Latest news with #MyVoice
The Journal
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Over 1.2 million people sign petition to EU calling for financial support for abortions
MORE THAN 1.2 million signatures have been collected by a pro-choice campaign calling on the European Commission (EC) to propose financing 'safe and legal abortion'. The My Voice, My Choice campaign started collecting signatures exactly a year ago and today is the last day that people can add their support. This is a European Citizens' Initiative, which, if over one million are collected, requires the EC to officially reply to the petition, outlining its legal and political conclusions as well as any actions it will take in response. The campaign aims to 'make women's lives freer, safer, and better; wherever they live in our union'. Veronika Povž, communication director of the campaign said that 'those with enough money can travel for an abortion — there's always a way for them'. But it's the marginalised groups and those who can't afford it who suffer the most. Instead of interfering with laws and regulations of Member States, the initiative instead asks the Commission: 'To submit a proposal for financial support to Member States that would be able to perform safe termination of pregnancies, in accordance with their domestic law, for anyone in Europe who still lacks access to safe and legal abortion.' It proposes that this would be a voluntary 'opt-in mechanism' for each country. Effectively, that means that support would be provided in countries with more liberal abortion access to enable them to provide care for women travelling from areas with more restrictive laws. Advertisement Thousands of women continue to travel to access care, as reported by The Journal Investigates earlier this month in our Exporting Abortion investigation. We revealed that over 5,000 women in Europe travel from their home countries across borders for abortions each year. Few successful citizens' campaigns More than a decade after the creation of the European Citizens' Initiative, the EU's common petitioning system, it is clear that gathering a million signatures for or against a cause is a major challenge. Even among the 27 million inhabitants of the EU, to reach this high bar requires a lot of campaigning and funding. Each country has set thresholds for signature number, dependent on population size, and campaigns must get support from at least seven EU countries to be considered. For this pro-choice initiative, 19 out of the 27 Member States were over their set threshold. That included over 12,500 people from Ireland, far more than the 9,165 threshold. The highest number of signatures per population came from Slovenia (over 65,000) where the campaign started. Over 200,000 signed the initiative in France, with over 150,000 from Germany and Italy. Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Lithuania had the lowest proportion of signatures. Significant funding was required to get over the line. My Voice, My Choice declared over €830,000 in sponsorship since February last year. However, though this particular campaign has successfully collected the required signatures, it is only the 11th European Citizens' Initiative to do so since it started 13 years ago. In that time, 95 initiatives have failed — 68 failed to obtain the required signatures and 27 were withdrawn by their initiators — out of a total of 119 accepted by the European Commission to collect signatures. Related Reads 'I'll never forgive my country': Women on the trauma of having to travel to UK for terminations 'The most vulnerable are still being exported': Why and how women have to travel for abortions Over 5,000 women in Europe have to travel abroad for abortions each year Signatures to be verified The pro-choice campaign is not done yet as the next step once the signature collection closes later today is verification. A Commission spokesperson told us that 'Member States will have 3 months to perform the verification' of the statements of support. Once that is done, and there are at least one million signatures remaining, then My Voice, My Choice can submit it to the EC for examination. The Commission then has six months to officially reply. The spokesperson said: 'Where the Commission intends to take action in response to the initiative, including, where appropriate, the adoption of one or more proposals for a legal act of the Union, the Communication shall also set out the envisaged timeline for these actions.' — Maria Delaney is the editor of The Journal Investigates . This article was produced in the framework of the PULSE cross-border journalistic cooperation project. It was developed with György Folk, Brussels (EUrologus) and Viktória Serdült (HVG) Budapest. Our investigative unit is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. This takes time and it takes resources. Find out how you can help: Support The Journal Investigates Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Utah parole board launches new ‘trauma-informed' way to keep victims of crimes informed
The Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City is pictured on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole has announced a new 'trauma-informed tool' meant to better keep victims of crimes informed about parole processes involving their offenders and available services. The board on Monday announced the launch of a MyVoice, a new software designed to better notify victims of crimes of services and other information, including when their offenders have upcoming hearings. 'For years, the Board has relied on an offender management system to access victim information,' the board announced in a news release. 'MyVoice represents a significant shift toward a victim-centered approach, enabling the Board to provide more timely and sensitive notifications regarding hearings that victims have a right to attend, along with introductory information about the post-sentence parole process.' Scott Stephenson, chair of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, said in a prepared statement that the board is 'committed to providing trauma-informed notifications to victims, and the launch of MyVoice is a major step in this direction.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MyVoice's first phase enhances the board's ability to email victims who prefer electronic communication over traditional mail, according to the board. 'It also gives Board staff access to a trauma-informed platform where they can update and manage victim contact information more efficiently,' board officials said. 