European Women

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European Womens Lobby
European Womens Lobby
 
Working against trafficking and sexual
exploitation of women
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European Womens Lobby

• Established in 1990
• Membership based womens organisation from 28
  countries 19 European and International NGOs
• Largest umbrella organisation of womens
  associations in the European Union (EU) working
  on a wide range of issues VAW, economic and
  social policies, migration, parity democracy, etc

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EWL structure
EWL Member organisations in Europe 28 National
Co-ordinations of womens NGOs 19 European Member
organisations
EWL General Assembly 100 delegates
EWL Board of Administration 36 elected
members
European Policy Action Centre Against
Violence Against Women national observatories
on VAW
EWL Secretariat based in Brussels
EWL Executive Committee 1 President,
3 Vice Presidents, 1 Treasurer, 2
members
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Work of EWL to combat violence against women

• Creation of European Policy Action Centre on
  Violence against Women (EPAC-VAW)
• EU-wide Observatory of NGO experts who share best
  practices and identify emerging issues
• Supporting development of national EWL
  Observatories on VAW
• Conducting research seminars, conferences,
  campaigns
• Working with EU/Global institutions to combat VAW

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EWL perspectives on Trafficking

• A GENDER ISSUE
• A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, with links to immigration
  policies
• Links between sex trafficking and prostitution

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• The Nordic Baltic Pilot project
• Developing victim-centred and durable models for
  support women victims of trafficking for sexual
  exploitation
• Regional model of inter-agency cooperation

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Challenges

• Restrictive migration rules and border controls
• The sex industry, nourishing the sex trade
• Social exclusion
• Generality in approach to trafficking
• Lack of gender perspective in current law and
  policy
• Cooperation between NGOs and government agencies
• Gaps between States and regions in protection of
  VOTs