Gender equality strategy: towards a Union with equality

The European Commission (EC) today presented a strategy for equality between women and men in Europe. Although the European Union (EU) is a global leader in gender equality and has made considerable progress over the past decades, gender violence and stereotypes still exist: every third woman IN THE EU has experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Although more women receive higher education, however, they earn an average of 16 % less than men, and only 8 % women are among the ceo of THE EU.

In order to address this problem, the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 foresees the main actions to be taken over the next 5 years and expresses a commitment to ensure that THE EC will include an equality aspect in all EU policies. The strategy describes how THE EC will implement President Ursula von der Leienas's promise that Europe will provide equal opportunities for everyone who has the same ambitions.

Specific actions in the field of equality between 2020 and 2025

No equality between women and men has been achieved in any EU Member State. Progress is slow and gender inequality in employment, wages, care and pensions continues to exist. In order to address this inequality and Europe can fully achieve its potential in both business and politics and society, the strategy foresees a series of important activities, including the prevention of gender violence and stereotypes, equal participation and the provision of opportunities in the labour market, including equal pay, and respect for gender balance in decision-making and policy-making.

1. 33 % women IN THE EU have experienced physical and/or sexual violence while 55 % – sexual harassment. Women in Europe to be disposed of from violence and harmful stereotypes. To achieve this, the strategy calls for: legal measures to criminalise violence against women. In particular, the Commission intends to expand the areas of crime that can be harmonised across Europe, including specific forms of violence against women, including sexual harassment, abuse of women and female genital mutilation. In addition, the Commission will propose a digital service legislation specifying what measures will be necessary for Internet platforms to address illegal online activities, including cyber violence against women.
2.  Women IN THE EU earn an average of 16 % less than men and still face obstacles which make it harder for them to access and retain the labour market. Gender equality is an essential prerequisite for an innovative, competitive and prosperous European economy. In view of the demographic challenges as well as the Green and Digital Agenda, supporting women in finding jobs in sectors where skills are lacking, especially in technology and artificial intelligence, will have a positive impact on the European economy. IN order to avoid a different pay for equal work, THE EC is starting to public consultation on pay transparency and will present binding measures by the end of 2020. In order to ensure that women are able to succeed in the labour market, THE EC will also implement EU standards on working-life balance, which will provide women and men with realistic choices in both personal and professional growth. In the context of labour market, social inclusion and educational aspects, gender equality will continue to be monitored in the European Semester.
3. Women are still not sufficiently represented in leading positions, including THE EU's largest companies, among which women share only 8 %. In order for women to be in business, THE EC will seek, inter alia, the adoption of the 2012 proposal on gender balance in corporate boards. THE EC will also contribute to the participation of women in politics, including the 2024 European Parliament elections, inter alia through funding and exchange of best practices. In order to show the sign, THE EC will seek to achieve a gender balance of 50 % at all levels of governance by the end of 2024.

Integrating gender equality into all EU policies

The EC will also integrate gender equality into all EU policies and key initiatives (the so-called integrated approach to gender equality) under the guidance of Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli and with the support of the newly formed Gender Working Group. The main challenges facing THE EU, inter alia in the area of climate and digital transformation, are the gender dimension. The objectives of the Gender Equality Strategy will also be included in actions taken by THE EU around the world to promote women's opportunities and address the problem of gender violence.

Context

The Union of equality is one of the main priorities of the Commission chaired by Urzula fon der Leienas, as stated in her policy guidelines. The gender equality strategy presented today is the first EC strategy in this area of equality which fulfils the commitments made by THE EC Vice-President in its policy guidelines.

More plašāk HERE.