PLATFORM NEWSLETTER           

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    

Local/National

Older Women, Work and Health - Reviewing the Evidence - New Report 

The findings of a research paper Older Women, Work and Health, jointly commissioned by Help the Aged and by "TAEN" (The Age and Employment Network), show that few studies have explored the links between the work and health of older women despite their increased participation in the labour market.

Employment amongst people in their 50s and 60s is rising, driven recently by a growth in the number of older working women. Today, 69% of women aged 50-59 are in paid work and 12% of women aged 60 and over.

The paper considers the factors affecting the health and well-being of older working women - from occupational status and their concentration in certain professions and types of work, to issues such as income, pensions, domestic and caring responsibilities.

Authors Lesley Doyal and Sarah Payne of the School of Policy Studies at the University of Bristol conclude that greater commitment to age and gender equality is needed in occupational health research, the organisation of work, workplace health interventions and in the framing of wider social policy if the needs of older working women are to be met.

The report highlights a neglected issue. There has been little research on the work and health of older people, and of older women in particular. And yet the need for extended working lives in the face of increasing longevity and ageing populations is not in dispute.                                                                                                 

The report says there should be more focus on the needs and health of older working women, an increasingly important group in the labour market, if the government is to realise its ambition of adding a million older people to the workforce.
EUROPE

Recruitment of the Secretary General

 Of the European Women’s Lobby

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is seeking a new Secretary General after the surprise resignation of Mary McPhail who is moving onto a new career with the Girl Guides.

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest alliance of women’s non-governmental organisations in the European Union.  Its influential voice makes a significant difference as they work together to achieve equality between women and men, actively addressing issues affecting economic and social justice for women, of which Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform is a member through the UK Joint Women’s Committee which includes National Alliance of Women in England, Wales Women’s Consultative Forum, and Engender, Scotland.

The post of Secretary General which would be based in Brussels is now advertised and further details of this position and apply online to the advising consultant, Richard Holland at www.cfappointments.com.  The closing date for applications is 8 January 2007 or visit NIWEP’s website www.niwep.org.uk for more information.

We wish Mary McPhail every success in her future career.

Roadmap to 1325

Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform has been invited to, and hopes to attend, a European Networking Conference on Gender in the European Union’s peace and security policy in May 2007 in Berlin

The first half of 2007 sees Germany holding the presidency of the European Union and 2007 is also the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.   Both of these events are the setting for a conference on Gender and the European Union’s peace and security policy. The German government should utilise the presidency of the European Union to play a decisive role in the implementation of Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council at the European level.

The European Commission to encourage women and youth to take more active part in the debate on Europe – the stock-taking of Plan D, for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate

After the negative votes in the referenda on the European Constitution in France and the Netherlands, the June 2005 Council called for a period of reflection. The Commission seized that opportunity to push for more democracy, dialogue and debate, and decided to launch Plan D. One year after implementing it, it is now time to take stock and further widen and deepen the debate on Europe.

 A first assessment was made in the 10 May Communication The Period of Reflection and Plan D (COM(2006) 212), which accompanied A Citizens’ Agenda for Europe (COM(2006) 211) as the Commission’s contribution to the European Council on the future of Europe.

Plan D reached out to people

The general Plan D ambition, to generate debate about Europe, has proven successful in many areas:

• In addition to a special Eurobarometer survey on the Future of Europe, the Commission Representations and some Member Sates have carried out quantitative and qualitative national surveys on public opinion and attitudes to the EU.
• In March 2006 the Commission launched an on-line “Debate Europe” forum. People from EU countries and beyond are participating in the discussion. The main challenge is to get young people and women more actively involved.

• The Commission has also chosen to support six trans-European projects promoting cross-border public discussion. They will be implemented during 2006 – 2007.
• Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Vice-President Margot Wallström and the Members of the Commission have undertaken a series of visits to the Member States meeting national leaders, parliamentarians, citizens, NGOs and the media. A special focus was put on the regional and local level.
• The Youth events organised under each Presidency with Commission support are also a good example of dialogue and consultation with young people.
• The inter-parliamentary forum organised by the European Parliament and the Austrian national Assemblies on 8-9 May 2006, as well as a number of European Parliament committee initiatives, brought a new momentum to a broadened discussion of European issues amongst parliamentarians.

What are the next steps?

The Commission will continue with Plan D not only because of the extended period of reflection, but also because it is determined to continue stimulating a Europe wide debate and to deploy fully the initiatives foreseen at European level. A special focus will be put on:

• Supporting the development of European public spaces to promote public discussion through the joint Commission / European Parliament offices. The Commission and the European Parliament offices could host cultural and political events related to Europe.
• Encouraging the ongoing debate in Member States, for example by organising national European Round Table Debates on priority issues, as those outlined in the annual Work Programme for 2007, and deemed to be of high public interest in each Member State, ensuring a continued close dialogue with civil society and national Parliaments.
• Providing financial support for national and regional civil society initiatives focusing on youth and women.
• Replicating the Eurobarometer survey on the Future of Europe in 2007, ahead of the European Council in June.
• Re-launching the Internet Debate, allowing citizens to choose subjects of their concern and linking discussions to topical subjects from the

• Commission’s agenda or other major policy events. A special effort will be made to address the women and the youth audiences.

INTERNATIONAL

Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)

Young People have their voices heard at the United Nations

The thematic issue next year at CSW is “The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child” and the  Working Group on Girls and UNICEF’s Voices of Youth, are asking young people to read a youth version of an expert report and tell them what they think should be done. The report talks about girls who are in danger of violence and unfair treatment and it suggests ways governments, and their citizens, can protect them.

Young people’s recommendations and suggestions will be presented at the 51st annual Commission on the Status of Women at United Nations headquarters in February-March 2007 and will influence how the world works to stop discrimination and violence against girls.

The report and questions can be found on: http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_3295.html or you can find a link on NIWEP’s website www.niwep.org.uk

STATEMENT TO THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

NIWEP is at present preparing a statement for the General Secretary of the United Nations on the CSW thematic issue the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child.  The prepared statement will be available at a later date on the NIWEP website.  www.niwep.org.uk