When: Friday 2 March 2012, 10.00-12.00 (to be followed by lunch from 12.00-13.00)

Where: Europe House, 32 Smith Square, London SW1P 3EU

• What has the EU done so far to advance the cause of gender Equality inEurope?
• What further measures are in the pipeline?
• ShouldEuropedo more or does it need to interfere less when it comes to improving women’s lot, particularly in work place?

In the run up to the 101st anniversary of International Women’s Day, a panel of top speakers from the political and business worlds will debate these issues and answer questions from the audience in an event organised by the European Parliament Information Office in theUK.

Panel:

• Mary Honeyball, MEP, (Lab,London) (member of the Women’s Rights Committee
• Marina Yannakoudakis, MEP, (Cons,London(member of the Women’s Rights Committee
• Emma Reynolds, MP, ShadowEurope Minister
• Heather McGregor, Director of  Taylor Bennett and author of the Mrs Moneypenny column in the FT

Moderator: Shirin Wheeler, Presenter, The RecordEurope, BBC

If you are interested in attending, please reply by email to lucinda.pickersgill@europarl.europa.eu

We are doing this alongside the Global Justice Centre and a consortium of over 3,000 legal, human rights, humanitarian, public health, and other organisations. The consortium represents individuals from Africa, Europe, Latin America, Canada and the US.

Norway became the first country to formally recommend the removal of the blanket abortion restrictions on 5^th November, 2010, citing a Global Justice Centre report to the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.

On 18^th March, 2011, the US responded that it could not do so due to ‘currently applicable restrictions’. As a matter of law, President Obama has the power and duty to act on this.

The letters to President Obama clearly communicate the global outrage over the fact that the most vulnerable of war victims – girls and women impregnated by rape as a weapon of war – are being denied, by the very organisation empowered to help them, the comprehensive and non-discriminate medical care required by international law.

We hope that President Obama’s response shows his commitment to US compliance with the Geneva Conventions and that he will lift the abortion restrictions, thus ensuring that the U.S will not continue to magnify the suffering of girls and women raped in conflict.

To get involved with the Global Justice Centre’s Campaign write your own letter to President Obama asking him to issue an executive order lifting U.S. abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid for girls and women raped in armed conflict. For more information on the campaign and details of what to include in the letter click here

To read NAWO’s letter to President Obama click here

Wednesday 9th November 2011 – Cardiff: Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Habour Drive, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4PA

Tuesday 22nd November 2011- Liverpool: ABCC Community Corner, Lower level, Richmond Park, Liverpool, Merseyside, L6 5AD

Both Events times: 10.30am -15.30 pm (registration 10am)

Guest speaker for Cardiff event: June Jacob, vice chair of NAWO

Guest speaker for Liverpool event: Monical Threlfall, board member of NAWO

A free workshop on the work of the UK and European Parliaments and how you can engage with them.  The event will focus on how you can get involved and everyone is welcome.

Arranged by the Houses of Parliament Outreach Service and the European Parliaments Outreach service in partnership with NAWO. Free lunch and refreshments are provided.

The courses will cover: The role of both parliaments, how to engage with select committees, an overview of the passage of legislation, how to use questions and debates, campaigning tips and advice, accessing useful information.

To a book a place for either Liverpool or Cardiff: Email parliamentaryoutreach@parliament.uk  or phone 0207 219 1650

An interesting development for campaigns against domestic violence..

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR INFO ON UPCOMING EVENTS, TALKS, WORKSHOPS AND THE NAWO LOGO COMPETITION…

NAWO – connecting women to Europe.