Women's Eco-nomic and Social Think Tank
WESTT
The Women’s Eco-Nomic and Social Think Tank (WESTT) is a leading Women’s Think Tank with global dimensions focusing on the economic, environmental and social development of women.
ID: 012122811913-69
Lobbying Activity
Response to Implementing act on a list of High-Value Datasets
18 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission Roadmap consultation on Open data – availability of public datasets.
It is essential that if the EU is to deliver on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s commitment to equality then enhanced transparency is required, and the availability of free public data, especially of high-value data sets can support this goal as well as many others which will make the European Union more sustainable, economically, socially and culturally, and more competitive.
However, in the plight to deliver and share ever-increasing high-quality datasets, for policy development, and the effective implementation of initiatives that come from the use of the publicly available data, the data MUST include gender-disaggregated information.
Women are agents of change and their input in society must be equal to that of men, in accordance with the EU Treaty. Gender equality is not an after-thought nor token of goodwill. In all policy areas, the EU must demonstrate that it engages with women equally and has proactively implemented gender mainstreaming. Therefore, the statistics it shares must be transparency, reliable and relevant. The open re-use of certain categories of public datasets can lead to significant benefits for the society, the environment and the economy but information that is not gender-disaggregated adds little benefit in addressing opportunities or challenges. Thus this can constitute a barrier for reuse, especially for smaller market players such as start-ups, SMEs, researchers or data journalists, and especially in the public sector where it is being used for policy development.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender-sensitive approach, where a gender lens is used in all policy provisions. Discrimination against women in all walks of life, economic, social, cultural and environmental exists because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated information that would highlight the reality of the discrimination taking place. From social perspective discrimination faced by women results in lives of poverty, hardship and suffering. If statistical data does not include disaggregated information the discrimination for women and girls will continue.
The European Open Data initiatives are not gender-neutral and a gender lens must be considered when request for data, when presenting the data and during the analysis of the data. “A wide array of companies along the data value chain in sectors such as publishing, market research, financial investment or IT are likely to benefit from an open availability of HVDs. In particular, public data is an asset sought after by innovative start-ups and SMEs, given the relatively modest initial capital investment necessary to launch a data-driven business”. Hence the likely social and economic impacts may be the continued inequalities women and girls face through the use of non-gender disaggregated information.
By applying a gender lens to all policy areas it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of policy decision on women and girls.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Draft Implementing Act and the Framework which surround it to ensure formulations and implications, including the sources and methods, are developed and implemented with achieving the goals of gender equality in mind.
Read full responseResponse to Fitness check of the EU legislation on violence against women and domestic violence
11 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank welcomes the Commissions initiative to carry out a Fitness check of the EU legislation on violence against women and domestic violence.
Equality between men and women is one of the fundamental values of the European Union, and the fact that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men report abuse and violence against them demonstrates the European Union’s failure to not only adequately address these crimes, but also to consider these crimes important.
WESTT accepts that there are significant numbers of men and boys who face domestic abuse but will concentrate specifically on the issues of Violence against women (VAW) and Domestic Violence (DV) for the purposes of submitting considerations for the Roadmap.
Violence against women remains widespread across the European Union due to the imbalance of power which continues and allows for a male-dominated society with male-dominated policy decision making structures. Such public displays of control and power imbalance transfer to the home and in schools where women and girls face significant abuse. DV and VAW is a human rights violation and must be treated as such.
VAW and DV are pandemics in the same way as COVID-19, yet statistical data exists in greater detail for Covid -19 as does the search for a solution to the virus. The failure of all member States and the European Commission to adequately deal with VAW and DV is due to the following reasons, and each must be examined in the Roadmap process:
• The failure of the EU sign and ratify the Council of Europe ‘Istanbul Convention’ demonstrating Europe’s lack of sincerity in combatting VAW and DV. The fact that there is a lack of consensus in the Council of the European Union implies some Member States condone VAW and DV, and are using “gender” arguments as a way for the church to retain the oppression of women.
• No specific legal instrument currently addresses violence against women and domestic violence at the EU level and excuses or reasons for falling under policy areas in “several directives and regulations” add to the lack of responsibility the Commission is willing to take to act on this issue.
• High concentration of male leadership and decision making which allows for an imbalance power and a failure to implement legislation that would prosecute men.
• High concentration of abuse, especially harassment and sexual harassment in the EU institutions and at Parliamentary level which protects male suspects, who prevent the adoption and implementation of legislation against such practices ( see EESC as an example)
• A lack of statistical data and the use of the data as an evidence base in policymaking.
• A lack of equal engagement of men in policy-making relating to VAW and DV
• A lack of understanding by policymakers that DV and VAW begins with psychological violence which in the many Member States has still not acknowledged nor accepted.
• A lack of acceptance that this is a societal issue and not a domestic one.
• A lack of understanding that children, especially girls, are victims of VAW and DV, and that both girls and boys suffer mentally over a long period of time, as a result of witnessing abuse against/by a parent.
• The Commission must stop the “victimisation” of victims of DV and support them into being successful survivors through specialist training programmes which help them regain their confidence to bring them out of isolation and oppression. This can include support for female entrepreneurs who can be empowered and be role models for other survivors.
• The Commission fails to list FGM as a crime in Europe
• Europe’s trade policy fails to consider or insist on the full implementation of CEDAW as part of its negotiations. VAW in Pakistan is increasing and despite multiple NGO reports, the Commission continues to allow Pakistan to benefit from the GSP+ trade preference.
Read full responseResponse to Definition of the Common European Risk Classification Scheme for civil aviation occurrences
10 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the Commissions initiative to focus on Aviation safety and to standardise the reporting of any safety-related event in civil aviation that may endanger aircraft or passengers.
Whilst the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has developed a common European risk classification scheme (ERCS) – to provide a standardised and comprehensive methodology for classifying the risk posed by occurrences, these incidents are in the past.
This initiative does not lay down arrangements for potential risks identified in third countries, flying into European destinations and through European skies.
Specifically, WESTT would highlight security concerns relating to fake pilots licences, and terrorism risks posed by countries failing to implement international standards for pilots. WESTT would also highlight the risk of potential terrorist threats in such conditions.
As an example: On 26th June 2020, Pakistan's national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) grounded one-third of its pilots after a government investigation revealed that hundreds of qualified and registered pilots across Pakistan were in possession of fake licenses and were neither trained nor qualified to fly. This not only endangers hundreds of passengers’ lives on one flight but also demonstrates the ease by which terrorists can obtain access to aircraft. PIA is just one example of third-country airlines that have multiple routes into and across the European skies.