'In addition, the new system has allowed for important updates to the language used in notification letters, making them more informative about the post-sentence parole process and more considerate of victims' experiences.' Jennifer Yim, administrative director of the board, called the launch of MyVoice a 'major milestone.' 'As an agency, we are committed to continuing the development of this platform to reach our end goal — allowing victims to independently enter and manage their contact information and to offer additional options, such as text messaging notifications,' she said. 'We thank the victim services representatives and victims who have helped us understand the needs of victims to inform this process of improving our services.' The board included a link to templates for four 'victims' notifications letters,' which include information about why the board would be contacting victims, their right to be informed about an upcoming hearing for the offenders, and contact information for victim coordinators that can provide more information about resources that are available to them. 'The Board remains committed to protecting public safety through transparency, accessibility, and delivering services that recognize the rights and experiences of victims throughout the parole process,' board officials said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Charity presents adaptive bikes to Erie children
Adaptive bikes were presented to Erie children in an effort to help them get outside and live an active life. Variety, the children's charity at AHN Saint Vincent, presented 13 bikes on Tuesday. PA Soldiers and Sailors Home recognizes National Medal of Honor Day The charity offers life-changing adaptive equipment through their three core programs — My Bike, My Stroller and My Voice. The chief executive officer, Tom Baker, said the bikes are provided to children who were told they would not have the opportunity to ride a bike for most of their lives. Local high school students learn valuable financial literacy skills 'For the first time to ride their bike with their brothers and sisters around the neighborhood, they're going to be able to ride a bike with neighbors and really get to enjoy a fully inclusive kind together life, and that's what it's all about,' said Baker. A parade took place at the end of the presentation, allowing the children to try out their new rides. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bryanston School raises £20,000 for various causes
Bryanston School's A2 Charities Weekend raised £20,000 for various causes. The event, organised by pupils and staff, supported Great Ormond Street Hospital, Child Action Lanka, Ayati and DBA Africa. The school community enjoyed a range of activities, including a dance show, a hockey match, a dog show and a fashion show. One of the highlights was the "My Voice, My Story" performance, a collaboration between Bryanston's sixth form pupils and peers from the Gill Sherlock Memorial School in Uganda. READ MORE: Parkstone Grammar School netball team wins national final The funds from this will help purchase performing arts equipment for the Ugandan school. More than £14,000 was raised from a silent auction. Hannah Fearnley, head of charities and outreach, said: "This was a very special weekend, once again highlighting the community spirit and compassion at the heart of a Bryanston education. "There was such a buzz across the campus with so many activities raising money for great causes. "We're enormously grateful for everyone's support." The weekend also featured hamper sales and T-shirt stands, with two upper sixth pupils showcasing their own designs. Ayati, Child Action Lanka and Great Ormond Street Hospital are charities aiding children in various capacities, while DBA Africa focuses on youth sport academies and development.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Woman who lost father in Holocaust 'will always remember goodbye'
"To this day I remember the hug I got from my father when he said goodbye."Born in 1924, Marianne Philipps grew up in a Jewish family in the German capital, Berlin. But at 14 and with war in Europe looming, she became one of about 10,000 children who escaped the Nazis in the Kindertransport scheme, not knowing if she would ever see her family again. Interviewed for Holocaust Memorial Day, the 100-year-old told the BBC: "I now realise that wasn't a hug you give a child, that was a hug of farewell." Marianne has chronicled her life story in My Voice, produced by Manchester-based Jewish charity The is one of many survivors' stories featured in the this year's Holocaust Memorial Day marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, Marianne said she felt it essential to continue telling her story. "I think what happened during the Holocaust was something so horrific that future generations need to know about it," she was nine when Adolf Hitler first rose to power."All of a sudden I was ostracised," she said. "My friends wouldn't play with me and I was called the 'Jewish girl'."By the time the war ended in 1945, six million Jewish men, women and children had been murdered by the Nazi regime. With life becoming increasingly dangerous for Jewish people in Germany, Marianne's family made a huge a result, in 1939, she travelled from Berlin to the father, Martin, and brother, Herbert, would later die at the Auschwitz concentration camp. What was the Holocaust?BBC to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2025Kindertransport: A fantastic act of love Marianne lived in London during the Blitz and was reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Harry, who had also left Berlin on the Kindertransport. "Having ended up in England together we were a great support for each other," she remembered. "He already made up his mind that he was going to marry me then, and we did eventually marry."Now a mother and grandmother, Marianne, spends her time knitting, going on walks daily and keeping in touch on email and Zoom. She said she hoped that contributing to the book would help future generations greater understand her Senderowich, leader of the My Voice project, said 45 books have been produced, detailing the stories of Holocaust survivors from across Greater Manchester and the north-west of said: "We have had such incredible feedback, especially when survivors like Marianne have gone into schools and told her story and the children have managed to read the book as well."Marianne added: "I have to give and one of the things I can give is my personal experience."People tell me that meeting somebody who was there seems to make an impression, and as long as I can do that, I will." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
