An article examined what conception of equality the European Court of Human Rights should embrace in order to adequately address the harmfulness of stereotypes, focusing on gender case law.
Source: Alexandra Timmer, 'Toward an anti-stereotyping approach for the European Court of Human Rights', Human Rights Law Review, Volume 11 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
A new book examined divergent policy-making in European Union member states in relation to gender equality. It considered policy issues ranging from gender violence to reconciliation and anti-discrimination policies, based on case studies and comparisons covering up to 29 European countries.
Source: Emanuela Lombardo and Maxime Forest (eds.), The Europeanization of Gender Equality Policies: A discursive-sociological approach, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Nov
Campaigners said that the coalition government's approach to reducing public borrowing was 'turning back time' on women's equality. They called for: restoration of support for childcare costs for low-income families to pre-April 2011 levels; ring-fencing of funding for Sure Start children's centres; and action to stop local authorities from treating violence against women services as a 'soft touch' for cuts.
Source: A Life Raft for Women's Equality, Fawcett Society
Links: Report | Fawcett Society press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2011-Nov
An article examined the ways in which European jurisprudence had viewed and ruled on gender identity discrimination.
Source: Lauri Sivonen, 'Gender identity discrimination in European judicial discourse', Equal Rights Review, Volume 7
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Aug
A report examined good practice in attempts to increase the engagement of men and boys in gender equality initiatives in Europe.
Source: Elisabeth Duban, Mending Inequalities: Men and gender equality in the OSCE region, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the short- and longer-term impacts of the work of the BAME Women Councillors Taskforce. The Taskforce was convened by the former Labour government in May 2008 to consider practical ways of encouraging black and minority-ethnic women to become local councillors.
Source: Creative Research, Evaluation of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women Councillors Taskforce, Government Equalities Office
Date: 2011-Jun
A statement called on European and national policy-makers to integrate a women's rights and gender equality perspective into decisions about the scope, priorities, and financing of the post-2013 European Union multi-annual financial framework.
Source: Towards a Gender Responsive, Accountable and Participatory Post-2013 EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework and EU Financing Instruments, European Women's Lobby/WIDE Network/Gender Working Group of CONCORD
Links: Statement
Notes: The multi-annual financial framework indicates the maximum amount, and the composition, of foreseeable European Union expenditure.
Date: 2011-Jun
The coalition government published a periodic report setting out the progress that it had made on women's rights under the United Nation's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Source: United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): United Kingdom's Seventh Periodic Report, Government Equalities Office
Links: Report | GEO press release
Date: 2011-Jun
A paper analyzed the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on gender equality in terms of labour market and welfare outcomes, based on an in-depth examination of three European countries.
Source: Janine Leschke and Maria Jepsen, The Economic Crisis – Challenge or Opportunity for Gender Equality in Social Policy Outcomes? A comparison of Denmark, Germany and the UK, Working Paper 2011-04, European Trade Union Institute
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Jun
An article examined the opportunities and risks for the advancement of gender equality in the European Union offered by the establishment of the European Institute for Gender Equality.
Source: Agnes Hubert and Maria Stratigaki, 'The European Institute for Gender Equality: A window of opportunity for gender equality policies?', European Journal of Women's Studies, Volume 18 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-May
A paper examined the background to a decision by the European Court of Justice (in March 20111) that insurers could not discriminate on grounds of sex in setting premiums or determining benefits. It said that the judicial defence of fundamental rights was a weak basis for social policy, and did not foreshadow a revolution in the development of social rights in Europe.
Source: Deborah Mabbett, A Rights Revolution in Europe? Regulatory and judicial approaches to nondiscrimination in insurance, LEQS Paper 38/2011, London School of Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-May
A report provided a gender impact assessment of the coalition government's 2011 Budget. It highlighted a cumulative failure to address the inequalities that existed between women and men, and to mitigate austerity measures that threatened to further widen inequality.
Source: The Impact on Women of the Budget 2011, Women's Budget Group
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Apr
An article examined the impact of the economic crisis on gender relations in European Union member states. It concluded that the crisis and accompanying economic policies would not lead to more gender equality in the labour market or in society.
Source: Friederike Maier, 'Will the crisis change gender relations in labour markets and society?', Journal of Contemporary European Studies, Volume 19 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
The European Commission published a strategy for promoting equality between women and men, covering the period 2010-2015. It said that the actions proposed followed the dual approach of gender mainstreaming (the integration of the gender dimension in all policy areas) and specific measures.
Source: Strategy for Equality Between Women and Men 2010-2015, European Commission
Links: Strategy | Background document
Date: 2011-Mar
The European Union adopted a new 'pact' for gender equality for the period 2011-2020. It reaffirmed its commitments to closing gender gaps in employment, education, and social protection; promoting better work-life balance for women and men; and combating all forms of violence against women.
Source: Council Conclusions on the European Pact for Gender Equality for the Period 2011-2020, European Union
Links: Pact | European Union press release | EWL statement | HRW press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The equality and human rights watchdog said that progress towards gender equality in public positions in Wales was 'far too slow'.
Source: Who Runs Wales? 2011: A century of steps towards gender equality, Equality and Human Rights Commission
Links: Report | WalesOnline report
Date: 2011-Mar
A briefing paper set out background information on women in politics and public life. It highlighted the shortage of female representation in political life, including Parliament.
Source: Women at the Top 2011: Politics and public life in the UK, Hansard Society
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined developments towards gender equality in the European Union in 2010. A special section considered the gender balance in business leadership.
Source: Report on Progress on Equality Between Women and Men in 2010: The gender balance in business leadership, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Mar
A paper examined the situation in relation to gender equality in the European Union (in five significant areas) in the first year of the Strategy for Equality between Women and Men (2010-2015). Despite a general trend towards more equality in society and in the labour market, progress in eliminating gender inequalities remained slow.
Source: Report on the Progress on Equality Between Women and Men in 2010, European Commission
Links: Paper
Date: 2011-Feb
A research project examined maternal poverty among black and minority-ethnic women. Many mothers went without essentials in order to protect their household from poverty. Unequal access to the household purse undermined mothers' ability to decide how child benefit and child tax credit payments were spent, and placed all financial control in the hands of the father. Barriers to paid work – such as the attitudes of husbands, poor language skills, and lack of suitable childcare – all prevented women from improving their situation through paid work.
Source: Chris Warburton Brown, Exploring BME Maternal Poverty: The financial lives of ethnic minority mothers in Tyne and Wear, Oxfam GB
Links: Report
Notes: The study drew on in-depth interviews with 30 women from the Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Arab, and Black African communities in Tyne and Wear, in north-east England.
Date: 2011-Jan