WESTT believes that provision needs to be provided for in the implementing act to also define and classify potential risks as a source of observation and warning. As identified in DRAFT _ COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) .../... of XXX laying down the arrangements for the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the common European risk classification scheme:
(4) Timely classification of risks posed by occurrences is crucial for the identification of high-risk occurrences and any rapid action needed to remedy any immediate safety risks. Therefore, the Member States and the Agency should score the occurrences in accordance with the ERCS within a deadline prescribed in this Regulation.
(5) The review of safety risk classifications of POTENTIAL occurrences scored by organisations by the competent authority of the Member State or the Agency, as applicable.
(6) Continuous monitoring and improvement of the ERCS are necessary to ensure its effective application. Detailed rules for such monitoring and improvement should be laid down and the Agency should assist the Commission in that review and monitoring.
WESTT would thus recommend an Article and Definition be added to define “Potential risks”, additional to incidents and serious incidents which have previously occurred.
Read full responseResponse to Implementation of the common European Risk Classification Scheme
10 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the Commissions initiative to focus on Aviation safety and to standardise the reporting of any safety-related event in civil aviation that may endanger aircraft or passengers.
Whilst the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has developed a common European risk classification scheme (ERCS) – to provide a standardised and comprehensive methodology for classifying the risk posed by occurrences, these incidents are in the past.
This initiative does not lay down arrangements for potential risks identified in third countries, flying into European destinations and through European skies.
Specifically, WESTT would highlight security concerns relating to fake pilots licences, and terrorism risks posed by countries failing to implement international standards for pilots. WESTT would also highlight the risk of potential terrorist threats in such conditions.
As an example: On 26th June 2020, Pakistan's national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) grounded one-third of its pilots after a government investigation revealed that hundreds of qualified and registered pilots across Pakistan were in possession of fake licenses and were neither trained nor qualified to fly. This not only endangers hundreds of passengers’ lives on one flight but also demonstrates the ease by which terrorists can obtain access to aircraft. PIA is just one example of third-country airlines that have multiple routes into and across the European skies.
WESTT believes that provision needs to be provided for in the implementing act to also define and classify potential risks as a source of observation and warning. As identified in DRAFT _ COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) .../... of XXX laying down the arrangements for the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the common European risk classification scheme:
(4) Timely classification of risks posed by occurrences is crucial for the identification of high-risk occurrences and any rapid action needed to remedy any immediate safety risks. Therefore, the Member States and the Agency should score the occurrences in accordance with the ERCS within a deadline prescribed in this Regulation.
(5) The review of safety risk classifications of occurrences scored by organisations by the competent authority of the Member State or the Agency, as applicable.
(6) Continuous monitoring and improvement of the ERCS are necessary to ensure its effective application. Detailed rules for such monitoring and improvement should be laid down and the Agency should assist the Commission in that review and monitoring.
WESTT would thus recommend an Article and Definition be added to define “Potential risks”, additional to incidents and serious incidents which have previously occurred.
Read full responseResponse to Gross national income: tructure and detailed arrangements of the inventory of the sources and methods used
2 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Gross national income – inventory of sources and methods.
It is essential that if the EU is to deliver on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s commitment to equality then enhanced transparency is required.
However, in the plight to deliver ever-increasing high-quality statistical data and respect the EU values of equality there is a need to evaluate and assess the gender dimension of the GNI statistics collection. For policy development and effective implementation, a true comprehension of the reality of a situation on which data is being collected MUST include gender-disaggregated information.
The Draft Implementing Act does not currently highlight the essential responsibility of Member States to collect comparable and complete gender disaggregated information. This major omission for the following reasons:
Women are agents of change and their input in society must be equal to that of men, in accordance with the EU Treaty. Gender equality is not an after-thought nor token of goodwill. In all policy areas, the EU must demonstrate that it engages with women equally and has proactively implemented gender mainstreaming. Therefore, the statistics must be the transparency mechanism for gender equality in the European Union. To date, few such statistics exist for GNI where current evidence highlights the inequality between men and women in society.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender-sensitive approach, where a gender lens is used in all policy provisions. Discrimination against women in all walks of life, economic, social, cultural and environmental exists because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated information which would highlight the reality of the discrimination taking place. From a social perspective discrimination faced by women results in lives of poverty, hardship and suffering. If GNI statistics do not collect disaggregated information how can the reality of the discrimination be correctly addressed? Sadly countries need to be enforced to collect such data, especially in times when women’s rights in many countries are decreasing.
The European statistical collection programmes are not gender-neutral and a gender lens must be considered when request for data, when presenting the data and during the analysis of the data. The Framework for data collection must call for gender-disaggregated information as a specific as a reminder for the need for equality, and this must also be carried through to the Implementing Act for Member States.
By applying a gender lens to all policy areas it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of policy decision on women and girls. By ensuring transparent gender budgeting is carried out so that women and girls receive an equal allocation of resources, a fairer, progressive and sustainable result can be achieved. Only statistical data can present the evidence required to prove the European Union truly respects the value of equality. Currently GNI statistics show discrimination, but not the detailed root causes which are embedded in the lack of gender disaggregated statistical analysis.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Draft Implementing Act and the Framework which surround it to ensure formulations and implications, including the sources and methods, are developed and implemented with achieving the goals of gender equality in mind.
Read full responseResponse to C3 - list of issues to be addressed in every verification cycle gross national income (GNI)
2 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Gross national income – inventory of sources and methods.
It is essential that if the EU is to deliver on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s commitment to equality then enhanced transparency is required.
As the Commission right points out :”Gross national income at market prices (GNI) data should be reliable, exhaustive and comparable and appropriate measures should be established for this purpose” - and therefore it must reflect accurately the situation for women and girls in the EU.
However, in the plight to deliver ever-increasing high-quality statistical data and respect the EU values of equality there is a need to evaluate and assess the gender dimension of the GNI statistics collection. For policy development, effective implementation and verification, a true comprehension of the reality of a situation on which data is being collected MUST include gender-disaggregated information.
