central Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Baltic States: Under Attack and Under Resourced

A report by the Central Eastern Europe, the Balkan and the Baltic States Taskforce of the European Women’s Lobby This publication has been funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union. The information contained in the publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission. TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction ...... 4

What is the Central Eastern Europe, the Balkan and the Baltic States (CEEBBS) Taskforce? ...... 5

The History of Promoting Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the CEEBBS Region ...... 7

Taskforce Priorities and Recommendations ...... 11

1. Strengthening, supporting and resourcing a strong women’s rights movement in the region ...... 12

2. Reclaiming feminism and equality between women and men as European values ...... 14

3. Ensuring women’s economic independence, reducing economic disparities between women and men and urgently tackling poverty based on gender and other intersecting forms of discrimination ...... 16

4. Increasing women’s participation and representation in politics and increasing the number of feminist politicians in power ...... 18

5. Strengthening accountable, well-resourced domestic gender equality institutions whose mandates will take into account the principle of diversity and will be responsive to the needs of all women and girls ...... 22

6. Ending violence against women and ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights for all ...... 26

7. Ending intersectional discrimination of women from minority groups, including of Roma women and migrant and refugee women ...... 32

8. Maintaining a peaceful Europe by ensuring participation and representation of women in all stages of peace-making processes ...... 34

3 1. INTRODUCTION

The story of gender inequality and women’s Our work in the Central Eastern Europe, rights in the region of Central Eastern Europe, the Balkan and the Baltic States (CEEBBS) the Balkan and Baltic States is not a happy region began at the end of the 1990s, when one. By extension, EU architecture to support the EWL established itself as a strong contact the voices of women in the region in rewriting point between national networks of women’s the story is not what it could be. And yet the organisations and the EU institutions and solutions are there. This report articulates the forums in the region. Those networks became solutions drawing on the powerful collective members of the EWL before the formal knowledge of the women of the region. accession of individual countries to the EU. What membership offered to those national Who are we to speak? The European associations was the potential to be part of Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest umbrella an agenda to shape an inclusive feminist organisation of women’s associations in the Europe. It helped them to get support to fight European Union (EU), working to promote for the advancement of women’s rights with women’s rights and equality between women knowledge of EU advocacy, information and and men. EWL has members in all 28 EU tools. It enabled them to play an important member states, 3 candidate countries, and role in ensuring the translation of EU values 19 European-wide bodies, representing more and policies for gender equality at the national than 2,000 powerful women’s organisations. level. In this way, the EWL is essentially building bridges between national and European level efforts to make inequality between women and men a thing of the past and to promote women’s rights towards an inclusive feminist Europe.

In the past decade, progress on women’s rights in the EU has been neither linear nor uniform across member states. We are now taking stock of efforts in the region and see this as an important opportunity to amplify “It’s a crucial moment for global the voices of women’s organisations from the feminism. (…) We women sometimes region by sharing their views at EU level. While, overall, women in the EU face similar structural play a role in the continuity of challenges in reaching full equality (lack of patriarchy, because patriarchy is not adequate public participation, economic opportunities, violence against women, a black and white system in which gender stereotypes, chronic lack of adequate men oppress women. It’s much more funding), national and regional contexts are key in determining the scope and type of action complicated. I think we need to go back for change. This report will bring that specific to the basics. Remember the solidarity. context into focus drawing on input from members of the European Women’s Lobby The sisterhood. And expand it.” Taskforce on Central Eastern Europe, Baltic Elif Shafak, writer and women’s rights activist, Turkey and Balkan States.

4 2. WHAT IS THE CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE, THE BALKAN AND THE BALTIC STATES (CEEBBS) TASKFORCE?

Many of the challenges with tackling gender The Taskforce is concerned that progress inequality and enforcing women’s rights are on gender equality in the region is seriously associated with a lack of hard usable data and a stalling, as demonstrated in successive lack of joined up common cause. Set up in 2014 European Gender Equality Indexes (see box 1). after the EWL General Assembly, the CEEBBS The CEEBBS Taskforce urges immediate action Taskforce responds to those challenges by by domestic and European decision-makers bringing women’s organisations together to to address this situation. The region needs a share information, identify common challenges new political commitment in order to achieve and strategies for action in the region of Central progress on equality between women and men Eastern Europe, the Balkan and Baltic States. and respect for women’s human rights.

The CEEBBS Taskforce brings together women’s rights advocates from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Republic of North Macedonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey as well as representatives of 2 network FACT BOX 1 organisations, the European Network of Migrant Women and the European Centre of GENDER EQUALITY IS STALLING the International Council of Women (ECICW). Together we are working to promote inclusive The 2017 European Gender Equality Index, democratic and peaceful societies free of measuring gender equality in the European Union gender stereotypes and discrimination. from 2005 to 2015, shows that CEEBBS countries all, with the exception of Slovenia, ranked below the EU- 28 average score. Hungary ranks second to lowest in the ranking, followed by Romania and Slovakia1.

1. Gender Equality http://eige.europa. Index (2017), eu/sites/default/ “Measuring gender files/documents/ equality in the mh0517042enn.pdf European Union 2005-2015”, p.5:

5 What priorities for women’s rights in the region?

The Taskforce has identified eight key priority areas for women’s rights in the region . Further in this report, we are proposing a number of strategies for action and What are some of the recommendations for decision-makers for each priority area (pp . 12-37): constraints to women’s rights in the region?

1 Strengthening, supporting and resourcing a The Taskforce has identified strong women’s rights movement in the region. six key constraints:

1 — 2 Reclaiming feminism and equality between Reluctance to recognise gender women and men as European values. 2 equality as a democratic value and a fundamental human right.

3 Ensuring women’s economic independence, 2 — reducing economic disparities between women ●●●A strong religious, anti-women’s and men and urgently tackling poverty-based human rights lobby and the rise of on gender and other intersecting forms of right wing populist politics, growing discrimination. nationalism and conservatism.

3 — 4 Increasing women’s participation and ●●●Civil society, freedom of speech representation in politics and increasing the and assembly are under threat. number of feminist politicians in power. Democratic spaces and financial resources are shrinking for civil society and in particular for women’s movements 5 Strengthening accountable and well-resourced and women’s organisations. gender equality machineries whose mandates will take into account the principle of diversity and will 4 — be responsive to the needs of all women and girls. ●●●Limited financial resources and institutional infrastructure to advance women’s rights. 6 Ending violence against women and ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. 5 — ●●The dramatic increase in violence and discrimination against women 7 Ending intersectional discrimination of women including prostitution, trafficking, from minority groups, including of Roma women the murder of women (femicide), and migrant and refugee women. and underage and forced marriages.

6 — 8 Maintaining a peaceful Europe by ensuring ●●●Armed conflicts in the neighbouring participation and representation of women in countries and post-conflict transition all stages of peace-making processes. processes.

6 3. THE HISTORY OF PROMOTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN THE CEEBBS REGION

You must know the past to understand the Women’s political participation was also part present, as the saying goes. The history of of the authoritarian state socialist regimes the struggle for women’s rights and gender measures of equality between the sexes and equality in the CEEBBS region is a fascinating, many introduced a quota system to stimulate if troubling one. The reluctance to advance participation, especially after the 1970s4. on the agenda reflects an inheritance Nonetheless, commentators observed the from the socialist period, the subsequent fact that women’s positions in politics were developments during transition, as well as the rather toothless compared to those of men5 changes brought by the region’s accession to and that decision-making was rather a formal, the European Union (EU). There are of course empty game with decisions taken only by the significant differences between countries in top Party echelons. the region, but some of the experiences and trends are captured here. Commitment to global efforts also seemed to be in place. Most countries of the Eastern Block Let us start with the socialist period . had ratified the Convention on the Elimination Equality between women and men was one of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of the perceived advances of the Eastern (CEDAW) earlier than Western countries. Bloc in Cold War times. In 1929, following However, the Convention’s provisions were the Soviet Communist party doctrine, ‘the not visible to ordinary women, nor were there woman’s question’ was ostensibly solved when institutional mechanisms to support and constitutional provisions recognised equality defend women’s rights or to counter forms between women and men in the Soviet Union. of violence against women. In other words, After the Second World War (1939-1945), formal measures including adherence to most state socialist regimes in Eastern Europe also progressive international norms did not ensure formalised equality between women and men substantial equality between women and men. as a constitutional right and granted women equal rights of participation in the public sphere and in family law. Paradoxically, the effect of the strong rhetoric of socialist authoritarian regimes on On the socio-economic level things looked the equality between the sexes sometimes good, at least on paper. Most countries in the led to a total rejection of feminism, gender Eastern bloc legalised abortion before their equality and women’s rights issues during the Western counterparts and provided universal democratisation period, often portrayed as and free access to health care and education. signs of a defunct political order . Former Eastern countries had a strong rhetoric of equality between the sexes. In reality however, the most significant way in which gender equality was implemented was in terms of female employment. Women’s full integration 2. Equality between Regional Monitoring Transitions. in the labour market was limited by women’s women and men is Report, No. 6”, UNICEF 5. Pollert, A. (2003), significant responsibilities for child rearing and one of the European Innocenti Research “Women, work and housework. Meanwhile the gender pay gap and Union’s founding Centre, Florence. equal opportunities gender segregation in the labour market was values: http:// 4. Sloat Amanda in post-Communist similar to levels found in OECD countries3. ec.europa.eu/justice/ (2004) “Where are transition”, Work, gender-equality/ the Women? Female Employment and 3. UNICEF (1999), Political Visibility in Society, Vol 17(2), “Women in transition, EU Accession States,” pp. 331-357

