Engender’s ‘Gendering the Child Poverty Debate’ roundtable will bring together academics, practitioners and women with lived experience to discuss the gendered nature of poverty and how it impacts on children.  The outcome of this discussion will be used to highlight the importance of gendering public policy. 

Speaker: Dr Ailsa MacKay

This event takes place on Wednesday 16th November, 10am-1pm in the Out Of The Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG

If you would like to take part in this discussion please call the Engender office on 0131 558 9596 or email Rosaria@engender.org.uk 
 

The World Economic Forum published it's 6th report into gender  equality worldwide this week.  The Global Gender Gap 2011 reports on 135 countries, covering 93% of the worlds population and finds that few countries have made marked advances for women in economic and political parity since the first survey came out in 2006.

The UK fell one place in the overall rankings (from 15 to 16) and was 33rd in the rankings for economic participation and opportunity. 

Find out more

Read the report here     

Womens Views on News reports that the UK has opted out of an EU directive which would give greater protection to women seeking refuge in Britain from gender related persecution, such as female genital mutilation, forced abortion or rape in situations of conflict or war.   The directive requires EU member states to take gender aspects into account when assessing asylum claims and is part of the new Common European Asylum System which is due to be implemented in 2012. 

Read more

Save the Children have a petition calling on the government to increase the amount of help families can receive for childcare costs to 80%. The petition calls on the chancellor, George Osbourne to make work pay for parents.  

Sign the petition here  

A new project has been launched which aims to develop practical methods of sex and gender analysis for scientists and engineers.  Gendered Innovation will also provide case studies to illustrate how sex and gender analysis leads to innovation in science, health and medicine and engineering. 

Find out more

The first annual Chrystal MacMillan lecture will be held on Monday 21st  November and will be delivered by Pippa Norris.  Pippa will speak on 'Gender Equality in Elected Office: Beyond Quotas' and will draw on her research comparing public opinion and elections, democratic institutions and cultures, gender politics, and political communications in many countries worldwide.   

Held in The Meadows Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh University Medical School, Teviot Pl, Edinburgh, 6pm-7pm, places must be booked online at http://edinburgh-university.eventbrite.co.uk/    

Pippa Norris is McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government , Harvard University and Visiting Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. 

The UK Government Equalities Office, based in London, are  holding a videoconference engagement event with women from the Scottish Highlands on Wednesday 23rd November.  The event will be held in Inverness (venue and time to be confirmed) and the theme is the UN Commission on the Status of Women priority area for 2012, Rural Women.   We'll post full details when confirmed.