The Delegated Regulation does not currently reflect this requirement. This major omission for the following reasons:
Women are agents of change and their input in society must be equal to that of men, in accordance with the EU Treaty. Gender equality is not an after-thought nor token of goodwill. In all policy areas, the EU must demonstrate that it engages with women equally and has proactively implemented gender mainstreaming. Therefore, the statistics must be the transparency mechanism for gender equality in the European Union. To date, few such statistics exist for GNI where current evidence highlights the inequality between men and women in society.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender-sensitive approach, where a gender lens is used in all policy provisions. Discrimination against women in all walks of life, economic, social, cultural and environmental exists because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated information which would highlight the reality of the discrimination taking place. From a social perspective discrimination faced by women results in lives of poverty, hardship and suffering. If GNI statistics do not collect disaggregated information how can the reality of the discrimination be correctly addressed? EU verification must ensure the collection and analysis of gender disaggregated has been undertaken.
By applying a gender lens to all policy areas it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of policy decision on women and girls. By ensuring transparent gender budgeting is carried out so that women and girls receive an equal allocation of resources, a fairer, progressive and sustainable result can be achieved. Only statistical data can present the evidence required to prove the European Union truly respects the value of equality. Currently GNI statistics show discrimination, but not the detailed root causes which are embedded in the lack of gender disaggregated statistical analysis.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Delegated Regulation and the Framework which surround it to ensure formulations and implications, including the sources and methods, are developed and implemented with achieving the goals of gender equality in mind.
Addressing the gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide.
Read full responseResponse to Commission Delegated Regulation on taxonomy-alignment of undertakings reporting non-financial information
2 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on the Roadmap for Sustainable finance – Commission Delegated Regulation on taxonomy-related disclosures by undertakings reporting non-financial information.
WESTT welcomes the Commissions initiatives towards a more sustainable Europe with Green Deal objectives but adds that the Commission must not be blind to the gender dimension of sustainable finance and taxonomy. The Commission’s draft Roadmap makes no reference to the gender dimension in the context of sustainable finance. The gender dimension is an essential element to sustainable finance to ensure investors/financiers and stakeholders in companies are fully advised on social & environmental aspects.
Sustainable finance is not gender neutral and a gender lens must be considered when reviewing the policies. By applying a gender lens to all policy areas it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environment impacts of investments and sustainable financing on women and girls in consideration of environmental and social development.
Taxonomy Regulation must review the gender dimensions, the opportunities, the challenges and the potential negative impacts of financing. By fully advising economic actors, including on the gender aspect as women are becoming increasingly successful, more profitable and more sustainable than male owned companies, and because women are affected most by environmental damage and climate change, investments can be better directed into environmentally sustainable economic activities which are also carried out in accordance with minimum social standards.
A financial system to support the transformation of Europe's economy into a greener, more resilient and circular system in line with the European Green Deal objectives must include women. To achieve its commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the European Commission must ensure its Financing Sustainable Growth considers equality and the gender dimension in the integration of sustainability. Organisational requirements, identification of the types of conflicts of interest, conduct of business and risk management for investment management companies, transparency and ethical trading practices require a gender lens.
Gender lens investing considers not only benefits to women and girls but to a wider more sustainable economy and social fabric, whilst considering the environmental impacts. It is therefore surprising that this was not considered in the delegated directive.
According to the Boston Consulting Group, both millennials and women are increasingly seeking to align their financial and investment targets with their values, without lowering their expected returns. In other words, they are looking for certain amounts of added value, beyond the financial return from which everyone can benefit.
Addressing the sustainable finance agenda in the context of gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide. Statistical evidence, mainly from the US and UK highlights that women have a greater return on investment and seek more ethical and more sustainable investments, both as investors and recipients of investment.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Roadmap and the Framework which surround it to ensure formulations and implications, including the sources and methods, are developed and implemented with achieving the goals of gender equality in mind.
Read full responseResponse to EU Citizenship Report 2020
2 Aug 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the 2020 citizenship report Roadmap.
The Commission Roadmap must review, through an independent body, the engagement of citizens in the democratic processes of the European Union and its Member States.
Specifically WESTT calls for the Roadmap to consider:
• Data collection - specifically - gender disaggregated information relating to citizens engagement.
• Validity of the European Citizens Initiative
• Credibility and relevance of outdated institutions such as European Economic & Social Committee (EESC) mandated to representative of civil society.
• Discrimination of minority groups from active participation, especially in Commission consultations, especially relating to Roma, persons of disabilities, LGBTQI, ethnic minorities.
• Accessibility and communication of Commission online consultations.
• Review of foreign policy and European values in the context of EU citizens.
Discrimination, exclusion and social suffering continues in Europe because citizens from “minority” communities are excluded from society, and from contributing to change. Women are the majority in European society and yet still face discrimination and under representation in ALL the decision making bodies of Europe. In this, and in all minority representation, institutions such as the EESC continually fail to represent citizens, and act as nothing other than self-interest promoters.
Girls and women are systematically discriminated against in general but also face multifaceted intersectional demise when they are disabled, of a minority community such as Roma in Europe, or an ethnic minority. Sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age all become factors which cannot be addressed solely under the generalisation of “equality”. Men, girls and boys, LGBTQI individuals all face similar forms of multiple discrimination which often exclude them from access to democracy and democratic processes.
Addressing exclusion challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which all EU countries still fail to provide. Gaps in legislation, and legislation which still fails to be fully implemented, ensures discrimination and exclusion can continue to occur. This “purposely” prevents engagement.
Before the Commission proposes new initiatives, it should first consider the failings of initiatives already proposed to ensure good citizenship. In this the ECI is the most well-known example - the Commission REFUSED to listen to citizens on many occasions. In almost all initiatives prejudice and inaction towards citizens voices and their proposals have resulted in failure of the projects. Where success has occurred, funding has ceased as a result.
“Putting the citizen first, including by ensuring the full application of rights as derived from EU citizenship, is key in the implementation of the EU project and in strengthening democracy in the European Union” and therefore putting democracy first and democratic values, human rights, equality and freedoms must be visible from Europe’s leadership. Democratic values and Europe’s founding principles cannot be compromised. The EU has been built on values, and over the last decade many of these values have been compromised, usually in the pursuit of trade and geo-political influence. The EU cannot be seen to working hand in hand with China - European citizens’ stand with Hong Kong, Taiwan, Uyghur and Tibetans. EU citizens do not want cheap clothes made from human rights abuses, labour violations, and products from political prisoners or from women in factories being abused and poorly paid. Europe’s trade relationship with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam and the upcoming trade deals with Latin America, do not represent the values of European citizens.
Hence WESTT recommends that all these issues are considered in the Roadmap and through to the consultation.
