Online Conference
Women in Europe raise their voices
for women's rights, against gender-based violence and for freedom and democracy
Friday, December 4th, 2020
from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. via Zoom
No matter where you look: all over the world and everywhere in Europe women's rights are "trampled upon", severely curtailed or hardly taken seriously anymore. The increasing shift to the political right, patriarchal regimes, dictatorships, armed conflicts, human rights violations, poverty and financial insecurity generate fears, social unrest, insecurity, violence, hatred, xenophobia and divide societies. Those developments have a particularly negative impact on the living conditions of women and children.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made this situation even worse. Violence against women is increasing notably and significantly. In addition, there is no progress in implementing the Istanbul Convention. In Ukraine, Poland and Turkey in particular, there are serious plans to withdraw from the Convention by the Council of Europe, which is binding under international law. Furthermore, the planned abortion ban in Poland and the restrictions on women's fundamental rights and freedoms during the protests in Belarus are particularly alarming – for a long time now, women's rights and their protection against domestic violence have not been so endangered as they are now.
We express our solidarity with all women from Belarus, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey! We would therefore like to exchange, strengthen our communities and enter into a dialogue with these women and also with representatives of women's political NGOs.
We invite women from Belarus, Poland, Russia, Ukraine or Turkey who see their freedom and fundamental rights as women restricted, to share their views with us. We would also be glad to learn about women's projects or initiatives, that have been founded and want to be presented.
AGENDA (PDF)
If you would like to participate as a speaker and report on the situation in your country, register with us by December 2nd via e-mail to
You will receive the access data a few days before the event.
Registration is mandatory:
First and last name
Single person or NGO
If you are a representative of a women's organization, please give the name of the organization and, if available, the internet address
Phone number and email address
Conference language: English
Please prepare presentations in English as well!
Contacts:
Maria Rösslhumer,
Theresa Bender-Säbelkampf,
Organizers:
AÖF – Association of Autonomous Austrian Women's Shelters, www.aoef.at
Austrian Women's Ring – ÖFR, www.frauenring.at
Alliance “Living without violence”,
Domestic Violence Intervention Centre Vienna, www.interventionsstelle-wien.at
European Network WAVE, www.wave-network.org
OBRA – One Billion Rising Austria, www.1billionrising.at