7 Then came the 1990s and an enormous impact rights organisations in the region8 and re- on people living in post-transitional countries. establishment of those existing in the pre- Women’s participation in politics dropped Second World War period. Their mission and dramatically in the first elected parliaments scope varied widely from promoting culture, across the region (Romania from 30 % to 3.3 %, to women’s entrepreneurship, to lobbying and Hungary from 33 % to 7 %, Bulgaria from 30 % advocacy for women’s reproductive rights or to 2.6 %) as quotas disappeared.6 GDP fell women’s protection from violence. Much of accompanied by a huge increase in poverty their work was intertwined with efforts to push and income inequality. for democratisation and face the impacts of transitional economics. Women’s organisations It can be difficult to provide a full picture of efforts were enhanced by the momentum the different impact of the transition from a towards the Beijing World Conference in 1995, command economy to a market economy and were supported by the establishment of that took place in the 1990s, but it is possible institutional mechanisms for gender equality. to attempt to draw out trends that impacted on women’s lives across the region, while However, faced with huge challenges, the recognising that there are significant differences battles became reactive. Much of the swell in the experiences of different countries. of public campaigning and organising came in reaction to threats to women’s rights, rather The costs of the transition process were not than pro-actively seeking to create and promote distributed equally, as women bore a higher a change agenda. Women’s organisations faced burden. They experienced significant public many challenges including limited funding and and political pressure to focus on the domestic limited organising experience. They began sphere and to leave the work place behind in fulfilling functions formerly managed by the economies unable to provide sufficient jobs. state, filling the vacuum left by economic Transition rhetoric also emphasised women’s restructuring. The twin track of service provision return to the home as a restoration of “proper, and advocacy work is still today one of the traditional gender relations” that had been features of women’s organisations in the region. artificially altered by dictatorial regimes7. In some countries, attempts to restore patriarchal gender Funding was particularly difficult . Women’s order included among other effects, various rights NGOs in the region relied on international restrictions to abortion, extended maternal funding, as nationally there were no funds leaves and defunding of childcare facilities, the available and limited possibilities for local commodification of women’s bodies. fundraising. With EU accession, the international donor agenda changed leaving women’s Transition also brought with it market rights organisations with the only possibility liberalisation, cuts and state reforms, for financing through EU funding schemes. which hit women hard . Many people lost However, EU funding was and is still often their jobs (dismissed from large state owned inaccessible for organisations in the region, industries) and women were often hit hardest. as they cannot provide matching funding, They were deprived of special measures and nor can they easily provide the organisational social benefits associated with state socialist infrastructure required by the management of commitments to women’s emancipation. such projects. Most of the funding is targeting reconciliation of work and family life, while other Rising nationalism and militarisation resulted in important issues such as poverty, reproductive full blown civil wars and conflict throughout the rights or violence against women are not funded. Balkans. In the context of widespread violence and the breakdown of social infrastructure, Yet European Economic Area grants (EEA women’s rights were severely undermined in grants) had beneficial effects on the promotion many places, including the horrific use of rape as of equality. The grant scheme led to a revival a weapon of war, and the significant displacement among women’s rights NGOs as they provided of women throughout Europe and the world. accessible system of funding (smaller grants, more flexible conditions of reporting and Meanwhile women were organising . The monitoring, no conditions on cross border 90s saw the establishment of many women’s consortium) and were much friendlier to women’s

8 rights organisations than EU’s European Social programmes and policies to advance equality Fund or Daphne projects. The chronic lack of as part of a neoliberal agenda. Since 2009, the funding for women’s rights organisations is still a entire region has faced cuts to public sector key challenge throughout the region today and spending that most dramatically impacted on one of the causes for limited gender equality and health care and social protection systems. This women’s rights advocacy. in turn has led to more jobless women and more women at risk of poverty. Meanwhile, populist With feminism a vilified term during transition, politicians continue to capitalise extensively on women’s advocates turned towards less nationalist discourses sometimes slipping into ideologically loaded terms such as women’s overtly misogynist, anti-LGBTQI, anti-migrant empowerment, gender equality or equal and racist attacks (including antigypsyist, opportunities between women and men. In afrophobia, islamophobia, anti-Semitism and long run, this strategy did have its pitfalls as xenophobia). currently the term gender equality is under attack9, but proved to be an efficient strategy If there is one red thread throughout the not only to legitimise feminist debates in the modern history of the CEEBBS region, it is region but also to prepare the terrain for the that neither the gender equality and women’s adoption of EU legislation on gender equality. rights agenda nor the movement behind it ever It is widely recognised that women’s rights had enough real support . Today, women’s rights NGOs contributed to the transfer of EU organisations see one of the most important legislation on equality between women and tasks the strengthening of the women’s men to candidate countries, and in this way to movement in the region. The CEEBBS Taskforce the actual accession project. works to build common programmes of action, to increase collaboration with women’s rights EU membership required the transposition of advocates and feminists working in different equality and non-discrimination legislation spheres, to connect with other coalitions and and the creation of domestic institutions to networks of civil society and to improve sharing enforce the laws within all future member states. of good practices among the different countries Women’s NGOs had developed expertise in in the region. EU legislation on equality between women and men, thanks to their participation in wider A concrete step in this direction is to articulate networks like the EWL. In many parts of the a number of priorities as the basis for joint region, this included special attention not only campaigning and advocacy. These priorities to proper terminology but also to including build on taskforce member consultations and enforcement mechanisms within domestic laws. will be the main lines of action in the coming years. After EU accession, the fine-tuning of institutional mechanisms for gender equality and the monitoring of institutional efforts on gender equality were crucial for women’s rights NGOs .However, as austerity economics hit both old and new EU, the agenda was undermined 6. Sloat Amanda 8. Open Society Ebert Stiftung entitled across the entire EU. National machineries in the (2004), “Where are Institute (2005), Gender Revolution- region were severely affected by cuts, as were the Women? Female “Equal Opportunities Theological and other public services that women relied upon. Political Visibility in for Women and Men: Political Battlefields The situation worsened in the region as women’s EU Accession States,” monitoring law and in Central and rights advocates lost influence and leverage Transitions. practices in the Eastern Europe. through the marginalisation of women’s rights 7. Gal, Susan and new member states Also Foundation for and gender equality as a European priority (an Kligman, Gail. (2000), and accession European Progressive external challenge) and the rise of conservative “The Politics of Gender countries”. Studies publication populist politics in some countries and neoliberal after Socialism: 9. For a good “Gender as Symbolic economics (a domestic one). Domestically, A Comparative- illustration of current Glue” http://www. many countries in the region faced and still face a Historical Essay”, attacks on gender feps-europe.eu/ dual attack on women’s rights — by conservative Princeton University ideology, see debates en/publications/ and populist politicians and by the cutting of Press. organised by Friedrich details/314

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4. TASKFORCE PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

p. 12 1 Strengthening, supporting and resourcing a strong women’s rights movement in the region.

p. 14 2 Reclaiming feminism and equality between women and men as European values.

p. 16 3 Ensuring women’s economic independence, reducing economic disparities between women and men and urgently tackling poverty-based on gender and other intersecting forms of discrimination.

p. 18 4 Increasing women’s participation and representation in politics and increasing the number of feminist politicians in power.

p. 22 5 Strengthening accountable and well-resourced gender equality machineries whose mandates will take into account the principle of diversity and will be responsive to the needs of all women and girls.

p. 26 6 Ending violence against women and ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

p. 32 7 Ending intersectional discrimination of women from minority groups, including of Roma women and migrant and refugee women.

p. 34 8 Maintaining a peaceful Europe by ensuring participation and representation of women in all stages of peace-making processes.

11 1 STRENGTHENING, SUPPORTING AND RESOURCING A STRONG WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE REGION

Women’s organisations in the region have NGOs and building their long-term financial actively contributed to the development of resilience. their societies and of women’s rights.