Read full responseResponse to Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
28 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
WESTT welcomes the Commissions initiative for a Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy related to the European Green Deal but adds that the Commission must not be blind to the gender dimension of transport nor of environmental sustainability. Women must be included throughout the policy development and implementation of any strategy. And thus, and especially in light of the success of DG Move’s Women in Transport Platform for Change, express regret that the Roadmap does not consider women's engagement in the process separately in order to acknowledge the added value they can bring to a sector which currently engages less than 20% female labour force, and on in which women are likely to face the greatest impact following the Covid-19 crisis.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender lens in all policy provisions. The Commission has in the past, under Commissioner Bulc taken great efforts to ensure women were equally engaged in policy development, this is not visible in the Roadmap.
Neither transport nor climate change are gender-neutral and a gender lens must be considered when reviewing the policies. By applying a gender lens to all policy areas right at the start, including in the Roadmap process, it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of policy decision on women and girls in respect of Sustainable and Smart Mobility not only in Europe but globally
Girls and women are systematically discriminated against in general due to their lack of inclusion in the decision making and implementation process. Therefore, WESTT requests that an analysis is made on the gender make-up of all decision making and implementation bodies associated with this policy to ensure a recommended minimum of 40% of either gender is represented.
Addressing the Sustainable and Smart Mobility agenda in the context of gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide.
Therefore in its dissemination of funds, and within its projects, the European Commission must:
• Collect gender-disaggregated information at every level of a project - from concept to impact assessment.
• Identify how many women were part of the decision-making process
• Identify exactly what portion of the funding has gone to women and girls through accountable mechanisms and impact assessments.
• Ensure parity is respected in all projects and within all levels of funding dissemination.
• Ensure mainstreaming of gender equality at policy, programming, implementation and monitoring levels, without exception to prove the Commission is going beyond words and has data analysis to prove equal treatment of men and women.
• Ensure the Platform for Change is consulted and engaged in the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
• Provide an evidence base at all stages which is transparent.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Framework of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy to ensure formulations and implications are developed and implemented with gender mainstreaming in mind.
Read full responseResponse to EU Security Union Strategy
14 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the Commissions initiative to focus on a Security Union Strategy 2020-2024 but adds that the Commission must not be blind to the gender dimension of security and must include women throughout the policy development and implementation of this Strategy.
Additionally, WESTT would highlight that EU Trade policy must respect EU security concerns. EU trading partners are often complicit in security threats, such as terrorism, violent extremism, cybercrime and organised crime and yet the Commission for trade fails to take action against such countries.
Security is not gender neutral. Women and girls are the most affected by the impacts of security threats: war, humanitarian crisis, migration, hunger and as victims of oppression. They must be included in the Security Union Strategy 2020-2024. The Communication must engage with 50% women in its process. The Commission has not given specific consideration for women and girls in its Roadmap.
Girls and women are systematically discrimination around the world, including in Europe, in particular in security and the impacts of security policy. This begins by not making specific efforts to include women in the process, and a lack of statistical data which demonstrates that women have not been included equally in the process. The European Commission must collect gender-disaggregated information at every level from Roadmap to implementation of the revised policies to demonstrate that women have been treated equally in this process.
The Roadmap fails to respect or consider gender equality, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, specifically from a gender perspective but in the context of all human rights.
The Roadmap has also not recognised DG Trade’s failures in EU Security policy, particularly trade preference schemes such as GSP, GSP+ and EBA where countries such as Pakistan, receive 75% of GSP+ funding despite being documented by international and US bodies, and a country of concern for the EU because of its harbouring of terrorists and as a country known to be active in State Sponsored Terrorism. When a country like Pakistan remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for several years for its failure to comply with money laundering and terrorism financing activities then Europe is acting against its own security principles when it continues to provide trade benefits.
Furthermore, with the known security risks associated with China, and its intelligence collections through technology, questions must be raised in the Communication on why trade and investment agreements are failing to respect or consider EU security policy.
The EU must ensure specific clauses, and therefore make consideration in the Roadmap, for both the issues of women and trade policy implications in the Security Union Strategy 2020-2024.
Read full responseResponse to Trade policy review, including WTO reform initiative
13 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the Commissions initiative to focus on Trade policy review, including WTO reform initiative but adds that the Commission must not be blind to the gender dimension of trade and must include women throughout the policy development and implementation of this Strategy.
Trade is not gender-neutral, the Commission cannot be generic in its consideration of a new trade policy Communication and must engage with 50% women in its consultation process. The Commission has not given specific consideration for women and girls in its Roadmap.
The Roadmap fails to respect or consider gender equality, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, specifically from a gender perspective but in the context of all human rights. The Roadmap has also not recognised DG Trade’s failures in trade preference schemes such as GSP, GSP+ and EBA where there is little evidence of proven good governance or sustainable development results, but have in several cases, favoured the political elite in third countries and kept workers in poor and unprotected conditions. DG Trade fails against Commissioner Reynders proposed policies of supply chain audits by failing to investigate violations of trade preference criteria. Obvious examples are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam. All these failings have ultimately disadvantaged EU manufactures, especially SMEs who have been able to compete with labour, gender, political and civil rights, and environmental rights abuses.
Questions must be asked relating to these issues with the Roadmap.
Girls and women are systematically discrimination around the world, including in Europe, in particular in trade agreements, trade negotiations, the impacts of trade and access to trade opportunities. This begins by not making specific efforts to include women in the process, and a lack of statistical data which demonstrates that women have not been included equally in the process. The European Commission must collect gender-disaggregated information at every level from Roadmap to implementation of the revised policies to demonstrate that women have been treated equally in this process.
The EU must ensure a specific clause, and therefore a consideration in the Roadmap, for women entrepreneurs and women business owners in trade agreements (See Canada trade policy). Additionally, there must be an equal number of women engaged in the trade negotiations as men on both sides and these must be at an equal level to their male counterparts.
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights must be part of the considerations of the Roadmap process. Human rights can never be addressed unless there is a rights-based approach to trade. Where the EU is failing in establishing equal economic independence for women and men within the EU, (i.e.: closing the gender pay gap, advancing gender balance in decision-making, ending all forms of gender-based violence) - it must find ways with third countries to accomplishing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” by 2030 by also admitting their failures and learning from others. But it must not seek to impose demands on others where it has not achieved success.
Women and girls are the most affected by the impacts of trade: war, humanitarian crisis, migration, climate change, hunger and as victims of oppression, to keep them invisible and absent from discussions in favour of discussions on the sale of weapons or trade which benefits only the wealthy and politically influential is a crime against humanity, which the EU is currently complicit in.
Read full responseResponse to Modification of the Official Journal electronic publication
8 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on EU public & legal notices – Official Journal electronic edition (update of rules to ensure authenticity).
