EIGE’s Calendar launch: “Women Inspiring Europe”

European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE’s Calendar launch: “Women Inspiring Europe” )

On the 3rd of December the European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE) unveiled the winners of this year’s “Women Inspiring Europe” competition, to appear in the first of the “Women Inspiring Europe“Calendars.

The EIGE’s Director, Virginija Langbakk, opened the session in Brussels and provided the attendees with a presentation of the Institute’s premises, goal and objectives to become a centre of competence on gender equality with reliable information.

Virginija Langbakk recalled the EIGE’s event on 22nd of November where some of the key stakeholders on Gender Equality where gathered in Vilnius to discuss the implementation of the EU Commission’s new EU Gender Equality strategy. Viviane Reding, European Commission Vice-President, was also present and unveiled the Institute’s official logo which was awarded to a French primary school teacher.

‘The European Commission Strategy on Gender Equality is the roadmap for the Institute’s work and therefore, it will set the priorities of the Institute’s concrete tasks, Virginija Langbakk said.

Virginija Langbakk explained the new cooperation agreement among European agencies signed with the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND) and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA ).

A Joint Meeting of the Networking Task Force (NTF) and the Journalists’ Task Force (JTF) on the development of EIGE’s Resource Pool took place as an opening session before the disclosure of the Women’s awards.

The Director of the Institute, members of the Institute from the communication, stakeholders and network coordination units, officials of the European Commission and European Insitutions, journalists, gender equality and policy experts and half of the awarded women were present at the EIGE’s event.

The Journalists’ Task Force aims to further awareness-raising on promoting gender equality among EU citizens through various means for communication, including media relations, public relations, marketing and information technology. The Networking Task Force will support with its advice and expertise in the development of this Network as well as strengthening and establishing cooperation with relevant Stakeholders and Partners. Both meetings between journalists, networks and gender experts sought for discussion, collection of positions and ideas to further the mission and values of the EIGE.

A call for the inclusion of more men as role-models advocating for women’s rights and enhancing the role of men on promoting gender equality was among the most agreed and discussed topics.

The EIGE Journalists’ Task Force (JTF) is an ad hoc advisory body, which foresees meetings at least three times annually. The functions of the JTF are to: -Provide advice to the Institute’s management and staff in relation to priority issues for communications and suggest strategies to achieve positive outcomes; -Discuss emerging technologies and developments in Communications and identify potential relevance to the Institute’s projects and activities; -Provide a commentary on relevant research to assist in the development of coordinated and unified positions; -Act to bring information from stakeholders to the attention of the Institute and to disseminate information from the Institute to stakeholders, to its networks and to the general public (whenever activities or projects are relevant).

The EIGE Networking Task Force (NTF) is an ad hoc advisory body, which foresees meetings and ad-hoc basis. The European Parliament’s and the Council’s Regulation on establishing the EIGE states the ambitious task of setting-up and coordinating a European Network on Gender Equality. The functions of the NTF are to: -Provide advice to the Institute’s management and staff in relation to the establishment of the European Network on Gender Equality; -Assisting the Institute’s efforts in identifying the needs of stakeholders and their expectations towards EIGE; -Support the development of cooperation methods with all relevant and interested parties;

The winners of this year’s “Women Inspiring Europe” competition, to appear in the first of the „Women Inspiring Europe“ Calendars are: Francesca Brezzi(Italian- Philosopher), Lena Olving (Swedish-Chief operating officer of Saab), Seyran Ates (German- lawyer and writer), Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka (Polish- Politian), Satnimira Hadjimitova (Bulgarian- gender expert and trainer), Michaela Miroiu (Romanian- Feminist and Philosophy Professor), Chrissie Wellington (English- athlete of triathlon), Cristina Gallach (Spanish- journalist and spokeswoman to Javier Solana), Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo (Portuguese- Prime Minister of Portugal in 1979), Rita Vella (Maltese- disable rights activist), Comfort Momoh (English- nurse campaigning against female genital mutilation), Vaili Maria Jämsä (Finish- vice-president of the local council’s social board).

With facts and figures accompanying each woman’s profile, the calendar sheds light on issues such as ageing, widowhood, disability, discrimination in the workplace, the challenges faced by immigrant women, which in some cases include also abuse against their personal integrity and freedom. What the calendar shows, through the statistics it publishes, is the extent of the challenges faced by women (and how much more needs to be done to make Europe a better and more inclusive society), but also how a single woman’s efforts can make such a huge difference, no matter where she lives, her upbringing or her level of education.

Chosen as inspirational figures by an international panel of experts among several hundred candidates, each of them has made a mark by breaking stereotypes, producing innovative ideas and contributing to society and to other women in particular.

The “Women of Europe“ initiative, an ongoing project that looks for women from all over Europe acting as role-models, and as sources of inspiration for others, was launched on 8th March 2010. For 2012, the Institute continues to encourage nominations of women active in all professional spheres, who set positive examples for women in Europe. The nominations for the Women Inspiring Europe Calendar 2012 will be open from 1 December 2010 to 31 May 2011. For further information about the activity and for 2012 nominations please consult the following web page: www.eige.europa.eu/women-inspiring-europe

Further information on the European Institute for Gender Equality, EIGE, can be found on www.eige.europa.eu

References

http://genderequalityboard.wordpress.com/

External links

http://www.eige.europa.eu/women-inspiring-europe