Joint statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day

To mark International Women’s Day, several European Commissioners joined their voices to call for more gender equality within the European Union. They said: “Today we celebrate women. We celebrate their role in society, at work, in our families and lives. We also remember their suffering, hardship and injustice, which for many is still a reality today. It is also true that we must promote gender equality not just today, on International Women’s Day, but every day (…) It is essential that we continue our efforts to integrate equality for women and men into every one of our policies across the board, in each of our Member States and in the countries we work with. (…) The European Union relentlessly combats sexism, discrimination, gender-based violence and inequality. Recent EU legislation secures victims’ rights, addresses trafficking in human beings, and promotes equal treatment. The Commission just tabled a proposal to ratify the Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women; a clear signal that now is the time to step up our collective action.” They also called for more gender equality across the world: “The European Union is also committed to taking forward the new 2030 United Nations Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, which includes a strong commitment to advance gender equality and empower women and girls around the world. In humanitarian emergencies, including the current refugee crises, the European Union strives to ensure that its humanitarian assistance responds to specific gender needs, in particular the vulnerabilities of migrant women. We are taking steps to empower women, to fight for their rights and their equal access to economic resources, and to address all forms of violence against women and girls, especially trafficking, female genital mutilation and early or forced marriage. Women, as key agents and drivers of sustainable development and sustainable peace, have a crucial role to play in a world so hard hit by conflict and inequality.” Full statement and Q&A are available online. See here for an overview of the Commission’s activities in connection with the International Women’s Day