Demanding rights: EWL multiple strategies European Transgender Council, Malmö, 3rd October 2010 Alexandra Jachanova Dolezelova EWL Vice-President The voice of European Women The largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the EU, with more than 2500 member organisations Membership-based and centered Concentrating on European-level, but with activities from local to international level The main policy areas of EWL work: Violence against Women EU Gender equality legislation and policies Women in Decision-making /Parity Democracy Employment and Social Affairs Women and Health Women and the Media /Stereotypes Immigration, Integration and Asylum EU framework for gender equality EU legislation and policies on gender equality European Roadmap for equality between women and men 2006-2010 and new upcoming strategy European Gender Institute European Commission Advisory Committee on Gender Equality Building effective partnerships Campaigns at International and European level Strengthening regional cooperation between government agencies and NGOs Facilitating networking between NGOs that do no have access to European decision- makers Joint lobbying of EU institutions Building effective partnerships A. Campaigning at the International and European level Goal: reform of UN Gender Equality Architecture Launched in 2008 Global network of 307 NGOs GEAR Campaign Global Focal Points Regional Focal Points NY Lobbying Group Website: www.un-gear.eu • José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Portugal • Bibiana Aido, Minister for Equality, Spain • Simone Veil, Former President of the European Parliament, France • Renate Jaeger, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Germany • Morten Kjaerum, Director of the European Institute for Fundamental Rights, Denmark • Diana Wallis, Vice-President of the European Parliament (ALDE), UK • Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Commission, Sweden • Romano Prodi, former President of the European Commission • Ulyana Prumova, Director General of National TV of Bulgaria • Mary Robinson, former President, Ireland • Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize winner, Turkey Building effective partnerships B. Strengthening regional cooperation between government agencies and NGOs Aiming to act as a starting point for long-term change in the region, developing victim-centred and durable models for support women victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in and between the Nordic and Baltic countries Building effective partnerships C. Facilitating networking between NGOs that do not have access to European decision-makers Building effective partnerships D. Joint lobbying of EU institutions Joint lobbying for new anti-discrimination directive Anti-discrimination Publication “Protecting all women from discrimination: step to take at national and European level” Publication of articles in the other anti-discrimination networks publications supporting the directive and explaining multiple discrimination VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Council of Europe (CoE): Monitoring of the CAHVIO process on a new CoE convention on combating violence against women and domestic violence Lobbying Kit May 2010 Key allies/experts regularly consulted (IPPF, ILGA-Europe) Multiple discrimination/intersectionality: main challenges for EU policies CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES AND POSSIBILITIES • Europe 20/20 Agenda • Lisbon Treaty (including Charter on Fundamental Rights) • Commissioner on FRs and Citizenship • The next ‘Roadmap’ • Anti Discrimination Directive • The Women’s Charter • EU Strategy on VAW (including the EU Observatory) • The European Institute of Gender Equality Remember Women’s rights in the international context!.