uwenews's Space

uwenews's Space

Blogs and newsitems of the University Women of Europe its board and its members.

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  • EU will propose quota for men and women in boards: support actions are needed!

    • 7 Sep 2012
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    EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding will propose decisive legislative action on gender quotas for corporate boards next month, after her calls to take voluntary steps to increase the number of women on boards to 40% by 2020 failed to deliver tangible results. UWE president Edith Lommerse, agrees fully. "Of course one could argue that it shouldn’t be necessary but face the facts; it is the only proven way towards gender balance!” We should all work towards acceptance of this proposal and support Viviane Reding!

    The legislative proposal follows a three-month consultation and a report launched in March in which the Commission showed limited progress towards increasing the number of women on companies’non-executive director boards. The European Women's Lobby has worked towards this aim for several years and strive to reach gender balance and aims for 50% men and women.
    According to the draft proposal, seen by the Financial Times, companies will face fines and other sanctions if they don’t make sure to have at least 40% of women on their boards. The European Commission aims at redressing a severe gender imbalance as the report, published in March, showed that 13.7% of board members at Europe's top firms are women, up from 11.8% in 2010. “Progress in the share of women on company boards is very slow, with an average annual increase of just 0.6 percentage points over the past years,” the draft directive says. “The rate of improvement in individual member states has been unequal and has generated highly divergent results.” Even though some European countries - including Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain - have started to address the situation by adopting legislation that introduces voluntary gender quotas for company boards, other EU countries, like Britain and Sweden have shown strong resistance. Denmark, Finland, Greece, Austria and Slovenia have adopted rules on gender balance for the boards of state-owned companies. The EU estimates that it would still take more than 40 years to reach a significant gender balance (at least 40% of both sexes) at this rate, if the approach doesn't change. “Personally, I am not a great fan of quotas. However, I like the results they bring,” Reding said recently.
    According to the draft, companies larger than 250 employees or with more than €50 million in revenue would be required to report annually on the gender composition of their boards. Those that miss the mandatory quota would be subject to administrative fines or be barred from state aid and contracts. The European Commission has said that there is both an economic and a business case for better gender balance in company boardrooms and management. More women now graduate than men in Europe (59% vs. 41%), yet their professional careers lag behind those of men. This underused pool of qualified workers represents an untapped potential for the economy. Studies also show a number of strong links between gender balance and performance in creativity, innovation, financial reporting, auditing and internal controls.
    Promoting more equality in decision-making is one of the goals in the Women's Charter launched by the Commission in March 2010. The Commission then followed these commitments by adopting a Gender Equality Strategy in September 2010 for the next five years, which includes exploring targeted initiatives to get more women into top jobs in economic decision-making.

    Next steps:
    1 Support actions in EU countries
    2 October 2012: Commission to propose legislation to boost the number of women on company boards

    Click here to download:
    quota-working_paper_en.pdf (298 KB)
    (download)
    Click here to download:
    quota-working_paper_en.pdf (298 KB)

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  • TAUW Turkey asks and gives support against abortion ban

    • 4 Sep 2012
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    • TAUW reproductive rights
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    Dear All,

    We as Turkish Association of University Women (founded in 1949) and Istanbul Women Associations Union want to participate the 28 September campaign and to organise a press conference in our country, Because: Abortion Ban is going to be legal in Turkey !!! and we hope the support of international institutions and international campains will be helpful to stop abortion ban.

    In Turkey abortion until 10 weeks in pregnancy, is legal since 1 November 1983.
    Turkey has made progress in improving reproductive health since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and has reflected the ICPD targets and strategies in the country's Development Plan. Furthermore, a National Strategic Plan for Women's Health and Family Planning was developed. But political environments are changed from time to time.

