Environmental Sustainability News 

• The European Parliament approved a resolution which declares a climate and environment emergency in Europe and beyond. This means that they strive for an alignment of all policies with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Read more here.
   
• The European Investment Bank (EIB) will no longer invest in fossil fuels from the end of 2021. This is a compromise of the different government. Read more here.
   
• Italy decided to make lessons on climate change mandatory for all students as of next academic year. At least one hour each week should be dedicated to the topic. Italy is the first country to take this step. Find out more here.

Equal Rights News 
 

November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women News

• TURKEY - Women march in Istanbul to denounce violence against women and especially femicide, amidst heightened police surveillance. Read more here.
   
• SPAIN - As the results of the November 10 Spanish general election show, the far-right party Vox has lately seen rising popularity, having gained representation in local and regional governments, as well as the Congress of Deputies. Vox has been refusing to support initiatives that aim to stop gender violence, arguing that “violence does not have a gender”, resulting in the halting of institutional declarations in various Spanish city halls. Read more here.
   
• ROMANIA - Reportedly, there have been more than 38,000 domestic violence abuses disclosed to the police – but only around 1,300 of the perpetrators were actually prosecuted, which translates to about 3.5% of cases. According to data from a Eurobarometer survey, 1 in 5 surveyed in 2016 believe that rape should not be punished. In 2019 alone, almost 20,000 domestic violence offences were reported in Romania, as well as more than 900 cases of rape crimes, and more than 100 cases of murder. Read more here. 
   

Other News

• Three intercultural LGBTI organisations in Italy express concern over a new immigration decree, which designates 13 countries as safe countries of origin, while women and sexual, ethnic, religious and national minorities are persecuted in these countries and subject to violence linked to human trafficking. Read more here.
   
• On the occasion of the International Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which is held on 20th of November 2019, the Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide (TvT) team is publishing the Trans Murder Monitoring (TMM) research project update to join the voices raising awareness of this day regarding hate crimes against trans and gender-diverse people, and to honour the lives of those who might otherwise be forgotten. The TDoR 2019 update has revealed a total of 331 cases of reported killings of trans and gender-diverse people between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2019. Read more here.
   
• Data-driven policing and racial profiling: the increased use of new, data-driven technologies in policing has concerning implications for racialised communities in Europe, in a context where ethnic and racial minorities are already over-policed and under-protected. Read more here. 
   
• Delays and serious challenges integrating young refugees who have fled war and persecution risk creating a lost generation, finds a new Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) report. While it identifies some good practices, it urges Member States to learn from each other to give these young people an adequate chance in life. Read more here.
   
• According to a recent survey carried in eleven EU member states by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), more than 90 % of Roma children are at risk of poverty; 41 % of Roma children live in a household where at least one person in the household went to bed hungry at least once in a month; 80 % of the Roma families and their children live with an income below the respective national at risk-of-poverty threshold; 50% of Roma children face nutritional risk, have underlying malnutrition and exhibit stunting and inadequate child growth. Read more here.

Civic Education News 

• A recent study revealed that students with a migrant background are not as integrated in formal education as non-migrant students. Read more here on why member states struggle with their integration, especially regarding language issues and how the education system has to change to adopt to the needs of migrant children. 
   
• The first ever Eastern Partnership Education Ministerial took place in Brussels on the 22th November. Discussed was the future of learning and teaching, especially taking into consideration the rapid changes affecting education. Read more here on how education was credited in playing a key role in managing change and building sustainable, resilient and fair societies.
   
• The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers adopted a recommendation on fostering ethics in the teaching profession. They thereby aim to enhance ethics, transparency and integrity in education. Read more here on how the code of ethics will be drafted and disseminated through all levels of education.
   
• A delegation sent to probe civil societies rights across five European countries (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Austria and France) sent by the European Economic and Social Committee discovered worrisome results. According to them, national authorities do not provide sufficient funding for civil societies. Especially Hungary was on the receiving end of critique based on their civic space shrinking due to governmental actions. Read more here on why European values could "no longer be taken for granted".
   
• The Committee of Ministers urged its 47 member States to develop and promote digital citizenship education by making it a priority for policy makers. According to the guidelines, digital citizenship education can enhance raising awareness of discrimination and gender bias as well as providing unprecedented means for people to express themselves. Read more here on how digital citizenship education can enable the acquisition of skills and competences for a democratic culture.