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European Women Lobby for Equal Representation

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Women’s Issues

European Women Lobby for Equal Representation

Lucette Pilcer sent this report on the General Assembly of the European Women’s Lobby meeting in Brussels from June 9 to 11, 2023. Founded in 1990, the European Women’s Lobby represents more than 2000 EU organisations from 26 Member States, as well as 17 European-wide organisations of which ICJW is one. This was the first coming together since 2019; due to Covid, we had only seen each other on Zoom. There were about 110 members present. The first day was spent at the European Parliament where we heard several most interesting women members and rapporteurs. The session was ended with a to the point contribution from Barbara Hendricks. The next two days were spent at a hotel in Brussels. The Istanbul Convention The first good news is that the European Parliament has ratified the Istanbul Convention. This means that other countries which have not done so will be forced to respect it. The Istanbul Convention fights all violence against women and girls. One little statistic for your information: per week in Europe there are 90 outspoken women victims of violence. Other points of the Lobby’s program are: sexual exploitation, feminist economics, women in political decision making, Europe free from prostitution, women’s human rights, cyber violence etc. The Secretary explained how the new Board is working and has regular consultation meetings with the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). About the European Women’s Lobby The Lobby’s Manifesto is now printed in 20 languages to extend its visibility. The Lobby’s budget comes 80% from the European Commission and 20% from co-funding private companies. EWL has started advocacy campaigns in view of the 2024 European elections. At the moment, only one third of ministers in the EU are women, the average gender gap in pension is 30%, difference in wages goes from 8 to 35%. Women are not a minority, we want equal representation, bodily autonomy, and inclusion of women’s voices in peace-building. In other words: ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention in its entirety without any reservations.

Jewish issues

Passover Greeting from the President

Passover is the quintessential family celebration in Judaism. We remember the liberation of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt, that is, the creation of the people of Israel, the formation of a people as such.” In the weeks leading up to Passover there is an important movement in any Jewish house, we clean, tidy, and remove from our homes anything that may contain chametz, the Jewish mother will always be busy preparing everything for her family to spend a Kasher Passover vesameach. Many are the messages and learnings of the feast, however, today I would like to highlight the importance of two of many of our mitzvot: The first is that when we take care of extracting the chametz from our homes, we concentrate on also removing from our lives everything that “inflates”, that grows in our lives and makes us “slaves” such as pride, sadness, anger, in short, we clean and leave in our lives only those feelings and attitudes that help us to be free, to rise and be better every day. The second is the importance of “Vehigadeta le binjá bayom hahu”, we begin the seder with the obligation to tell and tell our children the years of slavery and the miracle of the departure from Egypt, from our freedom. The Jewish woman, in the day to day fulfills this great mitzvah in each action, in each dinner, every time she lights the Shabbat candles and party, every time she strives and with much love and affection gathers her family around a table transmitting in each act, the essence of our people and the transmission of our values in the family. Let us continue to enjoy our physical and emotional freedom and sow in our children and grandchildren the pride of being Jewish, of being part of this great nation, of this great people. Passover Kasher vesameach. Lilian Grinberg, President, ICJW Pésaj es la celebración familiar por excelencia en el judaísmo. Recordamos la liberación del pueblo hebreo de la esclavitud en Egipto, es decir, la creación del pueblo de Israel, la formación de un pueblo como tal”. Las semanas previas a Pesaj hay un importante movimiento en cualquier casa judía, limpiamos, ordenamos y sacamos de nuestras casas cualquier cosa que pueda contener jametz, la madre judía siempre estará ocupada en preparar todo para que su familia pase un Pesaj Kasher vesameaj. Muchos son los mensaje y aprendizajes de la fiesta, sin embargo, hoy quisiera resaltar la importancia de dos de muchas de nuestras mitzvot: El primero es que al ocuparnos de extraer de nuestras casas el jametz, nos concentremos en sacar también de nuestras vidas todo aquello que “infle”, que crezca en nuestra vida y nos haga “esclavos” como la soberbia, la tristeza, el enojo, en fin, limpiemos y dejemos en nuestras vidas solo aquellos sentimientos y actitudes que nos ayuden a ser libres, a elevarnos y ser cada dia mejores. El segundo es la importancia de “Vehigadeta le binjá bayom hahú”, iniciamos el seder con la obligación de contar y relatar a nuestros hijos los años de esclavitud y el milagro de la salida de Egipto, de nuestra libertad. La mujer judía, en el día a día cumple con esta gran mitzva en cada acción, en cada cena, cada vez que enciende las velas de Shabat y fiesta, cada vez que se esfuerza y con mucho amor y cariño reune a su familia alrededor de una mesa transmitiendo en cada acto, la esencia de nuestro pueblo y la transmisión de nuestros valores en familia. Sigamos disfrutando de nuestra libertad física y emocional y sembremos en nuestros hijos y nietos el orgullo de ser judíos, de ser parte de esta gran nación, de este gran pueblo. Pesaj Kasher vesameaj.

