[Brussels,
07 November 2012] On 01 January 2013, Ireland
will take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The European
Women’s Lobby calls on the forthcoming Presidency to be a driving force for
women’s rights in Europe, especially in the current
crisis, ensuring that further cutbacks which would have a long-term negative
impact on gender equality are avoided or reversed.
The EWL has listed eight
priorities for the Irish Presidency in the area of gender equality and women’s
rights:
- Ensure
no deterioration in the level and predictability of EU funding for
activities on women’s rights and gender equality within the final
decision on the EU Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020;
- Take
a leadership role in the Council negotiations to advance the adoption of
the revised maternity leave Directive;
- Bring
back the issue of violence against women on the political agenda
of the EU;
- Support
the proposal and adoption of efficient binding EU-level
legislation to reach parity on company boards;
- Change
legislation in order to reach the highest standards of sexual and
reproductive health and rights, including sexual education and information
for all young people;
- Stress
that the economic independence of women is a condition
for equality between women and men throughout their lives and that it
includes, among others: quality employment, gender pay, pension
and poverty gaps, accessible and affordable care, social and health
services. These issues should be at the core of all mechanisms of
the EU 2020 Strategy;
- Take
a leadership role in developing targets and standards on quality and affordable
care services across the life-cycle for children,
dependent and elderly persons;
- Take
a leadership role in the Council negotiations to progress towards the
adoption of the draft Directive on combating discrimination on grounds of
religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation, including
regarding the need to examine causes of multiple discrimination