WESTT welcomes the Commissions initiative to updates rules on entries to the Official Journal especially in respect of authenticity.
WESTT requests that whilst the Commission reviews the authenticity, integrity and inalterability of the electronic edition of the Official Journal, the Commission also considers the authenticity of the content placed inside the Official Journal and the integrity of the organisations submitting the information. For the sake of transparency and trust within the EU and its institutions the Official Journal must be a source of legitimate information with a verified legal base.
Legal certainty of the documentation presented within the Official journal should be without question.
Specifically, as an example, WESTT refers to the following inclusion within the Official journal:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019Q0710(01)&rid=6
The content, RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE was submitted to the Official journal by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the EU institution mandated to represent European civil society.
The submission followed the adoption of the Rules of Procedures, and its accompanying Code of Conduct for Members, by the plenary of the institution on 20th February 2019 where the assembly was assured of a legal review of the document before its implementation.
The Official Journal shows the implementation date of the Rules of Procedure as 15th March 2019, and it was placed in the Official Journal of the 10th July 2019.
The document was placed in the Official Journal for the purpose of satisfying the 2019 discharge requirement of the European Parliament Budgetary Committee.
However, it was not until 17th September 2019, that a preliminary legal analysis of the Rules of Procedure and its accompanying Code of Conduct for Members was given.
The President and Secretary-General of the EESC did not disclose the contents of the legal analysis to the Members of the EESC until 26 May 2020.
The Committee’s own legal service analysis questions the legal base of the Implementing Provisions (IP) of the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Conduct.
“The draft IP is a document concerning the application of two other documents, the 2019 Rules of Procedure (RP) and the 2019 Code of Conduct (CC), which were not referred to the Legal Service for an opinion. Insofar as these three documents - the IP, the RP and the CC - are closely linked, the internal consistency between them and their compliance with the hierarchy of norms should be examined. Within the bounds of the present analysis, this can only be done in part.
A detailed analysis of the Implementing Provisions raises serious concerns regarding the Rules of Procedures and the Code of Conduct.
The presentation of the internal legal analysis thus discredits the entry into the Official Journal.
This challenges the validity of content within the Official Journal and the reputation of this highly respected and trusted source of official EU information.
WESTT, therefore, recommends that content, especially the legal base of content, is verified before entry into the Official Journal.
Read full responseResponse to Evaluation of the European statistical programme 2013-2020
8 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Final evaluation of the European statistical programme 2013-2020
The Commission’s European statistical programme 2013-2020 has been successful and enhanced transparency - however, in the plight to deliver ever-increasing high-quality statistical data and respect the EU values of equality there is a need to evaluate and assess the gender dimension of the European statistical programme 2013-2020 and the data collected. For policy development, a true comprehension of the reality of a situation and thus for effective implementation of policy, European statistical programme MUST include gender-disaggregated information.
The Roadmap should, therefore, ensure it covers this major omission for the following reasons:
Women are agents of change and their input in society must be equal to that of men, in accordance with the EU Treaty. Gender equality is not an after-thought nor token of goodwill. In all policy areas, it is essential that the EU demonstrates that it engages with women equally and has proactively implemented gender mainstreaming. Therefore, the statistics must be the transparency mechanism for gender equality in the European Union. To date, no such statistics exist for the work of any Directorate of the Commissions nor for the European statistical programme 2013-2020.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender-sensitive approach, where a gender lens is used in all policy provisions. Discrimination against women in all walks of life, economic, social, cultural and environmental exists because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated information which would highlight the reality of the discrimination taking place.
The European statistical programme is not gender-neutral and a gender lens must be considered when request for data, when presenting the data and during the analysis of the data. The Framework for data collection must call for gender-disaggregated information.
By applying a gender lens to all policy areas it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of policy decision on women and girls. By ensuring transparent gender budgeting is carried out so that women and girls receive an equal allocation of resources, a fairer, progressive and sustainable result can be achieved. Only statistical data can present the evidence required to prove the European Union truly respects the value of equality.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Frameworks for data collection and works with the European statistical programme to ensure formulations and implications are developed and implemented with gender mainstreaming in mind.
Addressing the gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide.
Read full responseResponse to Social statistics: adapting the multiannual rolling planning
8 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Social statistics – collection timetable (updates).
It is essential that if the EU is to deliver on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s commitment to equality then enhanced transparency is required.
However, in the plight to deliver ever-increasing high-quality statistical data and respect the EU values of equality there is a need to evaluate and assess the gender dimension of the Social statistics collection. For policy development, a true comprehension of the reality of a situation and thus for effective implementation of policy, European statistical programmes MUST include gender-disaggregated information.
The Draft Act should, therefore, ensure it covers this major omission for the following reasons:
Women are agents of change and their input in society must be equal to that of men, in accordance with the EU Treaty. Gender equality is not an after-thought nor token of goodwill. In all policy areas, the EU must demonstrate that it engages with women equally and has proactively implemented gender mainstreaming. Therefore, the statistics must be the transparency mechanism for gender equality in the European Union. To date, no such statistics exist for the work of any Directorate of the Commissions nor for European statistical programme 2013-2020, nor indeed many areas of Social Statistics.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender-sensitive approach, where a gender lens is used in all policy provisions. Discrimination against women in all walks of life, economic, social, cultural and environmental exists because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated information which would highlight the reality of the discrimination taking place. From social perspective discrimination faced by women results in lives of poverty, hardship and suffering. If social statistics do not collect disaggregated information how can the reality of the discrimination be correctly addressed?
The European statistical collection programmes are not gender-neutral and a gender lens must be considered when request for data, when presenting the data and during the analysis of the data. The Framework for data collection must call for gender-disaggregated information.
By applying a gender lens to all policy areas it is possible to review the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of policy decision on women and girls. By ensuring transparent gender budgeting is carried out so that women and girls receive an equal allocation of resources, a fairer, progressive and sustainable result can be achieved. Only statistical data can present the evidence required to prove the European Union truly respects the value of equality.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the Frameworks for data collection and works with the Social Statistics programme and is included in the Draft Act to ensure formulations and implications are developed and implemented with gender mainstreaming in mind.
Addressing the gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide.
Read full responseResponse to Legislative framework for the governance of common European data spaces
8 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Legislative framework for the governance of common European data spaces.
It is essential that if the EU is to deliver on President Ursula Von der Leyen’s commitments to be more competitive and have less social inequalities within Europe then increased collaboration, coordination and communication of data is essential to enhanced transparency.