ICJW EVENTS

Helping Girls

Celebrating the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl October 11th, 2023, marks the commemoration of the 11th anniversary of the United Nations International Day of the Girl (IDG). This year’s theme is “Digital Generation, Our Generation” providing a platform for the global community to understand the disadvantages girls face online. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has stated: “Now more than ever, we must renew our commitment to work together so that girls enjoy and exercise their rights and can play a full and equal part in their communities and societies. Investing in girls is investing in our common future.” Ending discrimination against the world’s millions of girls is a basic human right. The mission of IDG is to focus attention and address challenges promoting girls’ empowerment and gender equality. Just a few basic statistics demonstrate the issues and need- the risk of child marriage for up to 10 million girls; girls are primarily the victims of sexual exploitation and violence; the global internet user gender gap is growing; access to education and healthcare is not equitable. Ways to get involved: ACTION STEPS We, in ICJW, can do our part to break boundaries and barriers and increase opportunities for girls. Our affiliates can create awareness AND take action. Encourage, support and mentor girls to assume leadership positions in schools, organizations and political situations. Hear girls’ voices and amplify their concerns. The Period.Project Establishing A New Community Service To Combat Period Poverty Several National Council of Jewish Women Sections (USA) have created a new community service project to end menstrual inequity for girls in Middle and High Schools. After becoming aware that some girls miss school because they lack feminine hygiene products, the groups were determined to find a solution to this issue. The answer was The Period.Project. They collected sanitary pads and tampons, packed them in kits, and then distributed them to schools with the hope to end period poverty. There were also two advocacy pieces that were undertaken. One to encourage states to directly fund the products and the other was to push for the elimination of the tax on these items making them even more expensive and out of reach for many.Find out more at periodproject.org/ The availability for these products could also be expanded to food banks, homeless shelters and prisons. NCJW Sections are NOT the only organizations involved in supplying sanitary products, but they are certainly doing their part. We, in ICJW, could also play a key role. Won’t you consider making a difference to girls/women and become part of the International Day of the Girl? Thank You! MORE ACTION STEPS: • Publicize the day. Write letters to the editors of your local press.• Check on girls’ access to digital technology in your communities, in local libraries and schools. Bridge gaps.• Create safe spaces and workshops for girls to come together to share and validate their experiences, perspectives, decision making and contributions. To offer them support.• Encourage school curriculums to include gender neutral content, confidence building, leadership and financial skills, and job trainings. Include educating teachers/adults.• Check on the availability of menstruation products, ensure sanitary conditions and easy access to health care and accurate information.• Involve local political leaders and ask them to declare October 11th as the International Day of the Girl.• Ensure that funding for girls’ needs is equal to the dollars for boys and that advancement for boys doesn’t leave girls behind.• Educate girls about issues and then ask them to speak to their school administrators and teachers to see if a discussion about them can be part their classes.• Share examples of women who are leaders, role models, entrepreneurs, authors, and trailblazers.• Shop at local women-owned businesses.• Ensure the passage of legislation guaranteeing girls’ equal rights.• Work together to form partnerships with other organizations. Involve many differentstakeholders. Men and boys must be included too. USEFUL LINKS: Working Groups on GirlsUNICEF CampaignUN Women CampaignUNESCO CampaignHeForShe Alliance Prepared by: Judy Mintz, ICJW’s representative to the Working Group for Girls at UN headquarters in NY

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