PLATFORM NEWSFLASH
The Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform
Working towards
equality and peace for women on a local, national European and international level
58 Howard Street, Belfast BT1 6PJ
niwep@btconnect.com
www.niwep.org.uk
September 1
___________________________________________________________________________________
Local News
NICVA Conference - Carry on Regardless
Lobbying in Northern Ireland
NICVA: “Exactly one month
from the date of this conference politicians face the deadline for a deal to reinstate the Assembly. Will we see more late
night discussions; anxious pacing, maybe a Prime Minster or two might fly in?
While an agreement is important, no matter
what emerges from Stormont on 24 November, decisions are still being made that will affect the lives of the people and communities
in Northern Ireland - the very people
our sector represents.
Let's not sit back and wait. It's up to the sector to keep scrutinising government, articulating
our opinions, advocating for the people we represent and influencing the decisions that impact on all our lives.
This
conference aims to explore ways in which the voluntary and community sector can influence government - no matter what form
that government might take.”
Carry On Regardless conference 24 October 2006 at NICVA.
Free
for voluntary sector. Statutory and Private £100
Human Rights Consortium
The Human Rights Consortium has agreed to run an advertising campaign to help stimulate the Bill of Rights debate.
The campaign is due to kick off on the 21st September with advertisements in the Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter and Irish News,
followed by Bus Shelters and one Billboard in Belfast. The
aim is to encourage the setting up of a round table for all parties and civil society to get together and discuss the implementation
of a strong and inclusive Bill of Rights.
Age Diversity in the Workplace
By 2011, 35% of the population will be over 55 and all of the indicators are
that more people will need to continue working in life. Employers will need to
consider how they can best become an employer of choice for older workers and how they can retain older workers in an increasingly
competitive market-place.
From the 1st October, the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2006 come into force
and it will be unlawful to discriminate against all employees, job seekers and vocational trainees on the grounds of age.
Diversiton has a range
of training options on ‘Age Diversity in the Workplace’ to help local organisations to meet these new Regulations.
A One day training courses
will take place in Newry (26th September), Belfast
(29th September) and Cookstown (3rd October). Courses run from 9.30 – 4.45 p.m. To find out cost and to register call Celine on
028 417 54777.
National News
UK Warned Over Child Trafficking
The BBC reported recently that the government is not doing enough to prevent the trafficking of young people into Britain based on a report by two children's charities.
Many are smuggled in from south-eastern Europe to be used in the sex trade, for slavery
or for begging, it said. Unicef UK said ministers needed to do more to
help those brought to the UK.
The Home Office said it was committed to combating the "appalling" trade and has made trafficking punishable by up
to 14 years in jail.
The United Nations estimates
1.2 million children are trafficked across the world each year - with about 246 million youngsters also thought to be involved
in child labour. In the UK
alone, between 1999 and 2003, some 250 children were rescued from trafficking. But Unicef UK
said that figure is "the tip of the iceberg" because there is no coherent system of collating how many people are involved.
European News
Lithuania – Gender Equality Creates Democracy
European Women’s Lobby members, which includes
the UK Joint Committee, have been invited to an international conference "Gender Equality Creates Democracy” in Lithuania. This is part of a project
which aims to promote European value on gender equality and democracy through lifelong learning and to develop quantitative and qualitative instruments
to monitor the application of gender sensitive policies.
Information on the project can be found on: http://www.genderequality.webinfo.lt/
MEPs to vote on critical report on Turkey’s performance
The main stumbling blocks in the report, put to a vote by the European Parliament on 4 September 2006, are insufficient
progress in the area of freedom of expression, minority rights, corruption and violence against women. Even though it welcomes
the progress made so far, the report criticises “persistent shortcomings” in many areas.
In the meantime, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has sent a letter to the Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gül,
criticising the slow pace of reform and especially the shortcomings in the area of freedom of expression.
The Commission is to issue its annual progress report on Turkey
on 24 October 2006. The European Parliament’s opinion is important with regard to Turkey’s accession, as it is required to give its assent to new members joining
the EU.
If you are concerned with Turkey’s
progress, especially on violence against women should consider lobbying Northern Ireland MEPs.
International Level
Changes at FEMNET
Greetings from the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) in Nairobi, Kenya advising
us of the pending changes within FEMNET's Regional Secretariat. After seven years on the job Muthoni Wanyeki
will
stepped down as FEMNET's Executive Director and her successor, Maty Diaw of Senegal will officially begins as FEMNET's new
Executive Director on Monday
September 11. We welcome her to the network!
Muthoni wrote “It has been
a pleasure and a privilege to have worked with so many of you over the last seven years, within Africa
as well as outside. Africa is more diverse than
we tend to admit and I have learnt more from you all than I can express about how the African women's movement organises--successfully!--in
different contexts on the continent.” We wish Muthoni every success in
the future.