Nonetheless, women’s NGOs have been unable Strategy for action by women’s organisations, to capitalise on their contribution, becoming EWL, EWL members and working structures: increasingly marginalised within civil society and  Promote women’s rights NGOs as the main on the political level. In most countries, women’s sources of knowledge on equality between NGOs remained pariahs also in the eyes of the women and men and expertise on violence general public and were often the first targets against women; of sexist attacks. This situation needs to change.  ●Build alliances with other feminist and The Taskforce is committed to strengthening women’s rights advocates; hold national the women’s movement in the region and consultations on women’s rights and invite will reach out to different feminist advocates different kinds of advocates from other as well as to other parts of civil society with a segments of civil society; view to integrating a women’s rights agenda ●● Participate in regional CSO forums including into the public narrative. The Taskforce is also those organised with the help of EEA Grants; deeply concerned about the limited availability, ● Develop and run educational programmes decrease or even disappearance of funding for on feminism and women’s rights, such as human rights and women’s rights NGOs in the summer camps and boot camps for young region. It is calling for urgent investment in the leaders; women’s movement, by funding women’s rights ●● Support each other through capacity- building focused on organisations’ strategic development, communication and cam- paigning frameworks; ● Enhance women’s rights NGOs financial resilience and funding by experimenting with innovative funding schemes such as FACT BOX 2 women’s funds, crowd funding, individual donors, Corporate Social Responsibility. THE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS IN THE CEEBBS REGION Recommendations for European and national Women’s Rights NGOs have pioneered and even decision-makers: invented new forms of support in social services,  ●Allocate funding to women’s rights NGOs including introducing different kinds of services for through funding schemes that cover both survivors of abuse, impoverished women, women service provision and advocacy work and with disabilities, etc. They helped to bring about ensure that smaller women’s rights NGOs sound legislation on anti-discrimination, equality have access to funding; between women and men, social services, child  Support the strategic development of protection and protection from violence. Some women’s rights NGOs, including the de­ actively helped women politicians to develop velop­ment of communication campaigning skills and supported them with political contacts capacity, organisational and financial across domestic boundaries. Others have focused sustainability strategies to ensure continued on women entrepreneurs and supported women’s existence of a women’s movement and long- initiatives with expert knowledge and funding. term resilience of NGOs; ●● Recognise the knowledge and expertise that sits with women’s rights NGOs; integrate

12 their work and actively seek their input into ● Establish urgently new and innovative ways policy areas like economics and poverty and methods of financial support, other reduction, care systems, pension reform than highly bureaucratic project budget and labour laws, civil rights, election and lines to ensure the survival, independent democratisation, anti-corruption, peace- functioning and strengthening of women’s building and prevention of armed conflict; NGOs.

Story hoc Government Control activities in support of asylum From EWL members in Hungary Office audit targeting seekers, refugees and migrants. (Magyar Nöi Erdekérvényesitö Szövetség 55 organisations. In 2015, the Women’s human rights NGOs – NöiÉrdek – Hungarian Women’s Lobby) HWL faced a tax audit. The will highly likely be affected attacks on NGOs intensified by this legislation. 10 Central in 2016, when the government European University, which In 2013, the Hungarian issued controversial and has been offering, among government“ and several other offensive statements accusing others, a Hungarian-accredited State and media stakeholders those NGOs to support illegal master’s program in gender started a campaign to attack smuggling of migrants. In studies, has been threatened a group of NGOs dealing with 2017, Act No. LXXVI on the with a ban since the spring democracy and human rights transparency of organisations of 2017, and its status is still issues, including women’s receiving foreign funds was pending. As of 12th October rights. These NGOs were adopted. It requires NGOs 2018, a government decree deceptively accused of being receiving foreign funding to removed gender studies from ‘Soros-hirelings’, ‘leftist fake register themselves as such at a list of Hungarian language NGOs’, ‘paid political actors’, court, and to label themselves master’s programs approved or ‘serving foreign interest’. In as such in their publications by the government. In the same 2014, the Hungarian Women’s and communication. On month, the Hungarian Academy Lobby (HWL) and 3 of its 20 June 2018, the Hungarian of Sciences, in an act of self- member organisations were government stepped up its censorship, removed a lecture included on a list of 13 NGOs ongoing crackdown on civil concerned with gender aspects considered problematic to society when the Hungarian in IT from the planned agenda the government. The prime Parliament adopted a new of its annual ‘Hungarian minister ordered an ad law criminalising a range of Festival of Sciences.’ ”

Story From a women’s rights NGO in Poland women to enter and function in the labour market and working for gender equality. As Minister 10. European https://www. The Foundation is now in Rafalska pointed out: ‘In women, Women’s Lobby womenlobby.org/ “ something like hibernation we find care potential’. Or MP (June 2017), IMG/pdf/facsheet_ because we do not have Pięta who said that he would “Disrupting the violence_against_ possibilities to get funding for give women an additional Continuum of women_and_girls_ the activities that we implement. 600 zloty if they would stay at Violence Against in_europe_2017_ That is, in our case, supporting home and take care of kids. ” Women and Girls”: website.pdf

13 2 RECLAIMING FEMINISM AND EQUALITY BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN AS EUROPEAN VALUES

The CEEBBS Taskforce has observed a Strategy for action by women’s organisations, worrying trend of increased attacks by EWL, EWL members and working structures: conservative forces on women’s rights, ● Reclaim and promote equality between denouncing “gender” as criminal ideology, women and men as a core value of in many countries across the region such as democratic and inclusive societies; Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia11.  Re-value European feminist history as The anti-choice international lobby gathers a progressive social movement and its popular support and co-opts politicians in contribution to EU Enlargement and EU public denunciations of gender equality as “an values; ideology threatening family values”. One of the ●● Emphasise women’s rights as a key part of main documents under attack is the Council the European Charter for Fundamental of Europe Istanbul Convention on Preventing Human Rights; use all means to seek justice and Combating Violence Against Women for women’s human rights infringements, and Domestic Violence, which is criticised including judiciary remedies at the European by conservatives as an instrument of gender Court of Human Rights; use processes such ideology promoting “non-stereotypical sexual as Convention on the Elimination of all Forms roles”12. Voices in opposition to the Istanbul of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention deliberately mislead the public Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the about the purpose of the Convention and put Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) women and girls across the region at increased reports to input on women’s human rights risk of various forms violence13. Attackers of the infringements at national levels; “gender ideology” target in particular women’s  Take active measures to initiate annual access to sexual and reproductive health, country monitoring on the application of young people’s access to sexuality education EU standards and laws on gender equality as well as the rights of LGBTQI people. by the European Commission.

Recommendations for European and national decision-makers:  Decision-makers at all levels, irrespective of political colour must actively promote “So much of feminism equality and the long traditions of feminism has been women speaking up that have made possible the recognition of women as full members of our societies. A about hitherto unacknowledged full political strategy for equality between experiences, and so much women and men in the EU should be developed and implemented; of antifeminism has been  Hold EU member states and accession men telling them these things countries accountable for the full implementation of EU standards and laws on don’t happen.” gender equality, through annual monitoring Rebecca Solnit, writer, USA on the implementation of EU standards and laws on gender equality by the European Commission, including supporting women’s organisations to carry out shadow reporting;  Establish a regional or European campaign to highlight the contribution of women’s rights activist and feminists to European

14 history, modelled on ‘Women’s History service provision and advocacy work, Month’; ensuring that small grassroots women’s  Introduce active measures to recognise rights NGOs have access to funding; sexism as an aggravated form of ● Ratification and full implementation by the discrimination and evaluate the options of EU and Member states of the Council of introducing Anti-Sexism Laws; Europe Istanbul Convention on Preventing  Allocate funding to women’s rights NGOs and Combating Violence against Women through funding schemes that cover both and Domestic Violence.

Story state, secret agents of foreign women rights defenders in From EWL Members in Serbia policies. Ongoing campaigns pressing charges against the (Mreza za Evropski Zenski Lobi, Serbia – against human rights defenders attackers in most cases ends Network for European Women’s Lobby) in Serbia have exactly the same with acquittals, or waiting too characteristic or methods as long for the court trials to begin the ones held during Milosevic’s or to end. Women human rights In the last few years, women regime in the nineties. There defenders are also witnessing human“ rights defenders in is a constant attempt by the that MPs and representatives Serbia, especially Women in media close to the government of the state institutions are Black, have been exposed to to present women human rights using the same war rhetoric, public lynching in traditional defenders who are critical of tendencies and politics as they media and on social networks, the government as traitors and did in the 1990s by inventing physical attacks while enemies of the state. Examples enemies and fabricating performing activities in public include the series of newspaper attacks on the state and state spaces, and marginalisation and articles called ‘Who is receiving representatives – based on these degradation via the labelling of dollars in Serbia?’ or ‘Women inventions, they are building the women human rights defenders in Black – the greatest foreign arguments for protection of the as anti-Serbs, enemies of the funded NGO’. Experience of state from ‘enemies’. ”

11. Friedrich Ebert political battlefield’ haven’t ratified the countries in Europe and Domestic Stiftung organised a (in Budapest 2014): Istanbul Convention; have signed or Violence: https:// series of events on https://www.fes.de/ Bulgaria, Croatia, ratified the Council www.coe.int/en/web/ the topic of “gender” gender/infobrief4/ Czech Republic, of Europe Istanbul conventions/full- as a criminal review/review.php Hungary, Latvia, Convention on list/-/conventions/ ideology such as 12. This has been Lithuania, Romania Preventing and treaty/210/ ‘Gender Revolution: particularly the case and Slovakia Combating Violence signatures? theological and in countries that 13. See which Against Women desktop=true

