Equal Treatment and Gender Equality
Equal treatment and Gender Equality are essential pillars of a just, democratic and open society. It should be possible for everybody to have the same opportunities and realize the same life aspirations regardless of their gender (identity), sexual orientation or age. Equality is one of the most important values of the European Union and is legally anchored. Equal treatment and Gender Equality as cross-sectional tasks affect many areas of life, among others employment, care work, pensions, access to social services or civil rights protection.Violence against Women: Istanbul Convention
The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an international treaty in force since August 1, 2014. The Convention contains binding rules for the protection of women against all forms of violence. The Observatory’s work deals with the implementation of the Istanbul convention in several member states of the European Union.
Digital Violence
Digital media has added a new dimension to violence against women. On the one hand, existing forms of violence against women find their digital equivalent. On the other hand, the anonymity and reach of the internet as well as new contact possibilities via social media allow new forms of violence to emerge. In its work, the Observatory looks at European and national approaches dealing with digital violence against women: How does the European Union and its member states approach this phenomenon of genderrelated digital violence and its effects? Which national approaches and initiatives already exist?
LGBTI
Both the social situation and the legal policy framework for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) presents very heterogeneous features across EU member states. From its European-comparative perspective the Observatory contributes to explore and examine the key challenges and developments of LGBTI policy issues in Europe.-
2016Situación de los Refugiados LGBTI en Europa. Trayectoria y Retos der Derecho de Asilo en la Unión EuropeaPublished in: Tiempo de Paz, No. 120; pp. 81-88. (Article in Spanish)
UN 2030 Agenda
The member states of the United Nations are responsible for implementing the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, short SDGs. All member states are confronted with the task of formulating national measures to translate the SDGs into concrete action. SDG 5 addresses gender equality. The Observatory compares in its work the developments and national approaches for the implementation of this SDGs in Germany, Estonia and Sweden.
UN Women Convention (CEDAW)
The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), is the most important human rights tool for women under international law. The Observatory analyses the application of CEDAW in the German an French justice systems and sets out recommendations for its implementation.
Migration and Integration Policies
In the light of increasing immigration to the EU member states, the question about how integration can be successfully managed becomes more and more important on the European and the national level. The article compares the development of migration and integration policies in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. A special interest lies in public offers for the societal integration of recently immigrated families.The publication in this section is only available in German.
Comparing Regulation of Prostitution
Where is prostitution allowed and where is it prohibited by law? And in which countries is the purchase of sexual services forbidden? The German government introduced a law on the regulation of the prostitution business and for the protection of prostitutes. Against this background, the Observatory undertook comprehensive research in this field. The various papers summarize the legal framework and current reform debates in the majority of European States and beyond.
