Freedom from violence against women The Council of Europe has published a new “Freedom from violence against women” section of its dedicated website highlighting the impact of the European Convention on Human Rights, as part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The new section includes twelve case studies showing how judgments from the European Court of Human […]
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8% of EU population unable to keep home adequately warm
An EU-wide survey concluded that in 2020, 8% of the EU population said that they were unable to keep their home adequately warm. The situation varied across the EU Member States with the largest share of people saying that they were unable to keep their home adequately warm in Bulgaria (27%), followed by Lithuania (23%), Cyprus (21%), […]
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October 15: International Rural Women’s Day
On October 15, the International Day of Rural Women was celebrated under the slogan “Rural women grow quality food for all people“, with the aim of highlighting the fundamental role played by rural women and girls in food systems around the world. It is a date that still needs to be celebrated today to vindicate […]
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Gender-based violence costs the EU €366 billion a year
The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has estimated that the cost of gender-based violence across the EU is €366 billion a year. Violence against women makes up 79 % of this cost, amounting to €289 billion. Human life, pain and suffering do not have a price. However, knowing the cost of violence can help […]
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The renewed EU commitment to the fight against human trafficking must bring tangible results
The EESC broadly supports the new EU Strategy against trafficking in human beings 2021-2025, but also calls attention to the need of the social dimension to be incorporated into the policy. The new EU strategy on the fight to uproot trafficking displays a gap in terms of victims’ rights and social dimension. Trafficked people suffer […]
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Report hate crime, support victims
Significant barriers to reporting hate crime across the EU hinder victims’ access to protection and justice, finds a new report of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Many victims do not report attacks, as it is too difficult or they do not trust the police. FRA calls on EU countries to encourage hate crime […]
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Urgent measures needed to protect victims of partner violence in custody battles
Protecting women and children from violence paramount when establishing custody and visitation rights Alarming number of femicides and infanticides after gender-based violence is reported Victims need access to legal protection, financial support and emergency accommodation MEPs say child custody disputes constitute a form of gender-based violence when used by violent partners to continue to harm […]
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SDGs & me: Gender equality
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5) ‘Gender equality‘ aims to end all forms of discrimination, violence, and any harmful practices against women and girls. It also calls for the full participation of women at all levels of political and economic decision-making. In an EU context, SDG 5 focuses on progress made in abating gender-based violence and in […]
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EU research shows COVID-19 poised to end progress on gender equality
The social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis threaten to roll back recent progress in gender equality, including an overall trend of upward convergence. Despite slow progress in some areas over the past decade, crucial improvements had been made in countries with lower levels of gender equality. The regressive consequences of COVID-19 on gender […]
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