15 3 ENSURING WOMEN’S ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE, REDUCING ECONOMIC DISPARITIES BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN AND URGENTLY TACKLING POVERTY BASED ON GENDER AND OTHER INTERSECTING FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION

The storm of austerity politics has placed women Macedonia recent years have seen positive in a downward spiral. The Taskforce has much changes, such as increase to minimum wage, evidence to show that the recent economic crisis we still see that single women, rural women and ensuing fiscal reforms in member states has and Roma women are facing the most severe had a devastating gendered impact. Women’s poverty and overall the feminisation of poverty employment rates have dropped14 and the is a burning issue. pace of labour market reintegration is very slow. Women’s earnings have also significantly Women’s safety is put at risk with cuts to fallen, while the quantity and quality of jobs shelters, counselling centres and hotlines available to women has deteriorated. As part of providing help to victims of violence. Decision- austerity packages introduced across the region, makers must respect women’s human rights governments adopted new legislations to cut and states must ensure the protection of all labour costs, including temporary contracting their citizens. Governments need to implement provisions, lower benefits associated with holistic policies that prosecute perpetrators employment status and reduced parental and prevent violence against women. The benefits. Cuts in social protection schemes Istanbul Convention provides an essential (CZ, RO, REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA, framework to achieve this and emphasises the HU), in pension provisions and in public services importance of supporting and collaborating (health, childcare, education, services for women with front’-line women’s organisations’. victims of VAW) impact women’s lives and increase the risk of women’s poverty. Though in some countries such as the Republic of North Strategy for action by women’s organisations, EWL, EWL members and working structures:  Develop a vision of a new economic system for Europe based on feminist values of more equal redistribution and sustainability;  Continue to contribute to the European and FACT BOX 3 national discussions on the post EU2020 strategy and economic governance17; WOMEN AND POVERTY IN THE CEEBBS REGION ● Build capacity and expertise within women’s NGOs in the region on macroeconomic The CEEBBS region has the largest European policy; population at risk of poverty with 4 member states ● ●Women’s rights organisations must be- where over a third of the population is on the poverty come stakeholders in monitoring employ- threshold (Bulgaria 48 %, Romania 40.4 %, Latvia ment, social protection, and anti-poverty 35.1 %, Hungary 33.5 %). The region has a large governmental strategies and providing population of working poor 15 and the highest rate of gender analysis of labour codes, tax leg- child poverty16, as earnings are insufficient. Single islation, employment, social protection mothers and women pensioners as well as rural and retirement benefits and anti-poverty women and minority women have been most affected strategies; although the introduction of guaranteed minimum ● Take stock and monitor the implementation wage did have some impact on extreme poverty. of gender budgeting at all levels (EU, national, local governments); conduct independent gender impact assessments

16 of draft budgets when they are published; independence; whereby carrying out  Work together with other stakeholders gender impact assessment of proposed in producing analysis of most marginal- policy measures to avoid any negative ised groups and stress the gender com- consequences for women; ponent of social exclusion and provide ●●● Provide significant financial incentives to lift recommendations. barriers to accessing finance faced by women entrepreneurs; providing funding and fiscal incentives for social economy projects Recommendations for European and national targeting women as main beneficiaries; decision-makers: ● Ensure that country reports produced by  Ensure that gendered targets for poverty the European Commission and issued at reduction in the context of the post the beginning of the European Semester Europe2020 strategy; take targeted contain information on women’s socio- measures to improve the living conditions economic status and information from of those who have been most impacted by women’s NGOs in the different countries; cutbacks, including lone mothers, women ●●● Engage in meaningful consultation with pensioners, Romani women, migrant and women’s organisations on National Reform minority women, women living with disabilities Programmes and other country specific and rural women; tools, subsequently submitted to the  Strengthen measures for tackling the pay European Commission to prioritise country- gap and increasing women’s employment in specific recommendations. the European Union’s Strategy for Equality between women and men 2020-2025; ● Make vital services (crèches, women’s 14. European poverty in the EU: 199&id_groupe= EU2020 and European shelters, community-based health services) Women’s Lobby (2012), http://ec.europa. 17&id_mot=89 Semester, including more affordable and accessible by providing “The Price of Austerity eu/eurostat/ 16. Caritas Europa input from members adequate funding for services which are an – the impact on web/products- (2015), “Poverty and on ‘alternative investment and not a cost; women’s rights and eurostat-news/-/ Inequalities on the country-specific- ●● Strengthen women’s role and participation gender equality in DDN-20180316-1? Rise: A study of the recommendations’. in collective bargaining and ensure that Europe”: https://www. inheritRedirect=true impact of the crisis They are available female dominated sectors are unionised and womenlobby.org/IMG/ and Inequality Watch/ and austerity on the here: http://www. represented in and working with trade unions; pdf/the_price_of_ Observatoire des people” womenlobby. ●● Ensure the individualisation of rights with austerity_-_web_ Inegalités: https:// 17. Since 2012, org/-eu2020-and- regards to social protection and taxation as edition.pdf inequalitywatch. EWL has published european-semester- a means of guaranteeing women’s economic 15. Eurostat, In-work eu/spip.php?article documents on ?lang=en

Story etc.). According to information unemployed women are long- From EWL Members in Bulgaria provided by Trade Unions term unemployed. In addition, (Bulgarian Platform of the EWL) : in Bulgaria in March 2017, women receive lower average 719,000 of Bulgarian women, wages, and as a result, because aged between 15-64, do not of their lower retirement age, Patriarchal stereotypes work. For more than a third they receive a lower pension exist“ and are even reborn due for them, the main reason is and compensation. There is a to new political tendencies personal and/or family. 25 % of tendency to increase the gender (nationalistic, rights wing unemployed women who care pay gap and in 2015 it reaches parties, etc.) and due to low for elderly people would work 14.2 %, according to National economic situation (high with appropriate services for Statistical Institute data, at level of unemployed women, the sick and the elderly. The 10.6 % in 2007). The whole poverty of women, economically unemployment rate of young environment supports sexism dependent on their husbands/ women up to 29 years of age and patriarchy, or so called partners; lack of alternatives, continues to increase. 56.8 % of ‘women to be put in her place’. ”

17 4 INCREASING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN POLITICS AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF FEMINIST POLITICIANS IN POWER

Most countries of the region score below the EU average on women’s political representation18. Meanwhile, temporary special measures There is an urgent need for measures to tackle such as compulsory quotas are effective the overrepresentation of men in all areas of in promoting women into parliaments power and decision-making. and government. In the Republic of North Macedonia, women’s representation went Croatia, Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, from under 10 % in the national parliament Serbia and Slovenia are the only countries to to 30 % in one election cycle, as the result of have introduced compulsory special measures quota legislation. The Taskforce notes that to promote women in politics. Although some women politicians are essential to ensure the political parties have introduced voluntary representation of women’s rights in laws and measures to bring women into the rank and policies. Perhaps most importantly, feminist file of party members, quota systems are politicians who are deeply committed to highly resisted. Women’s access to politics is gender equality and women’s rights must constrained by multiple factors including gender be promoted. Women in politics should not stereotypes and sexism within politics, as well as simply be tokens of gender equality within capacity gaps. conservative politics. Other measures and indicators for the presence of women’s rights on the political agenda should also be used, such as the actual implementation of gender sensitive policy analysis and budgeting.

While recognising that women (and men) FACT BOX 4 have been socialised in a patriarchal society, resulting in internalised gender unequal values; WOMEN AND POLITICS that women’s interests vary greatly - depending on their class, race, religion, sexual orientation, Women make up in between 9,5 % (Hungary) and geographic location (urban/rural) and age; and 28 % (Poland) of elected delegates in national that women entering the masculine world of parliaments and score much lower when it comes politics sometimes reject the prioritisation of to executive positions. In Hungary, no single woman gender equality issues so as not to stand out - holds a ministerial portfolio. With the exception of we are convinced that more women in politics two women heads of state in Croatia and Estonia, in itself will be an important step in transforming there is little popular support for women candidates politics. More women from - diverse seeking election for the highest office. backgrounds and ages - entering politics, means less mediocre and unrepresentative men

18 occupy positions of power. their political party. There is a need for more feminists in political parties and a stronger Sometimes more women in politics does not feminist voice in civil society to bring a challenge mean step forward in gender equality and to the impact of patriarchy and power on the transforming politics. We need more gender overall political landscape. A strong women’s sensitive women politicians and we need movement supports women politicians and women in parliament who think differently and women leaders in the business sector. Parity independently than the men holding power in on boards and in politics is essential for creating a just society where interests of both men and women are adequately reflected.

