Ending "honour killings", acting against violence against women, closing the pay gender gap and achieving empowerment of women are among the issues highlighted by international leaders with the approach of March 8 2010, International Women’s Day.
 
So-called ‘honour killings’ are an extreme symptom of discrimination against women, which – including other forms of domestic violence – is a plague that affects every country, the United Nations human rights chief said, calling on governments to tackle impunity for this crime.

"The reality for most victims, including victims of honour killings, is that state institutions fail them and that most perpetrators of domestic violence can rely on a culture of impunity for the acts they commit – acts which would often be considered as crimes, and be punished as such, if they were committed against strangers," states High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

In a statement, quoted by the UN News Service, Pillay said that traditionally, there had been some debate around the issue of state responsibility for acts committed in the private sphere.

"Some have argued, and continue to argue, that family violence is placed outside the conceptual framework of international human rights," she said.

"However, under international laws and standards, there is a clear state responsibility to uphold women’s rights and ensure freedom from discrimination, which includes the responsibility to prevent, protect and provide redress – regardless of sex, and regardless of a person’s status in the family."

It has been estimated that as many as one in three women across the world has been beaten, raped or otherwise abused during the course of her lifetime. And the most common source of such violence, Pillay said, comes from within the family, and among the most extreme forms of abuse is what is known as "honour killing".

"Most of the 5000 honour killings reported to take place every year around the world do not make the news, nor do the other myriad forms of violence inflicted on women and girls by husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and other male – and sometimes even female – family members.

"In the name of preserving family ‘honour,’ women and girls are shot, stoned, burned, buried alive, strangled, smothered and knifed to death with horrifying regularity."

Pillay said that the problem was exacerbated by the fact that in a number of countries’ domestic legal systems, including through discriminatory laws, still fully or partially exempt individuals guilty of honour killings from punishment. Perpetrators may even be treated with admiration and given special status within their communities.

"Honour killings are, however, not something that can be simply brushed aside as some bizarre and retrograde atrocity that happens somewhere else," Pillay said. "They are an extreme symptom of discrimination against women, which – including other forms of domestic violence – is a plague that affects every country."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for gender equality and the empowerment of women, saying that until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice; peace, security and sustainable development stand in jeopardy.  

Ban said there has been a great deal of progress since 1995, when the Beijing Declaration was adopted, of which everyone should be proud, but not complacent.

"A growing number of countries have policies and legislation that support gender equality and reproductive health," Ban said. "Most girls now receive an education, particularly at primary level. Women are now more likely to run businesses and be given loans.  Women are also now more likely to participate in government."

He said civil society, particularly women's groups, have played a major role in these gains.

"Women everywhere are mobilizing for equality and empowerment - and succeeding," Ban said.

But he warned that injustice and discrimination against women continue to persist everywhere.  He said it comes in various forms - in its worst - as violence, but also in early and forced marriage, so-called 'honour killing', sexual abuse and trafficking.

Among the ways the United Nations hopes to eliminate gender inequality is through the creation of a women's agency that would provide more coherent programming and a stronger voice for women.

Ban said he is also trying to lead by example.  Under his tenure, the number of women holding senior UN posts has risen by 40 per cent.   
The European Commission said that it planned to use a series of measures aimed at significantly reducing the pay gap between men and women over the next five years.

The average gender pay gap in the EU currently stands at 18 per cent.

To lower this rate, the European Commission plans to raise awareness among employers, encourage initiatives to promote gender equality and support the development of tools to measure the gender pay gap.

On the other hand, "new legal measures are not excluded," the European Commission said.

The Commission intends to consult the European social partners and analyse the impact of a number of options: strengthening sanctions, providing pay transparency and regular reporting on the pay gap.

A Eurobarometer survey released on March 5 2010 shows that more than 80 per cent of Europeans support urgent action to address the gap.

"I am deeply concerned that the gender pay gap has barely fallen over the last 15 years and in some countries it is even increasing," said Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
 
"In these times of crisis, the gender pay gap is a cost Europe cannot afford. We need to use all the tools we have to close the gender pay gap. Together with member states, we will seek to significantly reduce the gender pay gap in the EU by the end of this Commission's mandate," Reding said.
 
The gender pay gap in the EU shows considerable differences between countries and sectors.
 
According to a Eurostat table, in Bulgaria it was 13.6 per cent in 2008.
 
Overall, the gender pay gap in the EU reflects ongoing inequalities in the labour market, which in practice mainly affect women, the European Commission said.
 
Reducing the gap requires action on several levels to tackle its multiple causes.

In the second half of 2010, the Commission will put forward a new EU strategy for gender equality for 2010-2015.
 
Tackling the gender pay gap will be one of the main priorities. The Commission will use all available instruments, both legislative and non-legislative, to reduce the gender pay gap.

The Commission will analyse in detail the economic and social impact of certain options, together with the European social partners, in particular:
·                    On reporting the gender pay gap and ensuring transparency on pay at company and individual levels or collectively through information and consultation with workers;
·                    On reinforcing the obligation to ensure gender neutral job classifications and pay scales;
·                    On improving the provisions on sanctions in case of a breach of the right to equal pay, to ensure that they are dissuasive and proportional (for instance, higher sanctions in case of repeated offence).

The Commission will also:
·                    Raise awareness among employees, employers and the public of the causes of the pay gap and potential solutions;
·                    Encourage initiatives promoting gender equality at the workplace with equality labels, charters and awards. In France, for example, the "Label égalité professionnelle" was established in 2004. Companies can obtain it for a period of three years if they follow a special procedure and show their commitment to gender equality in a range of areas including scheduling, career development and internal promotion of women in key positions.
·                    Support the development of tools to help employers analyse gender pay gaps within their companies. For example Germany developed software which calculates the wage gap. This instrument can help employers become aware of the situation and take measures to tackle the gender pay gap .
·                    Improve the supply and quality of statistics on the pay gap.
Addressing gender inequalities in the labour market also forms a key element of Europe2020 the EU's economic and employment strategy for the next decade. According to a study conducted under the Swedish EU Presidency in 2009, eliminating gender gaps in employment in the EU member states could lead to a potential 15 per cent to 45 per cent increase in GDP.

The European Commission is conducting a study on initiatives promoting gender equality in the workplace. The results of the study will be presented on May 5.
 
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Eurostat released what it described as a "statistical perspective on women and men in the EU27".
 
Figures for life expectancy for women in the EU showed Bulgaria in the lowest ranking, at 77 years, with France the highest 84.9 years.

On average in the EU in 2007, life expectancy at birth was 82.2 years for women and 76.1 years for men, a difference of 6.1 years.
 
For the past decade, unemployment in the EU has been higher for women than for men, but since May 2009, the trend has changed – a reflection of the fact that the financial and economic crisis had hit hard sectors such as construction and manufacturing, leading to job losses predominantly among men.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament has launched a special webpage dedicated to International Women's Day 2010.

"Through the whole month of March this page will bring you coverage of EP events dealing with this year's theme: ending violence against women. MEPs, national MPs, special guests, experts and the public will contribute to the debate in meetings, events and even via Facebook, with ideas on how to prevent violence and help victims. The theme of the campaign - all documents, interviews, photos and video - will always be the same: We can stop it!" the webpage says.