Uncategorized
Women in digital

European Commission has launched an annual scoreboard to monitor women’s participation in the digital economy, on the occasion of the birthday of Ada Lovelace, considered as the world’s first computer programmer. The Women in Digital scoreboard is one of the actions to assess women’s inclusion in digital jobs, careers and entrepreneurship initiated by Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner in charge for Digital Economy and Society. The Scoreboard assesses EU countries’ performance in the areas of internet use and internet user skills, as well as specialist skills and employment, based on 13 indicators.
The first edition of the Scoreboard shows that women’s participation in the digital field still lags behind in several areas. Only 1 in 6 ICT (Information and Communication Technology) specialists and only 1 in 3 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduate is a woman. Astonishingly women in the ICT sector earn almost 20% less than men.
“Women account for 52% of the European population but only around 17% of women work in ICT- related jobs. We must fully unlock women’s potential in bringing a boost to the digital economy. Governments, companies, educators and civil society need to take decisive actions to change this trend. All together, we can promote women’s talents and make sure we encourage them to STEM study fields early on. Today, we have an extraordinary tool, the Women in Digital European Scoreboard that shows where exactly countries must improve women’s situation. It is time to deliver for young girls, women, all our citizens and businesses. Our Digital Europe will be inclusive, competitive & dynamic with their valuable contribution.” – Commissioner Gabriel.
The new Scoreboard also shows that Finland, Sweden, Luxembourg and Denmark registered the highest scores on the Women in Digital scoreboard while Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Italy registered the lowest. Moreover, there is strong correlation between the scoreboard and the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). In general, Member States leading in digital competitiveness are also leaders in female participation in the digital sector. Read how your country is faring in terms of women’s participation in the digital economy
Among the main results, the scoreboard shows that:
- There is a gender gap in all 13 indicators at EU level, with some exceptions at country level: in Finland, Estonia and Bulgaria women are more active internet users than men; in Latvia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Cyprus women score more highly on digital skills than men.
- The gender gap is the largest in the area of ICT specialist skills and employment: 76 % for ICT specialists and 47 % for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics graduates.
- The difference in digital participation between women and men within the younger age group (16 to 24) is smaller in relative terms (55% of women compared to 60% of men). In certain countries, the trend is even starting to reverse, with women outperforming men in this category.
Another international study ‘The Tech Divide” will be presented on 19th February in Berlin at the The Digitising Europe Summit organised by Vodafone Institute. More about this event on our official website or visit the official conference website.
Call for three interns to join EWL team in Brussels!
Join the European Women’s Lobby team in Brussels, during the 6 month period March 2019 – August 2019!
European Women’s Lobby is recruiting three paid interns for full time positions focusing on the following particular working areas :
Support to European Political Campaigning
APPLICATION FORM SUPPORT TO EUROPEAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING
Supporting work on our European Parliament 2019 election campaign and a special focus on combating commercial sexual exploitation, tasks include:
- Assist and support the EWL’s working groups;
- Assist and support EWL member-led 50/50 campaign in light of the 2019 European elections;
- Assist and support the development of major international events, including political advocacy strategy development;
- Assist and support the EWL’s working groups on ‘Women in Politics’ and ‘SRHR and Sexual Exploitation’;
- Assist and support in membership engagement in activities;
- Assistance to the roll out of campaign and lobbying activities.
Gender Budgeting
APPLICATION FORM GENDER BUDGETING
Assist and support the implementation of the EWL’s Gender Budgeting project, tasks include:
- Project planning: some experience of Project Cycle Management or equivalent is welcome;
- Organise a capacity building workshop in the first quarter of 2019 and, building on outcomes, prepare a follow-up workshop to take place in the latter part of 2019;
- Assist and support the Expert Group;
- Liaise with EWL team members working directly on the project (research, communications) and indirectly (programme unit, finance/budgets, membership);
- Assist with the development of information materials and communication tools on the project for internal (EWL members, EWL feminist economics working group, funders) and external stakeholders;
- Assist in liaising with and reporting to funders.
Membership and Communications
APPLICATION FORM MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Support the Membership and Governance Coordinator with organising the annual European Women’s Forum with EWL Members and the young feminist summer camp;
- Work with colleagues to improve engagement with EWL Members through internal communications (newsletters, etc) and information management (update database, etc);
- Assist and support the management of website and social media content (with input of EWL staff and members);
- Work with the Communications and Media Officer to develop communication actions, supporting EWL advocacy and fundraising objectives;
- Prepare information and publicity materials (invitations, posters, logos, flyers, gadgets, videos, banners, postcards) for various audiences.
Please read this call for applications before you apply. All information on how to apply, tasks, necessary skills and conditions is here.
Interested candidates are requested to submit by e-mail to jobs@localknowledge.be mentioning in the subject line ‘Application for EWL internship 2019 / YOUR NAME’:
- A CV in Word or PDF (name your file as follow ’Last name-CV’)
- Filled-in application form in Word or PDF (name your file as follow ’Last name-application form-title of preferred internship’)
Closing date for applications is 16 January at 23:59 CET.
Sad news about Dr. Helen S. Dunsmore of Graduate Women Scotland

From the Board,
Dr. Anne Negre
President University Women of Europe
Vicepresident of the Conference of INGOs – Council of Europe
Season’s Greetings
Thank you for being with us in 2018,
We wish you a joyful holiday and a successful New Year filled with peace, love, laughter and hope!
For the Board,
Roxana Elena Petrescu
Secretary General
The recommendation of the Council of Europe on the need to strengthen the protection and promotion of civil society space in Europe
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a recommendation to member States to take effective measures to protect and promote civil society space.
Civil society organizations are invited to bring this recommendation to the attention of national authorities, ask for its translation into the national language and monitor its implementation by their governments.
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers at the 1330th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies, on 28 November 2018, the recommendation calls on member states to ensure an enabling legal framework and a conducive political and public environment for civil society organisations, human rights defenders, individuals, groups, and national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights (NHRIs) to freely carry out activities, on a legal basis, consistent with international law and standards, to strive for the protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Governments of member States are asked to ensure that the principles set out in the Recommendation are complied with in relevant national legislation and practice, to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken and to examine, within the Committee of Ministers, the implementation of this Recommendation in five years’ time.
Member States are also called to ensure a wide dissemination of this Recommendation among competent authorities and stakeholders, including the translation in the National language, where appropiate.
Source: www.coe.int
Report UWE President Anne Nègre – Council of Europe’s World Democracy Forum 2018 and Human Rights
The Council of Europe’s World Democracy Forum held from 19 to 21 November 2018 in Strasbourg on “Gender Equality and Women’s Rights” saw a variety of interventions showing clear progress but also brakes.
On the official website you can find the programs, in and out, the interventions, the podcasts of Labs.
Dr. Anne Nègre
President University Women of Europe
Vice President of the Council of Europe’s Conference of INGOs
Sudden Death of Former UWE President Willemijn Van Der Meer