Story which partners Czech female especially valuable, as it From EWL Members politicians with Danish and taught them new soft skills in Czech Republic (Česká ženská lobby – Norwegian women who have and enabled them to network Czech Women’s Lobby) successful political careers with other Czech female and valuable experience to politicians. It is difficult to share. The mentoring involved say whether the programmes The share of women in face to face meetings and had any direct impact on the “ the Czech parliament has regular contact by email outcomes of the elections. languished at around one in and Skype. Fórum 50 % also However, it is true that recent five, while their share of the organised two short courses years have seen certain Czech seats in the European for 15 female candidates in improvement in women’s Parliament is under one in the 2014 European Parliament participation particularly in the four. The NGO Fórum 50 % elections. These comprised European Parliament elections. decided to do something about media training, individual Compared to 2009 the 2014 this by launching projects coaching, a weekend seminar elections demonstrated some to raise the level of women’s and a debate with a sitting increase in the proportion political representation. One of MEP. The European Parliament of elected female MEP: from them is a mentoring scheme, candidates found the training 18,2 % to 23,8 %. ”

18. In the Gender scored lower than sites/default/files/ Equality Index 2017, the EU 28 average on documents/ measuring gender the share of women 20177277_mh equality in the EU member of national 0517208enn_pdf.pdf from 2005-2015, all parliaments: http:// (p.49) CEEBBS countries eige.europa.eu/

19 Story woman leading one of Estonia’s From EWL Members in Estonia (Eesti most influential political Naisteühenduste Ümarlaud – Estonian parties, the Reform Party Women’s Association Roundtable) (Kaja Kallas, elected in March 2018); 50 % of members of the European Parliament elected Women’s participation in from Estonia have been women “ politics is taken as something (from 2006 onwards). We natural in Estonia. This is not currently have 33 % of women yet reflected in equal sharing among government ministers of power, but there has been (5 out of total 15), 28 % of constant and clear progress women in the Parliament and over the years. Estonia has a 54 % of women in political female president since 2017; a parties’ membership. ”

to engage; work towards the introduction of zero tolerance measures on sexism and Strategy for action by women’s organisations, sexual harassment within political party EWL, EWL members and working structures: spaces; shift calendars of meetings to  Call for temporary special measures to accommodate women’s schedules and care increase women’s participation such as a responsibilities; establish gender quotas compulsory quota system; call for parity law for party commissions to engage women which ensures that equality is a citizenship politicians in all areas. right; engage in awareness raising campaigns to promote the benefits of quotas;  ●Build alliances with women politicians and Recommendations for European and national educate them on a women’s rights agenda; decision-makers:  Reach out to politicians, especially the  Adopt compulsory temporary special young to raise awareness on the benefits measures such as quotas to encourage of gender equal societies; women’s participation in politics at all levels;  Support women’s political organising in no parliament with less than 50 % women, established political parties and beyond no government without 50 % women can them; support candidacies of independent actively implement transformative policies women politicians, feminist advocates who of equality between women and men; run for office and more;  Support funding for women’s causes in  ●Encourage and participate in political elected bodies; organising around women’s issues;  Change legislation regarding the estab- simplify access to politics and the rules lishment of political parties and political for establishing political parties; help and party funding so that women’s parties and support feminist initiatives for forming feminist political forces can participate in political parties; elections at different levels;  ●Monitor sexist attacks on women politicians  Reform education programmes and educa- and issue monitoring reports including tion materials so that non-stereotypical gen- during election campaigns; der roles are promoted among the young,  Work on changing the culture of political including with women in leadership positions; parties so that it becomes feasible for women ● Sanction sexism during election campaigns as an aggravated form of gender-based discrimination.

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5 STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTABLE, WELL-RESOURCED DOMESTIC GENDER EQUALITY INSTITUTIONS WHOSE MANDATES WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PRINCIPLE OF DIVERSITY AND WILL BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS

Since the Beijing Platform of Action in 1995 Strategy for action by women’s organisations, and following the incorporation of the acquis EWL, EWL members and working structures: communautaire in the region, institutional  Advocate for strong, accountable and mechanisms for the advancement of women’s properly resourced gender equality rights have been one of the key demands machineries as a main instrument to of women’s NGOs. Despite the increasing promote effective and rights-based importance and visibility of some national legislation and policy on equality between machinery, a common problem in the region is women and men, without creating that such mechanisms have been under serious competitiveness with women’s rights financial threat with the onset of austerity organisations; follow up on initiatives and economics. Equality machineries lost their demand a clear agenda of action; funds and were temporarily disbanded (e.g.  Demand women’s NGO involvement in Romania, Slovenia) and re-emerged without the functioning of machineries through trained staff, downgraded within ministerial consultative processes and the provision structures (e.g. Hungary, Bulgaria), under- of expert knowledge; monitor and speak staffed and under-resourced or merged with up against rolling back on women’s rights institutions dealing with different grounds of including through international processes discrimination (e.g. Estonia). In other regions, that allow input from women’s CSOs; such as the Western Balkans, gender equality  Promote dialogue with representatives of institutions became competitive with women’s gender equality mechanisms through public rights civil society organisations, undermining debates and common public campaigns; their expertise and creating divisions among  Encourage exchanges between experts them (eg. Serbia). Gender equality has been working in the national gender equality marginalised within governments, which mechanisms across the region. results in reduced influence for the remaining machineries. Equality between women and men, gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting — some of the key areas of action on the mandates of national machineries — are confused or are not yet fully understood by decision-makers themselves. Women’s NGOs interaction with national machineries varies across the region, but it is usually reported as insubstantial.

22 Story After the elections in October protest of women’s and human From EWL Members 2017,“ the position of Minister rights NGOs. According to the in Czech Republic (Česká ženská lobby – for Human Rights and Gender new prime minister, this will save Czech Women’s Lobby) Equality was cancelled in the tax payers’ money and he said Czech Republic despite the the post was useless anyway. ”

Recommendations for European and national functional and effective; and grant national decision-makers: machineries an independent and extended  Ensure that the role of national gender mandate at a political level; equality mechanisms is emphasised in  Promote European co-operation between the next EU Strategy for Equality between national mechanisms and best practice women and men 2015-2020 with proper exchanges; promote cooperation with resources, comprehensive mandates and European Commission’s Department- working with women’s rights NGOs; General for Justice and the EU Commissioner  Urgently re-establish or establish national for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality; gender equality mechanisms; provide ● ●Introduce clear means of engagement in adequate funding while ensuring this between national gender equality mecha- funding does not impact on resources for nisms and women’s NGOs, acknowledging women’s organisations; provide adequate that the role of women’s rights CSOs is to human resources to make institutions be critical and demanding.

23 Story From EWL Members in Croatia (Ženska was 660,060 EUR in 2017, against inequality and violence. 331,494 EUR in 2018, The last National Policy for Mreža Hrvatske - Women’s Network of and projected to drop to Gender Equality was from 2011 Croatia) 266,695 EUR in 2020. For the to 2015, the National Action comparison we can look into Plan for the implementation of annual budget of the Memorial UN Resolution 1325 on Women, In Croatia significant Centre of Homeland War Peace and Security was from decrease“ of budgets for gender Vukovar whose annual budget 2011 to 2014, the National equality mechanisms leads over the years varies from 4,5 Action Plan against Trafficking towards their marginalisation. to 5 million EUR. Minimum in Persons was for the period It is followed by the promotion financial support is given to from 2012 to 2015. Previously, of militarism and war stop most serious violations of committees on local level were (ceremonies, maintenance human rights, such as human inclusive and open to external of war memory objects and trafficking — which is mostly members, whereas now they annual memorials), various trafficking in women. The are functioning as more closed forms of ‘social security’ which budget for the implementation work bodies. Gender equality is actually privileging of war of National Action Plan institutional framework in veterans and establishing against Human trafficking is reality does not function, due special categories of financial around 25,000 EUR. Decrease to lack of financial support, schemes for this category of of funds for gender equality and hence there is no real population. The Governmental mechanisms is followed by influence on public policies Office for Gender Equality and lack of national action plans and gender budgeting. In Office of the Ombudsperson for this area. After entering spite of this challenging for Gender Equality have EU membership, the Croatian environment, the hard work been marginalised which Government, despite of of our Croatian members can be illustrated by the recommendations from led to the ratification of the decrease of their annual international bodies such as Istanbul Convention by a 2/3 budgets: in 2016 annual UN CEDAW Committee or majority in April 2018 despite budget of the Governmental Council of Europe GRETA, very organised and well- Office for Gender Equality has not been eager in acting resourced opposition. ”

EWL Member the Women’s Network of Croatia’s protest to “Stop Fundamentalist Violence against Women” in front of the Parliament on 15 December 2017, warning the public that the Prime minister did not keep his promise to ratify Istanbul convention in a year’s time as he said on 25 November 2016. The main banner said “You are lying to us”. The hard work of EWL’s Croatian members led to the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by a 2/3 majority in April 2018 despite very organised and well-resourced opposition.