    Sometimes it is very supportive to womens human rights but sometime they are ignorant. Unfortunately after the governing conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2002, family integrity was valued over the woman’s individual rights. During the last election campaign Prime Minister called on women to have at least three children and argued that birth control advocates sought to weaken Turkey. And in 2011 the Ministry for Women and Family Affairs was replaced to the Ministry for Family Affairs and Social Policies. Locking up women in the structure of a Ministry of Family Affairs and Social Politics means to ignore all problems beyond family life. As many women NGO's, TUKD has protested that reconstruction. http://bianet.org/bianet/english/130059-what-we-need-is-a-women-ministry Allthough access to safe abortion care can be a life or death issue for women and l egal in Turkey, the Prime Minister says he is against Caesarean births and considers abortion a crime.
    While women have made significant strides in Turkey toward acceptance and public respectability, contradictions still exist. To implement the equal legal rights into every day life, we have a long way to go...

    with kindest regards
    Nazan Moroglu, LL.M.
    President TAUW (Turkish Association of University Women)
    Coordinator IWAU (Istanbul Women Associations Union)


     
    www.tukd.org.tr
    *****************

     

    A group of 50 women gather outside of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan’s office in İstanbul, protesting his comments on abortion. ‘The decision is up to us,’ wrote on one of the banners carried by women. DHA photo
    a group of women gather outside of Prime Minister’s office in İstanbul, protesting his comments on abortion.
    ‘The decision is up to us,’ wrote on one of the banners carried by women.
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  • Flashmob against abortion stigma for 28 September campaign, Melbourne, Australia

    • 4 Sep 2012
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    Reproductive Choice Australia is organising a Melbourne-based Flashmob against abortion stigma to coincide with the International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion.

    See also the action TAUW has taken, we should all support the actions over NFA's are taking. For the UWE board, Edith Lommerse

    I know most of you can't make it to Melbourne, Australia, but the Flashmob will be launching a national pledge campaign - in which people will swear not to shame women around abortion, or stand silent when others engage in abortion shaming - that is open to all Australians.  In the meantime, if you are aware of individual women, men or groups in Melbourne who might want to participate, can you send them here to find out more about the event and to register:http://www.reproductivechoiceaustralia.org.au/flashmob They - and you of course - can also follow us Facebook and Twitter:

     Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ReproductiveChoiceAustralia 

     Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReproChoiceAu

    We are hoping the Flashmob campaign will take off internationally. If you want to organise a Flashmob in your state or country, we are more than happy to advise and do what we can to support that work.

     Dr Leslie Cannold (ISpokeswoman, Reproductive Choice Åustralia)

    www.reproductivechoiceaustralia.org.au

    Email: leslie@cannold.com

    Mob: 0417114859

     

    Reproductive Choice Australia is a National Coalition of over 20 organisations including Children by Choice, the Public Health Association of Australia, the Australian Women's Health Network, the Women's Electorial Lobby, and all state-based pro-choice groups.

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  • IFUW searches new Executive Director

    • 3 Sep 2012
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    Please find below the short advertisement for the post of IFUW Executive Director. Would you please circulate it among your members and others who might be interested in applying. Applications should be sent to Linda Allen, as indicated on the advert, and not to the IFUW Office. Please note that the deadline for applications is 20 September 2012.

    IFUW,the International Federation of University Women, was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Geneva since 1972. It is a leading global organization advocating girls and women’s rights to quality education (http://www.ifuw.org/who/about/overview/). Today, in times of change, IFUW is looking for an

    Executive Director

    Responsibilities

    This 2-year mandate, potentially renewable, calls for a pro-active individual who will lead IFUW, develop policies and strategies to turn the organization around and strengthen IFUW's international presence. The ED will engage and liaise with all relevant external partners, work with the financial officers, develop income generation including raising grant money, and provide advice to the Board regarding organisational performance. The ED will report to the Board of Officers.

    Profile

    University qualification in Management or other relevant area. 7+ years’ experience in NGOs at senior level. Proficiency in accounts and budget management up to CHF 2 million. Up-to-date software application skills. Proficiency in English. Fluency in French and/or Spanish an asset. Strong leadership, communication and negotiation skills.