However, that data must be verified. in the plight to deliver ever-increasing high-quality statistical data and respect the EU values of equality there is a need to evaluate and source of the data, its qualitative and quantitative analysis and the implications of that data. Disinformation and incomplete data perpetuate discrimination. For policy and strategic development, be it in the public or private sectors, a true comprehension of the reality of a situation must be understood to make well-evaluated decisions. Therefore WESTT highlights that the absence of gender-disaggregated information creates a culture of continual discrimination against women and girls.
The Legislative Proposal should, therefore, ensure it covers this major omission for the following reasons:
Women are agents of change and their input in society must be equal to that of men, in accordance with the EU Treaty. Gender equality is not an after-thought nor token of goodwill. In all policy areas, it is essential that the EU demonstrates that it engages with women equally and has proactively implemented gender mainstreaming. Therefore, the statistics must be the transparency mechanism for gender equality in the European Union. To date, no such statistics exist for the work of any Directorate of the Commissions nor European statistical programmes, and even across private-sector data.
Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world. One of the reasons for the failure to implement equality is due to the absence of a gender-sensitive approach, where a gender lens is used in all policy provisions. Discrimination against women in all walks of life, economic, social, cultural and environmental exists because there is a lack of gender-disaggregated information which would highlight the reality of the discrimination taking place. From social perspective discrimination faced by women results in lives of poverty, hardship and suffering. If statistics do not collect disaggregated information how can the reality of the discrimination be correctly addressed?
The transfer and collection of data are not gender-neutral and a gender lens must be considered when request for data when presenting the data and during the analysis of the data. The legislative proposal for data sharing must call for gender-disaggregated information to avoid continued inequalities.
WESTT appreciates that gender equality in many aspects of policymaking remains a challenge and therefore suggests that a “gender adviser” is assigned to review the framework for the governance of common European data spaces to ensure formulations and implications are developed and implemented with gender mainstreaming in mind.
Addressing the gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide.
Read full responseResponse to LGBTI equality
8 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex+ Equality Strategy
WESTT welcomes the Commissions initiative to foster greater equality and non-discrimination, including based on sexual orientation as these are the founding principles of the European Union enshrined in the Treaties.
WESTT thus reminds the Commission that LGBTI rights must also be respected in trade agreements and trade preference schemes. Trade preference schemes such as GSP, GSP+ and EBA, specifically designed to promote democracy, development and good governance, fail to apply the criteria by which they were established and as a result, human rights violations, including towards the LGBTI community, continue across the world.
The Roadmap must include such considerations as respect for LGBTI rights not only within Europe's borders but within all EU policy. Third countries failing to respect the democratic and EU principles of equality and non-discrimination should not be considered for trade preference schemes.
WESTT recommends that the EU Commission for Trade and the European External Action Service are updated on the EU’s policies on human rights and equality, and the requirement for investigation or suspension of trade preferences and trade agreements where an evidence base shows that violations are taken place.
EU Delegations must also encourage third countries to respect human rights, equality and LGBTI rights through funding opportunities such as the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy. (EIDHR)
Consideration must be made for the EU to stand by its values and founding principles, particularly when dealing with countries who base their laws on Sharia principles. Sharia severely discriminates against LGBTI individuals.
Specifically for:
EU trade subsidy programmes ( GSP, GSP+, EBA) the Commission must ensure that countries receiving the trade subsidies comply with all ILO, Human rights and CEDAW conventions which are established to protect equality and rights of all. Very often LGBTI rights are purposefully overlooked to appease geopolitical relations. Several GSP+ trade beneficiaries are failing to deliver and comply with LGBTI rights.
As an example;
In Pakistan, which received 75% of the GSP+ allocation, Pakistan neither has civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination nor harassment laws based on sexual orientation. Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions are permitted under current law and are scarcely ever brought up in the political discourse. LGBTI rights in Pakistan are considered taboo. Section 4 of the Pakistani penal code criminalises sexual intercourse outside of marriage, under Sharia law principles. As non-heterosexual marriages are not legally recognised in Pakistan, all same-sex sexual intercourse is necessarily outside of marriage and so captured by this provision. The penalty is death by stoning for married people, or 100 lashes for unmarried people.
Although the Sri Lankan Penal code criminalises same-sex sexual acts it has implemented anti-discrimination laws for homosexuals as part of its constitution and human rights action plan. However, many sexual minorities remain closeted as homophobia results in beating, torture, and killings which are common in Sri Lanka and to which Police often participate or turn a blind eye.
Read full responseResponse to Delivering for children: an EU strategy on the rights of the child
8 Jul 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Delivering for children: an EU strategy on the rights of the child.
WESTT welcomes the Commissions initiative for a Communication on Delivering for children and prioritising children but adds that the Commission must not be blind to the gender dimension of child rights and must consider to specifically mention the discrimination girls and young women receive, particularly but not exclusively outside of the EU. Additionally, children with disabilities and Roma children in Europe, and the multifaceted discrimination girls within both of these groups receive also deserves recognition.
Discrimination happens because policy either does not cover the issue sufficiently, the policy is not effectively implemented, or there is a little political will to change the situation, as in the case of Roma children. A ‘Communication’ from the Commission is little more than words and action is required to protect the children of the planet.
In accordance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Article 24, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the work of the Council of Europe in the field of Child Protection, the European Union and its Member States must
• Consider children as an investment
• Lead a global response towards the protection of children
• Place all children at the centre of discussions
• Have a multi-dimensional approach to the Rights of the Child
• Mainstream the Rights of the Child into all policy areas - particularly trade.
• Ensure access to education, especially for girls, are offered to all children as a right
• Support high-quality care and social services
• Promote prevention and the protection of ‘at risk’ children or those living in vulnerable situations
• Support data collection and indicators to prevent and protect all children.
Specifically, WESTT would highlight Europe's failing in regards to Trade and the Rights of the Child.
Read full responseResponse to EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse
1 Jul 2020
The Commission Roadmap must address the following:
• The fast and dynamic evolution of new technological landscapes, increasingly shaped by the digital convergence, faster distribution channels, mobile internet, Wi-Fi access and other new content formats and online technological services-to include online gaming and platforms which children are drawn to;
• Direct harm, as victims of sexual abuse documented through photographs, films or audio files and distributed online (child abuse material);
• A perpetuation of victims’ sexual abuse by the repeated viewing of the records of their abuse due to widespread online distribution and global availability;
• Direct contact by predators who will befriend them in order to commit sexual abuse ("grooming");
• Victims of bullying in the online environment ("cyber-bullying").