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6 ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND ENSURING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS FOR ALL

The current situation of violence against women is incompatible with human rights commitments and democratic standards. Story

The Taskforce urges governments to sign, ratify From EWL Members in Romania and fully implement the Council of Europe (Romanian Women’s Lobby) Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic In Romania, 15,313 requests Violence, the Istanbul Convention. While “ have been recorded in the some criminalisation of domestic violence Courts for Protection orders exists, many countries are reluctant to design in interval from 2012-2016. laws for the protection and safety of women 88 % of the requests came from from a women’s rights perspective. Civil and women. In 6 years, the numbers criminal laws on domestic violence still refer increased five times (from 937 to ‘violence among family members’, failing to in 2012 to 5,132 requests in recognise the gendered dimension of domestic 2016). 25 violence. Some states fail to recognise non- ” physical dimensions of domestic abuse 20; others ignore inter-partner violence among couples who are not legally registered; others do not comprehensively legislate against forms of violence against women such as stalking, of trafficking for sexual exploitation. Laws on sexual abuse, marital rape, or sexual harassment. prostitution and trafficking are unacceptable: Protective measures for victims do not cover some criminalise women in prostitution; there all forms of violence against women, like rape, are no exit programmes for women who want sexual harassment21, FGM, prostitution and to exit prostitution, and laws do no focus on the trafficking. Women from the region, and specially demand side (buyers and pimps) and their role women from minority ethnic background in perpetuating prostitution. like Roma women, are overrepresented in prostitution in Western Europe and victims The urgency of the situation of violence against women and girls is not fully recognised. Services for women victims are insufficient and many times provided without a gender perspective or a women focus or without acknowledging the expertise of women’s organisations in provision of specialised FACT BOX 5 support22. Service providers who depended on non-governmental/private donors are now VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN increasingly under pressure from these donors to drop their women-centred approach: One in three women in the European Union has to shift from women services to integrated been a victim of physical violence and every services. They are often expected to reassess second woman in the EU has experienced sexual their position on prostitution: being expected harassment since the age of 15. The most dangerous to work with survivors of prostitution without place in a woman’s life is her home19. denouncing the system of prostitution. Some countries lack shelter services altogether23, others fail to provide helpline numbers24,

26 others still lack specialised services for victims of sensational language, the focus on details of sexual violence such as rape crisis centres. pertaining to the victims’ ordeal, the use of The increasing normalisation of domestic testimonials further amplifying violence has violence being treated as a “personal” affair the effect of re-victimising survivors of abuse. prevents victims from obtaining the assistance Such media depictions also transform the they require. Without adequate shelters or public’s perception of violence against women housing, women often have no choice but to and girls reducing empathy and understanding live with their abuser. This situation hits the to the point of perceiving violence against most vulnerable women: migrant, refugees and women as infotainment. Gender myths and undocumented migrant women, poor women, stereotypes about male and female sexuality Roma women, women with disabilities who and sexual behaviour are especially prevalent in also face specific form of male violence such the region and there is an alarming persistence as institutional violence or forced sterilisation. of victim-blaming attitudes about consent and against victims, especially when it comes A particular concern is the stereotyped to sexual violence 26. These myths are also still portrayal of women and girls in the media and widespread among police, prosecutors and pop culture (including school books in some judges. Women often face additional risks countries e.g. Poland), and the insensitive when reporting violence to the authorities: ways in which media report on cases of there is often no guarantee that they will be violence against women. The misguided use treated respectfully by the judicial system or that the cases will end up in a conviction.

Story violence is reported, the From Dovilė Masalskienė, EWL Observatory physical violence might be taken expert from Lithuania, from the Women’s into account but not the sexual Issues Information Centre violence. Victims of rape are still blamed and that is why they are afraid of reporting rape to the In Lithuania, sexual violence authorities. When women dare (2016), “ Special from“ intimate partner is a to report, they face secondary Eurobarometer taboo, and in a majority of cases victimisation during the judicial 449 - Gender-based it is not considered as violence, process. There have been cases violence”: https:// more as a duty of the spouse. where even the judge blames ec.europa.eu/ When a case of domestic the victim). 27, 28 commfrontoffice/ ” publicopinion/index. cfm/ResultDoc/ download/ DocumentKy/75837 27. Questionnaire Lithuania 28. European Women’s Lobby (June 19. EU Fundamental 20. For country- eige-publications/ 22. See the case „Împreună pentru 2017), “Disrupting Rights Agency (2014), by-country details administrative-data- of Estonia: https:// siguranța femeilor”, the Continuum of “Violence against see EIGE (2014), sources-gender- www.womenlobby. Romania (October Violence Against women: an EU-wide “Administrative Data based-violence- org/Anatomy- 2017), http://violent Women and Girls”: survey”: http:// Sources on Gender against-women-eu- of-a-backlash- aimpotrivafemeilor. https://www. fra.europa.eu/en/ Based Violence report in-providing- ro/infografic-cereri- womenlobby.org/ publication/2014/ Against Women in 21. Protection Orders assistance-and- de-emitere-a-unui- IMG/pdf/facsheet_ violence-against- the EU: current status can be issued only support-to-victims-of ordin-de-protectie- violence_against_ women-eu-wide- and potential for for situations of 23. Latvia 2012-2016/ women_and_girls_ survey-main-results- compatibility”: http:// domestic abuse (Ro, 24. Romania 26. European in_europe_2017_ report eige.europa.eu/rdc/ Po, and others) 25. Campania Commission website.pdf

27 abortion rights have come under serious threat The Taskforce notes that sexual and in Poland with the election of the far-right Law reproductive health and rights (SRHR) have and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwosc, or been under serious attacks almost in every PiS) in 2015 who are pushing for a total ban on single country in the past 5 years29. A strong, abortion (see story box). Women’s access to coordinated and well-resourced anti-women, abortion is key to preserving women’s control anti-choice, homophobic lobby is very active of their futures and ownership over their bodies across the region and has made headway in and in that respect, governments need to make some countries in limiting women’s reproductive medical services available to all women on a non- choices. This lobby has been strongly supported discriminatory basis. by populist politicians and national churches and has increased stigmatisation of women Forced sterilisation documented among seeking abortion, limited reproductive health Roma women and women with disabilities in services available to women and powerfully the region is also a grave violation of human re-stereotyped women in motherhood roles. rights and should be stopped. Reparations and Restrictions to women’s access to abortion access to justice to victims should be ensured. and contraception services are often pushed Obstetric violence is also widespread across the through by far-right governments. For example, region and women also often lack the freedom to decide how and where to deliver their babies.

Story of the Serbian legislation with started in 2015. Politics of From EWL Members in Serbia the Istanbul Convention or its exhaustion of women’s CSOs (Mreza za Evropski Zenski Lobi, Serbia – full implementation hasn’t been lasts too long. After 25 years Network for European Women’s Lobby) achieved. Cases of femicide without funding from the state, are consistent every year it is now clear that this is a as well as domestic violence strategy of all governments we There has been some major against women. A national SOS had, since the establishment of “ improvements regarding helpline for women who have the first support services in the violence against women in survived male violence hasn’t beginning of nineties. As long Serbia including with the been established yet, despite as the funding of specialised ratification of the Council of the fact that negotiations support services is conditioned Europe Istanbul Convention between the Ministry of by the level of criticism on Preventing and Combating Labour, Employment, Veteran of women’s CSOs towards Violence Against Women and and Social Policy and coalition governments, democratic Domestic Violence in October of specialised women’s NGOs values in Serbia remain out of 2013. However, harmonisation for providing support services the place. ”

29. In Estonia, this which has also led to z-kraju,3/sondaz- Continuum of is not the case, a sharp decrease in ogromna-przewaga- Violence Against where abortion is the number of legally przeciwnikow- Women and Girls”: freely available to all induced abortions in zaostrzenia-prawa- https://www. women and this right Estonia. aborcyjnego,825726. womenlobby.org/ is not challenged 30. https://www. html IMG/pdf/facsheet_ by Estonian society. womenlobby.org/ 32. See also violence_against_ Furthermore, BlackFriday European Women’s women_and_girls_ sex education is 31. https://www. Lobby (June 2017), in_europe_2017_ mandatory at school; tvn24.pl/wiadomosci- “Disrupting the website.pdf

28 Story Recognising the anguish, pain opposed to changes in the From EWL Members in Poland and suffering such laws can abortion law. And even though (The Network of East West-Women cause for women who receive there is a strong pressure Poland) on #BlackFriday a diagnosis on an unviable from conservative groups in pregnancy, EWL members Poland to start working on the joined protests in Poland and Bill introducing a total ban In March 2018 further throughout Europe, and joined on abortion, and it appears “ risks to women’s rights in as co-signatory in a letter to that there are doubts about Poland were met with huge the Polish Government calling the introduction of such a ban nationwide protests when a Bill on them to reconsider support within the ruling party itself was introduced to Parliament for such damaging laws. More (Law and Justice). Meanwhile, following requests from than 200 organisations from the protests must and will religious groups for a pull- all over the world endorsed continue. back on access to abortion the statement 30. Since the ” services. The Bill, entitled protests, the proposed Bill ‘Stop Abortion’, seeks to has not progressed further. March 2018 #BlackFriday protest in Poland, further criminalise abortion, An opinion poll by Kantar where thousands of people demonstrated including in cases of severe Millward Brow 31 showed that against a proposed bill that would lead to a or fatal foetal abnormality. 75 % of Poles questioned were total ban on abortion in the country