    Deadline for application: 20 September 2012

    If this position is of interest to you, please send us your application file, including a detailed CV and cover letter, which will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

    Contact:

    Linda Allan

    Alec, Allan & Associés, Recruitment and Executive Search

    Rue De-Candolle 9, CH- 1205 Geneva

    E-mail: linda.allan@alecallan.com

    Tel:+41-22-322 25 35

    Please note thatCircular 12/2012 (Call for Nominations) is still under preparation and you will receive this in the early part of September

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  • Report 2012 BFWG in Norfolk

    • 29 Aug 2012
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    Click here to see the 2012 AGM and AGM Dinner Gallery of photos
    Ninety members of BFWG met on Friday 13th July at Wymondham College, Norfolk to conduct the 102nd Annual General Meeting and Conference.
    On Friday evening after dinner they heard a lively and amusing presentation from Catherine Reynolds, Director of Communications at John Innes.
    On Saturday after a business session the illustrated Keynote Address was given by Professor Anna Robinson-Pant , the Professor of Education and Director of the Centre for Applied Research in Education at the University of East Anglia. She spoke on the theme:

    ' EMPOWERING WOMEN: IS EDUCATION THE KEY?'

    Robinson-pant
    She talked about her experiences of working with women and girls in rural Nepal for about ten years where she worked as a teacher educator, educational planner and researcher with various aid agencies, including Voluntary Service Overseas and ActionAid. Her study of women's literacy and development in Nepal entitled 'WHY EAT GREEN CUCUMBER AT THE TIME OF DYING?' which explored the link between women's literacy and development (2001 Unesco Institute for Education) won the UNESCO International Award for Literacy Research. Since coming to UEA she has conducted action-oriented research in the local area, including projects with international students and with teachers and children in Norfolk Primary Schools.

    After lunch another business session was held where several new officers were elected. After tea Workshop Sessions were conducted on International Matters, Financial Matters and --in the computer suite--'IT for the Timid' was a practical 'hands-on' session to help members with their computer and internet skills.

    The Conference Dinner was held at the historic Great Hospital in the centre of Norwich. Baroness Gillian Shephard was the Guest of Honour and she responded to the Toast to the Guests given by President Jenny Morley. She then proposed the Toast to the British Federation of Women Graduates. Members and guests ate an excellent three course meal with wine and thoroughly enjoyed the convivial atmosphere and Lady Shephard's amusing speech. In her reply on behalf of the Federation the President reminded Members that their motto 'let us perfect the art of friendship' was about friendship with a purpose, over half a million pounds having been given away by BFWG to help girls and women with education b during the years 2009 and 2010.

     2012 marks ONE HUNDERED YEARS OF AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO WOMEN by the Federation.

    On Sunday the Annual Meetings of the BFWG Charitable Foundation, trading as FfWG,was  followed by that of the BFWG Scholarship Fund Trustees.After a report from the Sybil Campbell Collection Trustees members heard feedback from the workshop sessions. A General Resolution was unanimously passed after robust discussion among delegates:

    'BFWG CALLS UPON HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND  THE WELSH ASSEMBLY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF THE RESTRICTIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY ON BOTH THE FINANCES AND THE GOOD INTERNATIONAL STANDING OF BRITISH UNIVERSITIES'

    The meeting  concluded with a 'farewell and thank you' session to those retiring from posts.

    The Norfolk and Norwich Local Association which had organised the meeting were warmly thanked and applauded by the assembled company for a very successful and enjoyable event.

    JMM: 2012-07-20

     

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  • We welcome: Ana Rodriques new CER in Germany

    • 29 Aug 2012
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    My name is Ana Rodrigues. I was born in Portugal but I moved to Germany with my parents at the age of 5. I studied philosophy, French and English literature at the University of Paderborn and Toulouse (as ERASMUS student). In Paderborn, I’ve been collaborating since2006 in Prof. Dr. Hagengruber’s research project on the “History of Women Philosophers and Scientists”. After my graduation in 2008 I continued my work within the project. I’m preparing my Ph.D. on the moral philosophy of Emilie du Châtelet, a French Enlightenment philosopher. Since 2011 I am responsible for "In der Philosophie zu Hause", a project aiming to encounter with the progressing cultural diversity of our students. In courses, workshops, tutorials and a special office hour I try to promote a broad philosophical dialogue on the basis of the students’ different cultural backgrounds.