• Recognition of the very young age of child victims and the extreme severity of the sexual abuse they are suffering;
• Clarification of the scale of the problem as regards publicly available websites depicting the sexual abuse of children, In 2008, it was around 3000 websites per year hosted around the world facilitating access to many hundreds of thousands of child sexual abuse images;
• Data regarding the regional hosting of child sexual abuse networks - In 2008 data suggested the majority of this content was hosted in the US with a significant amount in Russia, Japan, Netherlands, Spain;
• Online child sexual abuse content regularly hops host company and host country in order to avoid detection and removal and so complicates law enforcement investigation at a solely national level;
• Lack of international efforts by domain name registries to de-register domains advocating the sexual abuse of children or providing access to such content;
• The remaining and potentially, widening “generation gap” between young people’s use of online technologies and their perception of risks verses the adults’ understanding of its use;
• Public exposure to child sexual abuse material may be reduced by voluntary industry blocking of individual URLs by service providers;
• The benefit of national recommendations regarding online tools such as, filtering products, search engine security preferences and the like.
WESTT would also ask for the following recommendations to be considered in the Roadmap:
• An International sharing of data and pooling of ideas across governments, law enforcement, Hotlines and the internet industry, including the facilitation of the sharing of data, expertise and good practice between stakeholders, including Hotlines, law enforcement, governments and, particularly, the international internet industry.
• Definition and promotion of an International and European good practice model as regards the combating child sexual abuse content on the internet by Hotlines.
• Encouragement of Hotline partnerships with national domain name registries to de-register domain names advocating the sexual abuse of children or providing access to this content.
• United efforts in raising awareness of the problems of grooming and cyber-bullying and sign-posting to the relevant law enforcement agency and children’s charities where appropriate.
• Work to ascertain and ensure the harmonisation of legal frameworks in this area across member states.
• Establishment of a Networking Office in Brussels to act as independent assessor, coordinate research, review Programme implementation and achievement of recommendations.
• Establishment of an annual “Experts” panel to intensify the transfer of knowledge.
• Establishment of Youth Forum to ensure the inclusion of children and young people’s views and experiences in research and future Programme implementation.
• Establish liaison with relevant US authorities to encourage reduction in the hosting of child sexual abuse content in the US and increase trans-Atlantic sharing of data.
Read full responseResponse to EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change
29 Jun 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank (WESTT) welcomes the opportunity to input into the Commission consultation on Adapting to climate change – EU Strategy.
Addressing the climate change agenda in the context of gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which the European Union and most of its Member States still fail to provide.
Therefore in its dissemination of funds, and within its projects, the European Commission must
• Collect gender-disaggregated information at every level of a project - from concept to impact assessment.
• Identify how many women were part of the decision-making process both on the EU side and the third country when preparing trade policy which is by their very nature impacting climate change challenges in third countries, especially developing ones - and must stipulate that 40% minimum of each gender should be engaged, with 30% being below 35 years of age.
• identify exactly what portion of the funding has gone to women and girls through accountable mechanisms and impact assessments.
• ensure parity is respected in all projects and within all levels of funding dissemination.
• ensure mainstreaming of gender equality at policy, programming, implementation and monitoring levels, without exception to prove the Commission is going beyond words and has data analysis to prove equal treatment of men and women.
• ensure women’s and girl’s organisation and civil society are able to lead and are not suppressed by a partnership with international partners, with partner governments or local authorities/leaders who have their own agenda’s and are top-slicing the funds or prostituting the NGO’s for their own gain.
• provide an evidence base at all stages which is transparent.
EU Delegations and trade policies must respect environmental protection and mitigate for climate change impacts caused by increased trade, particularly in developing countries. The concept of parity, equal representation and equal voting rights of men and women are not respected in the EU’s external policies and actions, nor its trade policies, and this is having a negative impact on the environment and greenhouse gas emissions through unregulated trading practice.
In EU trade subsidy programmes (GSP, GSP+, EBA) the Commission must ensure that countries receiving the trade subsidies comply with all ILO, Human rights and CEDAW conventions, and all environmental standards which are established to protect the Planet, implement the SDGs and protect the rights of women and girls. The purpose of trade preference schemes such as GSP+ is to improve good governance and environmental standards yet the Commission fails to suspend or withdraw the preference where countries fail to comply. Almost all the GSP+ trade beneficiaries are failing to deliver and comply with environmental standards but Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines are examples of such failures.
In bilateral talks with third countries, accession negotiations and peace negotiations, humanitarian aid distribution in case of disasters and climate change talks, there must be an equal number of women engaged in the process at an equal level to their male counterparts. Heat waves, droughts, rising sea levels, and extreme storms disproportionately affect women because women are more likely to live in poverty than men, have less access to basic human rights like the ability to freely move and acquire land, and face systematic violence that escalates during periods of instability.
It is well documented by the UN that where women are engaged in peace talks there is a greater chance of lasting stability, this applies also to women in climate change who are forced to deal with the consequences at a local level. If the EU is serious about equality then it must demonstrate leadership by bringing representatives of civil society and women leaders to the table on every climate change and Green Deal communication, especially in countries dominated by m
Read full response3 Jun 2020
WESTT asks the Commission to consider the following issues when developing the agreement: Women’s rights and gender equality, Human Rights, Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing and Peace and Security in South Asia.
In respect of women’s rights and gender equality, WESTT requests that equal numbers of male and female representatives are included in the decision making process for a more transparent, balanced and sustainable future for the EU-Tajikistan relations. The participation of women in the decision-making process in Tajikistan is very low.
Specifically in the areas of economic, social and cultural rights women must be included in the discussions. Funding programs and projects created through the partnership and agreements must contain gender-disaggregated information, and equal distribution of funds given to women and men, girls and boys, who benefit from the projects. In this, the criteria for the establishment of projects, through to the impact assessments should include both men and women equally.
Woman and girls in Tajikistan, as in the EU, face high levels of domestic violence in part due to traditional patriarchal systems. Domestic violence is not a private, nor family, matter, it is a societal crime. Gender equality cannot be achieved until domestic violence is addressed. This includes physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence by husbands, in-laws and partners. Whilst Tajikistan has moved forward with a law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence prevention and prosecution still needs to be addressed.
In respect of human rights, Tajikistan has many challenges including accepting the fundamentals of complying with international legislation and obligations of human rights. Partnerships and cooperation agreements need compliance with democratic principles, trust and values, none more important than the core values set out in protecting human rights.