29 Strategy for action by women’s organisations, Recommendations for European and national EWL, EWL members and working structures: decision-makers: 32  Design public campaigns linking violence  All member states must sign and ratify and against women and lack of access to SRHR implement the Council of Europe Istanbul as human rights violations; Convention on Preventing and Combating  Promote the signing, ratification and full Violence Against Women and Domestic implementation of the Istanbul Convention; Violence, without reservations; the EU monitor its implementation in terms of should also ratify the Convention; legislation and policy; monitor victims’  Ensure systematic consultation of services; and sustainable funding for women’s  Ensure that the European Commission organisations, providing support for women monitors the implementation of other and girl victims, developing advocacy related legislation such as Directive on and awareness raising campaigns, at EU, Victim Rights and Protection and European national and local levels; Protection Order;  Issue an EU Strategy and new Directive  Advocate for the Equality model and better on Violence Against Women and girls that policies on prostitution and trafficking, recognises and criminalises all forms of according to EWL principles and to the male violence against women, including needs in the different countries; prostitution, as part of a continuum of  Expose international connections and the violence against women. This should hidden agenda of the anti-choice lobby provide support to all women and girl active in the region; monitor international victims and EU policies and legislative meetings, follow the money and work corpus for VAWG should be integrated into with friendly media in explaining these the strategies and legislation on equality organisations and their national political between women and men; connections;  The violence against women definition  Explain and campaign for a comprehensive should also be broadened at EU level in understanding of women’s health including order to encompass prostitution as a form sexual and reproductive health; access to of violence against women; free contraception needs to be part of the  Appoint an EU coordinator to end violence minimum health package; against women and girls within the umbrella  Raise awareness that changing demo- of EU’s work on equality between women graphic trends such as population aging and men with a strong political mandate and negative birth rates should not impede to coordinate the implementation of the on women’s human rights; and should also Istanbul convention at EU level; be regarded in relation to other factors such  The EU is at the forefront of promoting as emigration and immigration, the demo- SRHR in international environments and graphic advantage of minority populations, must also do so in its own national contexts; the promotion of active aging etc. women living in the EU have a right to safe and legal abortion, which is why abortion as a right belongs in the EU equality between women and men agenda;  The European Commission should follow its mandate on anti-discrimination and recognise that health packages/ public health benefits limiting women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and services (abortion, contraception, assisted reproductive technology) are discriminatory and should end;  Government policies should not promote sexist attitudes, incite to hatred, or be expressed in antigypsyist, anti- migrant or homophobic language and it should not promote gender stereotypes.

30 Story go to pharmacy to purchase have been happy to avoid From EWL Members in Latvia contraceptives. It is logical unplanned pregnancy but she (Latvijas Sieviesu Organizaciju Sadarbibas that preference will be given to is not aware of contraception purchase what will minimise methods or has no access to tikls – Women’s NGO Cooperation Network hunger. In men’s thinking, it them. Secondly, often women’s of Latvia) can be similar, if they have to self-esteem is not at the level choose between cigarettes or to have an impact on the man Iveta Kelle, Chair of the condoms, preference will be to use contraception. During “ Board of the NGO Papardes given to cigarettes. Sadly, the pre-election times in Latvia, zieds, Family Planning and most popular contraception we were hearing of politicians’ Sexual Health Association, a methods in Latvia are unsafe commitments for various partner of the EWL Member ones, like calendar method benefits — public transportation in Latvia, talks about access to and stopped intercourse. It is free of charge, free meals in contraception in Latvia, ‘Each clear that in situations where the schools or allowances. woman has the right to plan there are no other methods But none of these politicians her motherhood. This is not available, families are forced to were offering real solutions always possible when she has to rely on coincidence. Quite often for the ignored problem in choose between buying pasta the birth of a child is not the our society — low access to the to feed her four or five kids or choice of the woman. She would contraception.’ ”

Solidarity protest in Prague, Czech Republic, against the abortion ban in Poland.

31 7 ENDING INTERSECTIONAL DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN FROM MINORITY GROUPS, INCLUDING OF ROMA WOMEN AND MIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN

Women from minority groups face intersec- facing additional obstacles in accessing tional discrimination wherever they are; by this protection. we define and recognise that many women experience intersecting or overlapping forms Lack of economic opportunities has driven of discrimination such as racism and sexism women (Roma and non-Roma) from the region that women of colour face. to richer EU member states in search for better lives. Usually these women work in grey zones The CEEBBS region hosts the largest Roma of the economy (care work, low skilled labour- population in the European Union. Romani intensive agricultural jobs) and consequently women are often exposed to intersectional risk exploitation and violence. discrimination, including on the grounds of gender and ethnic origin and have limited Migration occurs both from outside and within access to employment, education, health, European borders to and from the CEEBBs social services and decision-making. region. CEEBBS Member states have been Discrimination can occur in mainstream identified as both source, transit and destination society in the context of growing antigypsyism countries for trafficking in human beings,35 but also within their communities because with many Member states slow to respond to of their gender. The Roma population face increasing prevalence of trafficking for sexual several social issues due to on-going social exploitation, the emerging issue of exploitative exclusion and multigenerational poverty. sham marriages and increased vulnerabilities Romani women in particular, run a higher of refugee women and girls to grooming and risk than non-Romani women of all forms of coercion into the sex trade. violence against women, notably domestic violence, trafficking and exploitation while While women and girls have reported being targeted in hate crimes in the CEEBBS region due to their migrant background or perceived ethnicity, women migrants from the CEEBBS region also face discrimination and anti- immigrant sentiment within other EU member states. FACT BOX 6 Against all of this, migrant women, Roma THE SITUATION OF ROMANI WOMEN AND REFUGEE women, and in fact all women, have a wealth WOMEN IN THE CEEBBS REGION of knowledge, expertise and experience that they are willing to share. We call on the Member With one exception, there are no Roma women represented in national parliaments, and in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, there are no Roma, men or women, at all33. 33. Council of Europe: #womensvoices”: breakdown, see In Serbia, the ratio social workers/refugees in the https://www.coe. https://www. US Trafficking in refugee camp in Presevo during the height of the int/en/web/portal/ womenlobby. Persons Report refugee crisis was: 4/6,00034. roma-women org/IMG/pdf/_ (2017): https://www. 34. European Women’s womensvoices state.gov/documents/ Lobby (2016), “From finalforweb.pdf organization/271339. Conflict to Peace? 35. To see country pdf

32 Story a violent partner. Overall, in the various levels of From EWL Member, the European Poland, refugee and migrant discrimination (gender and women experience many levels ethnicity/nationality) while Network of Migrant Women (ENoMW) of discrimination: talking about the labour • Institutional, as migrant market. Refugee and migrant Poland has faced a women have a limited access women and girls experience “ significant migration influx to public services. This hate speech and the general in recent years. Many of the situation worsened recently attitude of Polish society people who have migrated because of an increased towards refugees changed come from the previous Soviet flow of migration coming to rapidly in the last two years Republics such as Ukraine or Poland. Migrant women in since the conservative party Belarus. Many refugee women the labour market experience Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Law from the Caucasus who come various forms of exploitation and Justice) is in charge. to Poland are victims of male such as illegal employment Nowadays the majority of domestic violence, but this and the lack of access to Poles don’t agree with the is often difficult for them to basic working standards idea of accepting refugees in prove and it is not considered (such as breaks, health their country. as a justified cause to apply for care insurance, the right to • Within the feminist refugee status by the Polish holidays etc.), violence in the movement, as there are authorities. Therefore, those workplace, delayed or non- concerns around the lack of women who escape domestic payment of salaries. accessibility and inclusion violence are often forced to • Interpersonal, as there is experienced by migrant change their migration path an increase in hate speech and refugee women in from legal to illegal, or face crimes in Poland since 2015. the feminist movement in the prospect of returning to It is difficult to distinguish Poland. ”

Story

From EWL Members in Romania (Romanian Women’s Lobby)

Poland Rebeca Nechita, from“ Voinesti commune in Iasi county, Romania, was talking about multiple discrimination experienced by Roma women in the book ‘Her Story — Women in rural inter-ethnic communities (2016)’. She said: ‘Life has taught me to solve my problems. I went to the hospital and I learned to tell my point of view. At the hospital, the point they have been listening A meeting of a group of Roma women in doctors treated me very badly to me and changed their mind. Voinesti in rural Romania. at first because I’m from the You have to have the courage countryside, I’m young, I’ve and to say your point of view, born so many kids. But at some anywhere, anytime.’ ”

