Reproductive and sexual health

European Commission’s Social Investment Package for Growth and Cohesion - the Child Poverty dimension

On 20 February, the European Commission presented a Communication on its Social Investment Package for Growth and Cohesion. The initiative aims to help member states use their social budgets more efficiently and effectively by promoting best practices and providing guidance on social investment. Social investment involves strengthening people’s current and future capacities. In particular, social investment helps ’prepare’ people to confront life’s risks, rather (...)

Women and Cardiovascular Disease in the EU

14 February - Valentine’s Day is a good opportunity to think about women’s hearts. On its latest policy briefing, the European Institute of Women’s Health (EIWH) highlighted the key differences between women and men in matters of the heart - such as risk factors, symptoms, treatment and biomedical research. Traditionally regarded as a male disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of women worldwide. It is also a major cause of serious illness and (...)

EPHA public statement on the European Parliament’s nomination of Dr Borg as new European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy

Brussels, November 22 - The European Parliament yesterday confirmed Malta’s Dr Tonio Borg as the new European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy. During last week’s hearing at the European Parliament (1), Dr Borg committed to abide by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2), to proactively combat discrimination, and to fully respect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) community. Dr Borg also pledged to support the (...)

EPHA Secretary General’s article on Commissioner-designate Borg

Last Tuesday in Brussels, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) questioned Maltese Tonio Borg on his nomination to take up the Commission Health and Consumer Protection portfolio. As it became evident in the three hour public hearing, MEPs were interested in his views on non-discrimination, sexual reproductive health and rights, and fundamental rights. The main concerns voiced by MEPs were the delays to tobacco legislation and assurances on his views on women’s rights and (...)

EPHA public statement ahead of Commissioner-designate Borg hearing at the European Parliament

In light of the concerns expressed by several civil society organisations over the designation of Malta’s Dr Tonio Borg for the Health and Consumer (DG SANCO) portfolio, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) would like to raise questions regarding Dr Borg’s political record. EPHA also expresses its confidence in the European Parliament to fulfil its duty of democratic scrutiny in the hearing with Dr Borg on 13 November, and calls on the European Commission to, regardless of (...)

EPHA joint Working Group on Children’s health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

EPHA joint Working Group on Children’s health and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights met on September 13 to discuss EPHA’s future advocacy in the area. The meeting provided the opportunity for participants to exchange views on: the main developments related to children’s health that have occurred since the last meeting, European Commission recommendations on child poverty, forthcoming activities in the area of children’s health, European Parliament (...)

European Parliament Report on combating gender stereotypes

The European Parliament (EP) is currently working on a Draft Report on eliminating gender stereotypes in the EU. As the issue is in line with EPHA’s work on sexual and reproductive health and rights and marketing, we will follow the file’s progression. We will also keep our members regularly posted on the draft report’s latest developments. The next meeting of EPHA Working Group on Children’s Health (13 September 2012, 15:00 – 17:00 at EPHA’s office) and (...)

European Parliament Report on the sexualisation of girls

The European Parliament (EP) is currently working on a Draft Report on the sexualisation of girls. EPHA will closely follow the file’s progression as the issue is in line with EPHA’s work on children’s health, sexual and reproductive health, rights and marketing. We will keep our members regularly posted on the draft report’s latest developments. The file will be further discussed in the next meeting of EPHA Working Group on Children’s Health (13 September (...)

65th World Health Assembly adopts 21 resolutions

The latest (65th) World Health Assembly gathered on 26 May adopted 21 resolutions on a broad range of health issues including: early marriages and pregnancies, the International Health Regulations, mass gatherings, the Millennium Development Goals, non communicable diseases, pandemic influenza preparedness, intensification of the global polio eradication initiative, research and development, nutrition, the social determinants of health and substandard/spurious/falsely (...)

EPHA Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights - 22 March 2012

EPHA Secretariat organised on 22 March 2012 a Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for its members. EPHA’s Secretariat organised, on 22 March 2012, a Working Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The meeting took place from 14.00-16.00 at EPHA’s offices. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss relevant EU policies, initiatives and developments that happened in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights over the last year; and (...)