1 Amare glasura ashunde - Our Voices Heard Romani Women’s Rights Conference 4th December 2007, Lejondal Castle Stockholm, Sweden Kirsti Kolthoff President

2 NO DEMOCRACY NO HUMAN RIGHTS without WOMEN´S RIGHTS including ROMANI WOMEN´S RIGHTS

3 European Women’s Lobby Established in 1990 Membership based women’s organisation from 26 countries - 23 in the EU 4000 members - largest umbrella organisations of women’s associations in the European Union (EU)

4 Source: Audiovisual Service European Union, CE | Amsterdam | P /10-23

5 Europe Ewl EU25 Member States: Austria Belgium Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta The Netherlands Poland Portugal Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom Candidate Countries: Bulgaria Croatia Romania Turkey Application Pending: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Population third largest population bloc in the world after China and India, with more than 450 million inhabitants. 20 official languages All member states are governed by parliamentary democracy. Seven constitutional monarchies which nevertheless rely on parliamentary government: 1957 six sign the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic community May 1, 2004 biggest enlargement of the EU since the dawn of European construction

6 Areas of work of EWL Women in decision-making Women’s diversity Women’s rights at international level European gender equality policies Violence against women Women’s human rights Economic and social justice for women

7 The EWL Mission work to achieve equality between women and men promote women’s empowerment in all spheres of public and private life eliminate all forms of violence against women Brings together women’s non -governmental organisations across Europé works through democratic processes with its members for the mainstreaming and monitoring of a feminist gender equality perspective in all areas of EU policy for the achievment of parity democracy at all levels

8 EWL Structure EWL Member organisations in Europe National Co-ordinations of women’s NGOs European Member organisations EWL General Assembly ( ≃ 100 delegates) EWL Board of Administration (34 elected members) EWL Executive Committee 1 President, 2 Vice Pres, 1 Treasurer, 3 members EWL Secretariat (Brussels) EWL Secretary General EWL staff

9 European Women‘s Lobby (EWL) EWL Member organisations EWL Board members EWL Executive Committee EWL Secretariat (Brussels) Influence EU Policy State governments and parliaments EU parliamentarians European Parliament (Women‘s Rights‘ Committee) EU Commission (DG: Employment and Social Affairs) The Council = the ministers from the member states

10 Gender equality Equality between women and men is a fundametal principle an integral and inseparable component of human rights Human rights of women are inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights Human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide freely on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health

11 Parity democray Power sharing Participation on an equal basis - 50/50 Compare to quotas - to achieve fair representation Women - not ONE category -race, class, ethnicity, national origin, age, culture, disabled, migrant, Roma - Deconstruct the white male norm Reconstruct a multifaceted femal norm

12 Election process including nominations The current system has to be changed with “old” boys networks and habits plus criteria linked to nationality and political parties one proposal Nominate for every position one woman and one man to enable equal representation or ……. and Allow national delegations to vote only if they hav equal representation

13 Achieving economic independence of women Pay gap Pension gap Time gap and care gap Poverty and social exclusion, social protection and health care Implementation gap - gender pact Impact of violence against women Minority women must be given a voice including Romani and Sami and migrant women

14 EWL STRUCTURE + NEW BRANCH (EPACoVAW) September member organisations (Women’s national and EU wide organisations) General Assembly Board of Administration (elected members) Executive (elected by the Board) EWL’s Secretariat Secretary General and Team Dossiers: -Equality & Employment -Social Security -Immigration -Decision making -Violence against women Projects EWL Observatory President, 1 Board representant EU experts European Policy Action Centre on VAW

15 Recommendations migrant women Wish to be included in public and political life and Independet legal status Recognition of professional /academic qualifications Document migrant women’s voices and experiences Call for EU legal intrument to end female genital mutilation

16 Women and intercultural dialogue Cultural and religious practices + legal practices EWL considers it essential to name, expose and condemn practices that violate women’s rights and silence women’s voices Include in public and political life See to and support equal rights to economic independence, be included in marriage, divorce and inheritance See to women’s rightg to autonomy regarding sexual and reproductive choice and health If not - violation of women’s human rights not to be placed within a cultural context that could conceal the reality

17 5 areas of concern for women’s rights and economic independence 1.Enhancing reconciliation of work and family life 2.Care - care service - and who cares? 3.Eradicating gender-based violence and trafficking in human beings 4.Eliminating gender stereotypes in society 5.Promoting gender equality outside the EU - human rights/external policy/co-operation development

18 Romani women’s rights Social inclusion Economic independence Employment Grey economy - entrepreneurship Education Sexual and reproductive rights Domestic violence Governments and the EU hold responsible To be included in public and political life

19 Quote from the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against women, Yakin Ertûk : “Compromising women’s rights is not an option. Therefore, the challenge that confronts us today is to respect and prize our diverse cultures while developing common strategies to resist oppressive practices in the name of culture, and to promote and uphold universal human rights while rejecting encroachments grounded in ethnocentric thinking.”