Still suffering on 8 March

The spin-off of the crisis on women; delays in the effective equality of rights, the problem of domestic violence and trafficking are just some of the issues highlighted across Europe on the occasion of International Women’s Day. With a view to the preparations of March 8 EU institutions have been also involved: the European Parliament, for example, a few days ago launched a seminar and a meeting with the representatives of the national parliaments in Brussels on "Women and the economic crisis", while the Plenary session will open in Strasbourg on 11 and 14 March addressing three reports on the situation of women in Europe and across the globe. For its part, the EU Commission launched initiatives that focus on the problem of female genital mutilation.The spin-off of the economic and financial recession. "Women in the EU are being affected by a silent crisis. The effects of the crisis have crept up on them less brutally than on men, but they are being affected nonetheless. However, male employment will pick up quicker whereas the cuts in public services will have a long-term effect on female employment". The phrase is contained in the Report on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights, scheduled for presentation in the EU Assembly next week. Rapporteur Elisabeth Morin-Chartier said: "It should be stressed how budget restrictions have an adverse effect on the work-life balance is important since this affects single parents, more often than not women, in particular". For the MEP, "guaranteeing free and equal access to affordable public and private childcare for children of all age groups will promote higher employment rates among women". Special emphasis is placed on the fact that women carry the burden of family responsibilities owing to cuts in public services across member States, to the ongoing difficulties of school systems, as relates to healthcare and in terms of violence on women. According to the Report, "the economic crisis contributes to harassment, abuse and violence of all kinds directed against women, and in particular to an increase of prostitution, which is an open violation of human rights".Protecting young girls and women. Female genital mutilation "affected several hundred thousand women in the EU" the practice mainly occurs "during a stay in the country of origin and very rarely in the territory of the EU". "The report finds that there are victims, or potential victims, in at least 13 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK". The information is contained in a Report by the European Institute for Gender Equality released March 6 on the occasion of a conference held in Brussels promoted by the EU Commission, which calls for views on how best to develop measures at EU level to fight female genital mutilation". The Commission has also announced EUR 3.7 million in funding to support Member States’ activities to raise awareness of violence against women and a further EUR 11.4 million for NGOs and others working with victims". Vice-president of the EU Commission Viviane Reding, said there will be "zero tolerance" for female genital mutilation. "The EU will fight to end female genital mutilation – not only on International Women’s Day, but on all 365 days of the year".Prevention, legal action. According to the Report FGM is carried out for cultural, religious and/or social reasons on young girls between infancy and age 15. "Eradicating such practice will require a range of actions focusing on data collection, prevention, protection of girls at risk, prosecution of perpetrators and provision of services for victims". "Female genital mutilation is a severe violation of human rights", said Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.