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2022 Assembly

 

International Women’s Day Marked by the Committee on Women’s Rights & …

 

International Women’s Day marked by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament
The EU Parliament in Brussels heard of the added traumas suffered by women refugees in recent months, in particular the practice of ‘survival sex’, where women are forced to have sex with the smugglers and mafia members transporting them to Europe from Turkey and Syria.
Women's Day 2016
Survival sex among women and children is well-known, according to UN Women Regional Director for Turkey, Ingibjorg Gisladottir, but the incidence is hard to quantify as women rarely wish to record this for fear of recrimination and ‘dishonour’ among their families and communities.
Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002) speaking at the European Parliament in early March has condemned as “unconscionable” and “inhumane” the failure of many EU states to solve the growing refugee crisis and is urging all EU member states to “share the burden” of the hundreds of thousands of refugees crossing into Europe every month.
Mrs. Robinson pointed out that women face far greater risks of “violence, exploitation and trafficking” and are more vulnerable on route to Europe. Please see http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/femm/home.html for full information.
On the 3rd of March last, the Progressio Empower Team in London, held a photographic exhibition and a panel discussion, where they discussed their work in the context of the new Sustainable Development Goal for Gender Equality. They highlighted those who inspire them, their achievements in their fields and the challenges that remain around the implementation of this vital new Goal. Empower volunteers created this short film of the evening, to give us a flavour of the motivational discussion that took place.

Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

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