By bringing more women into the decision making process greater transparency can be achieved, with a decrease in corruption to bring both economic and social development. Independence of the media, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of thought and belief are democratic values to be promoted, alongside political opposition and challenges to the government from NGOs and all aspect of civil society.
WESTT also expresses concern regarding human trafficking, child labour and of the rising influence of Islamic extremists in the region, and the resulting oppression on women’s rights.
Furthermore, WESTT would express its concern for peace and stability in the region. Having worked with women’s and human rights organisations across the South Asia region any cooperation agreement must include an analysis of the threats and risks from neighbouring countries. Specifically, we would raise the issues of money laundering compliance in Tajikistan. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan and, via the Wakhan Corridor is only 16 km from Pakistan. This allows for the easy movement of funds from illicit activities such as financial rewards gained through the supply of opium, heroin and other drugs. Such monies come from both state parties, such as the Pakistani Army, and terrorist organisations present across Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan itself is on the Financial Action Task Force List and the EU List of countries of concern with respect to money laundering and terrorism financing. The Taliban in Afghanistan could already hold powers to move funds in and out of the country for attacks on innocent women and children.
The movement of monies and people without controls poses not only serious risks to all countries of South Asia but also to the European Union. Pakistani and Afghani jihadists and fundamentalist are able to use money laundered funds to enter Europe and establish sleeper sells, and also transfer such funds to jihadists operations based in Bangladesh, Kashmir and multiple locations across South Asia.
Read full responseResponse to EU Action Plan of Gender equality and women’s empowerment in external relations for 2021-2025
31 Mar 2020
The Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank welcomes the Commissions initiative to focus on equality for women and girls through GAP III especially in terms of development and international relations.
As the Commission states whilst Equality between men and women is one of the EU’s fundamental values, it is not achieved by any country in the world.
Girls and women are systematically discriminated against in general but also face multifaceted intersectional demise when they are disabled, of a minority community such as Roma in Europe, or religious minorities in many third countries. Sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age all become factors that cannot be addressed solely under the generalisation of “equality”.
Addressing gender equality challenges requires in-depth and relevant data analysis, which all countries still fail to provide.
Therefore in its dissemination of funds, and within its projects, the European Commission must
Collect gender-disaggregated information at every level of a project - from concept to impact assessment.
Identify how many women were part of the decision-making process both on the EU side and the third country - and must stipulate that 40% minimum of each gender should be engaged, with 30% being below 35 years of age.
- Identify exactly what portion of the funding has gone to women and girls through accountable mechanisms and impact assessments.
- Ensure parity is respected in all projects and within all levels of funding dissemination.
- Ensure mainstreaming of gender equality at policy, programming, implementation and monitoring levels, without exception to prove the Commission is going beyond words and has data analysis to prove equal treatment of men and women.
- Еnsure women’s and girl’s organisation and civil society can lead and are not suppressed by a partnership with international partners, with partner governments or local authorities/leaders who have their own agenda and are top-slicing the funds or prostituting the NGO’s for their gain.
- Provide an evidence base, at all stages, which is transparent.
EU Delegations, Common Security and Defence Policy Missions and Operations and EU Member States’ actions must respect parity. The concept of parity, equal representation and equal voting rights of men and women are not respected in the EU’s external policies and actions and this leads to continual discrimination through a focus on increased war, increased sale of weapons, and increased terrorism through the lack of engagement of women in discussions.
In the EU trade policy, the EU must ensure a clause for women entrepreneurs and women business owners in trade agreements (See Canada trade policy). Additionally, there must be an equal number of women engaged in the trade negotiations as men on both sides and these must be at an equal level to their male counterparts.
In EU trade subsidy programmes (GSP, GSP+, EBA) the Commission must ensure that countries receiving the trade subsidies comply with all ILO, Human rights and CEDAW conventions which are established to protect women and girls in the workplace and their rights as women and girls, and their human rights. Almost all the GSP+ trade beneficiaries are failing to deliver and comply with CEDAW. Pakistan, in particular, is reported as the second-worst place in the world to be a woman, where the 2017 Global Gender Gap Index, ranked Pakistan 143 out of 144 countries due to prolific and systemic discrimination against women, and yet it still receives 75% of the GSP+ trade preference allowance with no investigation by the EU Commission.
In bilateral talks with third countries, accession negotiations and peace negotiations, humanitarian aid distribution, climate change talks, there must be an equal number of women engaged in the talks as men on both sides and these must be at an equal level to their male counterparts. The Afghan peace process has not included any women. It is well documented by the UN that where women are e
Read full response29 May 2019
GSP is a development program, with the objective of implementing sustainable development and in the case of GSP+ a focus on good governance, amongst its other core objectives. The administration and impact of GSP should therefore be conducted by DG Development and not DG Trade, where there is a conflict of interest. Trade promotion rarely respects, in practice, human rights, labour norms, civil and political rights nor gender rights, the foundations of not only the GSP program but also of the European Union. This results in misleading monitoring and evaluation of countries regarding their GSP obligations. It is also leading to double standards and prejudice towards some countries where geo-politics are playing higher than democracy, rights and freedoms.
Furthermore, it is not exactly correct to state that ‘GSP also contributed positively to promoting and protecting human and labour rights.’ The mid-term evaluation itself recognises that GSP has had a very limited impact on improving human rights in the beneficiary countries. Indeed, in the executive summary of the mid-term evaluation, it can be read: ‘However in several instances, economic growth and export opportunities did not go hand-in-hand with adherence to fundamental labour and human rights (e.g. instances of land grabbing and the violation of fundamental labour rights were reported in several of the country case-studies).’
While it is true that the temporary withdrawal procedure and the GSP+ arrangement has incentivised beneficiaries to adhere to fundamental human and labour rights, if the countries do not effectively implement those fundamental rights, which is the case for most GSP’s beneficiaries, GSP cannot be considered successful in that context. Adoption of core human rights instruments becomes meaningless if it is not followed by implementation. This is especially worrying for countries benefitting from GSP+, which are required to comply with stricter criteria in terms of human rights and labour rights.
Additionally, it is imperative to review the whole environmental aspect of GSP. If review seems impossible it should be removed from the scheme as it was found useless as it stands and therefore impacts on the credibility of the scheme.
Finally, important sources related to the impact of GSP must also be taken into consideration including, reports and documents from international human rights monitoring bodies (eg: UN bodies) and NGO’s reports (eg: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International).
Read full responseMeeting with Monika Ladmanova (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)
9 Mar 2015 · Female enterpreneurship