European Parliament Hosts Third Gender Equality Week
The European Parliament’s third European Gender Equality Week begins today and will continue until October 30th with several parliamentary committees and delegations hosting sessions addressing gender equality issues in their policy areas.
Among the many events taking place, the Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on Afghanistan and the regional impact of the Taliban takeover on Tuesday morning. The International Trade Committee will discuss trade and gender on Tuesday afternoon, while the Constitutional Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on how to change the EU Treaties to achieve more gender equality in the EU on Wednesday morning. On Thursday, the Environment Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee will discuss the depathologisation of transgender and non-binary persons. The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy will discuss gender inequalities in the energy sector, also on Thursday.
The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee will hold several events, including a presentation of a study on the gender dimension and impact of the Fit for 55 package on Tuesday.
Also on Tuesday, the committee will hold a hearing on sexuality and relationships education for boys and shaping attitudes to fight gender-based violence, gender stereotypes and secure respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights. On Tuesday afternoon, the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Carlien Scheele, will present to the committee the findings of the 2022 Gender Equality Index, which is focussed this year on the COVID-19 pandemic and care. Jointly with the Employment Committee, there will also be a discussion with EIGE on the situation of women carers in the EU and the European Care Strategy.
Vice-President responsible for Gender Equality Week Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT) and Chair of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee Robert Biedroń (S&D, PL) said, ‘Gender equality is not just a women’s issue. It is everyone’s issue. This is why we are happy that so many EP committees, delegations, as well as other EU institutions are joining us in celebrating European Gender Equality Week (GEW). The EU must lead by example in this regard, so, hopefully, next year even more institutions will be on board!
The Russian aggression in Ukraine, the economic and energy crisis, the escalation of gender-based violence remind us that women always pay the highest price. We need to provide them with targeted support and fulfil our promises for better working conditions, higher salaries, combatting gender-based violence and so much more! Initiatives like the GEW show that achieving gender equality is a task we can only fulfil together.’
Image by SPÖ Presse und Kommunikation/Via OpenVerse/CC BY-SA 2.0
