NCW member Ann Davison recently attended the European Committee of the International Council of Women (ECICW) meeting in Lisbon, Portugal. Women came from as far away as Tunisia, Ukraine and Turkey.

In no country has equality been achieved. So they deplored the claims that enough has been done for women’s rights when women are still suffering violence in many ways and carried an increased burden of unpaid care because of the pandemic. 

Women earn less, have lower pensions and are less well represented in political and economic leadership. When women achieve election they are often subject to aggressive online harassment – enough to put anyone off. ECICW called for quotas to increase representation – not ideal but better than the current situation. 

ECICW also lamented the under representation of women in digital employment where they could be helping to shape a safer online environment. Women from the other countries were impressed to hear about NCW’s campaign to protect children from online pornography. They wanted to hear more about the online safety bill going through Parliament as they are keen to reduce online abuse of women and girls in their own countries.