Global body launched: The fight against rape, female circumcision, child mortality and poor healthcare takes on a higher priority.

On June 20th the official opening of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) took place in Vilnius, Lithuania."The European Institute for Gender Equality has been established to gather and concentrate expertise and to assist Europe in the promotion of real equality between women and men", says Director Virginija Langbakk.

The Icelandic parliament has passed a law on gender quotas on corporate boards. Companies with more than 50 employees must have at least 40 per cent of both genders represented on their boards by September 2013.

On the 21st of January last TCO, The Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees, held a forum on gender equality, the first in a line of forums headed by the TCO to emphasize  the importance of gender equality for the labour market.