The
European Union stands by women in Europe and around the globe today, as it did
at the time of its foundation.
Sixty
years ago, equality between women and men was embedded in the Rome Treaty as
one of the European Union’s fundamental values. At that time, Europe’s
commitment to the principle of equal pay for equal work was unique in the
world. Since then, the EU has continued
to lead and has made visible progress on all fronts. We work tirelessly to
defend women’s rights and empower them in the fight against discrimination and
gender-based violence.
In
2017, there are more women in work, more women graduating from universities,
and more women active in politics or in top positions at European companies
than ever before. Within the Commission, women represent 55% of the total
workforce. And yet, too many women, especially single mothers, are still
struggling to reach economic independence in the European Union. The rate of women’s
employment in the European Union reached an all-time high of 65.5% in 2016 and
yet there is still a big difference with the 77% rate of men.
Much
more must be done both inside and outside of Europe. Women are often among the
most vulnerable, in conflicts, in situations of migration and displacement, and
where poverty and climate change hit the hardest. In addition, there is an
exponential growth in the numbers of female victims of trafficking arriving in
the EU in the current migration context.
Intolerance
against women and misogyny manifest themselves in the public sphere as well as
behind the cowardly anonymity of the Internet. Attacks on women’s rights are on
the rise. Too many Europeans still think sexual intercourse without consent can
be justifiable. Women are also on the frontline of discrimination and violence,
especially in conflict areas around the world.
However,
women are often also the first ones to seek solutions, to look for resilience
in times of challenge and those with a vision for the future of their
countries. That is why the EU continues to engage with women’s groups
throughout the world, including in the most challenging circumstances, like
Afghanistan or Syria.
We
will continue to take action both at home and abroad. In particular:
• Through its 2016-2019 Strategic
Engagement for Gender Equality, the European Commission tackles inequalities in
key areas such as work, pay, decision making and violence.
• The European Commission has dedicated
2017 to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls.
• The Commission will present this year
a new work-life balance initiative for parents and carers.
• Through our proposed reform of the
Common European Asylum System, migrant women coming to Europe to seek
protection and who have experienced harm will be provided with medical care,
legal support, trauma counselling and psycho-social care.
• The Commission will continue
monitoring the gender dimension of preventing and combating trafficking in
human beings in the implementation of its anti-trafficking policy and
legislation
• In its external relations, through
the 2016-2020 EU Gender Action Plan, the Commission will particularly focus on
assisting women and girls across the world who are excluded from education,
from equal access to health and family planning services, the labour market, as
well as political life while facing discriminatory rules and laws on
inheritance, citizenship or land-ownership.
• To ensure that assistance reaches the
most vulnerable around the world, the Commission will continue to
systematically apply gender-sensitive approach to humanitarian aid.
• The Commission will continue to lead
the way on implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including on
Gender Equality.
We
must not and we will not stop fighting for gender equality, to keep women and
girls safe, and to empower them to fully realise their potential. The European
Union is committed, as it was 60 years ago, to ensuring equality for women
around the world.
Signatories:
First
Vice-President Frans Timmermans
EU
High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini
Budget
and Human Resources Commissioner Oettinger
European
Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn
International
Cooperation and Development Commissioner Neven Mimica
Migration,
Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos
Employment,
Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Commissioner Marianne Thyssen
Humanitarian
Aid and Crisis Management Commissioner Christos Stylianides
Justice,
Consumers and Gender Equality Commissioner Vera Jourová