    In 2010 I became member of the German NFA (DAB) and since June 2012 its CER. As a true European and someone who is already familiar with questions of gender equality and intercultural dialogue in academia I’m looking forward to making a small but successful contribution to the UWE’s and DAB’s work in the following two years.

    ana.rodrigues@uni-paderborn.de

    Ana_rodrigues_2

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  • Women in politics: a map of the world

    • 29 Aug 2012
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    Dear All,

    I want to share "the Women in Politics - 2012 Map (UN Women and IPU)"
    the map provides information on the percentage of women in ministerial ranks,
    women in parliaments, women in the highest decision-making bodies...throughout the world.

    looking forward to welcome you to Istanbul, to the conference of IFUW 2013..
    Best regards
    Nazan Moroğlu
    President Turkish Ass. of UW

    Click here to download:
    women_in_politics.pdf (1.28 MB)
    (download)
    Click here to download:
    women_in_politics.pdf (1.28 MB)

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  • New roadmap for UWE

    • 30 Jul 2012
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    Dear all,

    We as a board have had our first official meeting at the beginning of July in Brussels. We used the day to get to know each other and discussed several more or less housekeeping matters, The whole afternoon was dedicated to update the roadmap for UWE, using the IFUW Strategic plan the old roadmap, and of course the material from the workshop UWE 2022. So we weren't leisurely sitting around on the beach.

    We will which present this new roadmap to you right after the holiday in September- October this year. First we will discuss the plan  (via email, skype and the blog on posterous) with CER's and Presidents of the NFA's and then with all members that are interested.  It is part of this new roadmap to develop a calendar (for all events). Of course the VP's will also need to be informed about what goes on in a certain country or NFA. It can only be a collaborative effort to enhance the advocacy of UWE. So we are looking forward to your messages! That is also why we started this blog. Would you like to post something? It is easy, you can just send an email to uwenews@posterous.com when you are a contributor. Followers can give comments and send a mail to UWEpresident@ifuw.org.  

    Have a nice summer!

    For the board,

    Edith Lommerse

    Strand-achtergronden-strand-wallpapers-hd-strand-wallpaper-2

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  • President's talk in Finland, a letter from Austria

    • 2 Jul 2012
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    Dear all, I enjoyed the days in Helsinki and I especially was pleased by the liveliness and the the high level of the discussions. And I appreciated also very much the occasion to meet the other deleguates and to discuss one or the other problems during the breaks and the evening events. For me it was the first international meeting I joined with UWE and it made me sure, that we are a real international network!

    I was very much interested to meet the other presidents. The discussions during our common lunch did concern many items, they reached from internal problems to general social and political items. For me in particular it was very helpful to talk with the Turkish and Northern Cypriote Colleagues, because there is a very high Turkish share among the immigrants to Austria. The second generation ist going to find their way to the Austrian Universities and we are facing more and more qualified women with islamic background. Within our Austrian Association we did not yet find a common position concerning women wearing the scarf as a religious symbol. Though these discussions were very helpful to learn about different points of views and to shape up my own mind, there was no concrete outcome of the meeting, except it did encourage me to join the next meeting in Instanbul.

    Ingrid Novotny
    Austria

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  • A time to remember Conference in Helsinki june 2012

    • 2 Jul 2012
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    An FFUW member Eeva Honkasalo has kindly shared her UWE photos with us. You may visit her gallery at:

    https://picasaweb.google.com/102766454761134239230/SANLlle?authkey=Gv1sRgCNvYkuqWv4-5rQE

    Thank you so much!

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    The University Women of Europe promote lifelong education for women and girls; promote international cooperation, friendship, peace and respect for human rights for all. We do that by advocating for the advancement of the status of women and girls and encourage and enable women and girls to apply their knowledge and skills in leadership and decisionmaking in all forms of public and private life.

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