01/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the European Parliament women's rights and equal opportunities committee in Brussels on Wednesday 30 September; Osnat Lubrani, of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), said that women, and in particular immigrant and/or the poorest women, had been hit harder by the financial crisis than men. To help women improve their awareness of financial issues, Lubrani said that a solid partnership between the UN and the EU would bring greater effectiveness and better performance. Chairwoman, of the Parliamentary committee Eva-Britt Svensson (UE/NGL, Sweden) said that the crisis was a change-bringing challenge. (G.B./transl.rt)