Europe

One World Platform for South East Europe (OWPSEE) joins women’s organisations in Bosnia and Herzegonia in protest over media’s irresponsibility in the handling of a case involving a 15-year-old girl who was forced into prostitution. Religious, school and other prominent community leaders are possibly implicated in accusations of human trafficking. Valentina Pellizzer, OWPSEE’s Executive Director and APC WNSP member, expressed outrage at media coverage that exposed the under-age victim’s name, photo, school, address, and family members in blatant violation of ethical and legal norms for protection of victims’ safety and privacy. Local women’s rights organisations are calling for immediate and effective action from authorities to address increasing cases of human trafficking. The organisations are joined by professional journalist associations in demanding sanction of the sensationalist reporting in this case, as well as public apology to the victim and her family.

A recent conference on Women’s Perspectives in the Labor Market in the Czech Republic touched on a sore nerve: does the job flexibility of ICTs facilitate women working, or does it enable women’s exploitation? The panel on Women and IT brought together researchers, representatives from companies, internet and computer trainers, and women information technology (IT) specialists, all with varying views on this debate.

Flexibility

Have you just ended your maternity or parental leave? Have you been out of the labour market for a longer period? Have you just finished your degree? Are you interested in IT or want to try something new? Do you want to find out if IT could be an option?

APC WNSP member Malgorzata (Gosia) Tarasiewicz from The Network of East-West-Women/ NEWW – Polska shares how she got involved with ICTs and the internet reality for women in Central Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, from her perspective as Executive Director of NEWW-Polska.

“Women should not only be users of ICT but really have an impact on the way they operate so that it is not women who adapt to the ICTs but the way ICTs are used is adapted to the needs of women.”