33 states to see women migrants and Roma risks and violence faced by working women women as a resource, and we remind the EU and ensure women are not precluded from of its human rights obligations towards this accessing these supports due to their vulnerable, yet capable group of the women migration or residency status; population in Europe.  Raise awareness on refugee and migrant women and girls, their contribution to national and EU economies, cultures and Strategy for action by women’s organisations, to rights. EWL, EWL members and working structures:  Develop joint programmes with Roma women’s NGOs and support joint advocacy Recommendations for European and national actions; decision-makers:  Campaign against racism on national and  Deliver on the promises of National EU-levels with an emphasis on racism Strategies for Roma inclusion — including against minority women; on women’s social inclusion and political  Campaign for effective and participative participation; national integration programmes, to be  Respect the fundamental rights of Romani, developed and implemented on a local migrant and refugee women, men and and national level between communities, children; end policies such as forced including offering language and practical evictions that further marginalise them; supports and information, which are apply a gender equality perspective to all structured flexibly to be responsive to the relevant policies and practice; specific needs of different target groups;  Ensure that Romani and Traveller women  Hold reflective sessions with local minority and girls are informed about their rights or vulnerable groups to scope their under existing national legislation on perceived needs and challenges to ensure gender equality and anti-discrimination responses adequately reflect the barriers and fully benefit from them; they face;  Implement equality in civic rights and in access  Discuss the EU care economy supporting to health services, education, employment women’s employment in formal economies; and accommodation that respect human argue for social benefits and dignified work rights, non-discrimination and compatible environments for domestic workers; discuss with nomadism in relevant cases;

Story She arrived in Macedonia and not light enough, not secure From EWL’s #womensvoices report, asked for asylum. Her claim for women, there is limited on a case in the Republic of North of was refused by the authorities. access to hygiene facilities, Macedonia Currently her case is in front access to medical help is very of the constitutional court and also limited. Other women A woman was physically she is in the asylum centre in have complained that they “ assaulted by her father in her Skopje. During this decision- were sexually accosted by country of origin because making process the woman police personnel and social she married a man from a is being accommodated in workers in the centre. However, different religion. Her father the Vizbegovo asylum centre these claims never went into was a police officer and she in Skopje. The centre is a procedure due to the fact that could not protect herself in her collective facility where women women were scared to report own country. Therefore, she are often exposed to gender- in order not to lose the asylum decided to leave the country. based violence. The facility is right. ” 36

34 Story is not simply a physical fence: Hatemongering the country has mobilised its against migrants in Hungary police, its frontier guard and its media against migrants and An extreme form of refugees. Two years of intensive hatemongering“ is being government propaganda deliberately whipped up by the has portrayed ‘migrants’ as Government in Hungary against terrorists and extremists on ‘migrants’ (this term is used to billboards, direct mail, ads in encompass also refugees). In radio and TV, some of which are particular, the Hungarian fence directly inspired by 1930s anti- put up to ‘keep out migrants’, Semitic propaganda. ”

● Review commitments regarding refugee  Ensure that social inclusion priorities are resettlement programmes, commit to linked with robust anti-discrimination meeting existing targets and increase measures and a zero-tolerance approach targets where appropriate, in response to to antigypsyism; the continuing humanitarian crisis being  Member states and the EU must sign experienced by many asylum seeking the UN Convention on the Protection women, children and men; of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and  Review and improve conditions in temporary Members of Their Families. Human rights accommodation sites for refugee people, are women’s rights and implicitly migrant including ensuring adequate and safe women’s rights; gender-specific measures; ● Social inclusion programmes for refugee  Ensure access to health, education and and migrant people must have a gender employment/financial assistance to all component; design accessible social Romani, migrant and refugee women and services for migrant women including free girls as required, in line with basic human access to health care, education, services rights requirements; for VAW victims and job counselling.

36. European https://www. Women’s Lobby womenlobby.org/IMG/ (2016), “From pdf/_womensvoices Conflict to Peace? finalforweb.pdf #womensvoices”:

35 8 MAINTAINING A PEACEFUL EUROPE BY ENSURING PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN ALL STAGES OF PEACE-MAKING PROCESSES

The more the conflict escalates, the more a Recommendations for European and national militarist patriotic rhetoric explodes, including decision-makers: in countries neighbouring the CEEBBS  Diplomatic talks should include women Region. Populists across the CEEBBS region negotiators and women peacekeepers are attempting to revive patriarchal stereotypes according to the recommendations of associating men with warriors and women UN resolution on women and peace and with motherhood and the earth. Such politics security (UNSCR1325); poses risks to peace and stability. The Taskforce  EU foreign policy needs to stress the value calls for responsible politics leading towards a of peace and regional cooperation; should de-escalation of conflict and for meaningful also act more decisively towards ending participation of women in all stages of peace- conflicts in the Middle East through making processes. multilateral negotiations;  Grant refugee status and other forms of protection to people fleeing in the face of Strategy for action by women’s organisations, conflict (especially conflicts in the Middle EWL, EWL members and working structures: East and Ukraine);  Organise together with pacifists in order to  EU policies must consider the different promote a culture of peace; contexts and extraordinary conditions of  Lobby for cuts on military budgets; the countries and must take substantial  Emphasise the modern nature of warfare measures to protect and support women which produces more human damage human rights defenders; among civilians; monitor women’s rights  Direct European aid to conflict zones in violations in conflict zones and provide the Middle East and Ukraine, especially to reports and other inputs to participating refugee camps; governments;  Recognise violence against women,  Draft petitions to governments to ask especially sexual violence as a risk to women for peace talks; support the inclusion of in conflict zones; recognise sexual violence women negotiators in all conflict resolution in conflict and post-conflict situations as measures; a crime of war; provide legal remedy to  Organise together with women refugees victims. to raise awareness about conflicts and governmental shortfalls in meeting their needs.

36 Story From EWL Members in Turkey until they were released at the (EWL Coordination for Turkey – Avrupa end of October 2017 (known as the Buyukada Case). One Kadin Lobisi Turkiye Koordinasyonu): of them was Ilknur Ustun, the Country Coordinator of In Turkey, civil society EWL Coordination for Turkey, “members are imprisoned and she was made to stay in without any tangible prison for 4 months without allegations and made to stay any concrete accusations. in prison for long periods. Last Independent women’s year in July 2017, 10 activists, organisations and activists from women and human are justifiably worried in rights organisations, having terms of freedom of speech a routine CSO meeting were and association, nevertheless arbitrarily detained and it is promising that there is imprisoned for 4 months a resilient, outspoken and without any substantial strong women’s movement allegations against them, in Turkey. ”

37 CREDITS

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) would like to give special thanks to the many knowledgeable women from across Europe who made valuable contributions to this ABOUT report. We thank all the members of EWL’s THE EUROPEAN WOMEN’S LOBBY Central Eastern Europe, the Balkan and the Baltic States (CEEBBS) Taskforce Founded in 1990, the European who participated in the preparation, drafting Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest and review of the report, including Selma alliance of over 2,000 women’s Acuner, Laura Albu, Daniela Antonovska, Iliana non-governmental associations in Balabanova Stoycheva, Teresa Buczkowska, the EU coming together to campaign Julia Gierczak, Borbala Juhasz, Edite Kalnina, for their common vision of Audroné Kisieliené, Inga Koralewska, Riina Kütt, a Feminist Europe. Vanja Macanovic, Aleksandra Nestorov, Violeta Neubauer, Nela Pamukovic, Metka Roksandic, Jana Smiggels Kavková, Nijole Steponkute, ABOUT EWL’S CENTRAL EASTERN Malgorzata Tarasiewicz, Anna Zobnina, members EUROPE, THE BALKAN AND THE of the EWL Coordination for Turkey, as well as all BALTIC STATES (CEEBBS) TASKFORCE staff at the EWL Secretariat who contributed to this report. A special thank you to Irina Costache, The EWL CEEBBS Taskforce brings who carried out research and wrote a first version together women’s rights advocates of this report in 2015, to Laura Sullivan for her from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech precious editing and writing, and to Jelena Republic, Estonia, Republic of Jovanovic at ERGO for her valuable input. North Macedonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, EWL PRESIDENT Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey as well Gwendoline Lefebvre as representatives of 2 network organisations, the European Network EWL SECRETARY GENERAL of Migrant Women and the European Joanna Maycock Centre of the International Council of Women (ECICW). Together they EDITORIAL AND PUBLICATION COORDINATION work to promote inclusive democratic Joanna Maycock and Stephanie Yates and peaceful societies free of gender stereotypes and discrimination. RESEARCH & WRITING Irina Costache www.womenlobby.org EDITING Laura Sullivan European Women’s Lobby @EuropeanWomen GRAPHIC DESIGN Lisa Boxus | inextenso.be

© European Women’s Lobby, December 2018

This publication has been funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union. The information contained in the publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission.

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