On Wednesday, Parliament approved the EU’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention – the first legally binding international instrument on preventing and combating violence against women and girls – it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of […]
Read More
World Press Freedom Day: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”. Laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 75 years ago, the protection of freedom of expression remains a […]
Read More
Commission takes action to promote work-life balance in Spain and other EU countries
To safeguard the right to work-life balance across Member States, the European Commission decided to continue infringement procedures against Belgium Czechia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Austria, and Slovenia by sending them a reasoned opinion for failing to notify national measures fully transposing EU rules establishing rights on work-life balance for parents and […]
Read More
Parliament approves new transparency rules on the gender pay gap
New legislation will oblige EU companies to share information to make it easier for workers to compare salaries and highlight possible gender differences. Pay structures used to compare salaries must be based on gender-neutral criteria, according to new rules adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday by 427 votes in favour, 79 against and 76 […]
Read More
European Commission: Gender Equality Strategy
Progress towards gender equality Although inequalities persist, the EU has made significant progress towards gender equality in recent decades because: Equal treatment legislation Mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policies Specific measures to promote the status of women More and more women are entering the labour market and the results of their education and training […]
Read More
European Parliament condemns the poisoning of young girls in Iran and calls for wider sanctions
The European Parliament condemned Wednesday the poisoning of schoolgirls in Iran and called on the EU and the UN to act to combat the repression of women in the country. Referring to numerous incidents since November 2022, where thousands of girls and women across Iran have been attacked with toxic chemicalsto prevent them from attending […]
Read More
Gender equality cannot wait another 60 years to be achieved
On International Women’s Day, Robert Biedro, Chair of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee, issued the following statement. “The European Parliament has made some significant steps towards achieving gender equality over the last twelve months. Parliament approved landmark rules to boost gender equality on corporate boards in November, and a deal was reached on binding pay transparency […]
Read MoreViolence against women and girls: EU sanctions 9 individuals and 3 entities
The European Council decided to impose restrictive measures on nine individuals and three entities in view of their role in committing serious human rights violations and abuses, particularly sexual and gender-based violence. Today’s action reaffirms the EU’s determination to promote and protect human rights around the world. The new listings include: two acting Taliban ministers for Higher […]
Read More
While women’s rights are under attack on a global scale, the EU takes historic decisions
On the occasion of today’s International Women’s Day, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy declared the following: “On International Women’s Day, we think of the resilience and strength of women. Their resolve to stand up against injustice. Their dedication to protect others. Their unrelenting strive […]
Read More