Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee: press releases 

Fostering gender equality in the EU’s foreign and security policy (16.07.2020)

Women’s Rights MEPs call on the EU to advance towards a foreign and security policy that mainstreams a gender-transformative vision, in a report adopted on Thursday. Read more

COVID-19: Stopping the rise in domestic violence during lockdown (07.04.2020)

Women’s Rights committee Chair, Evelyn Regner, urges the EU and member states to increase support to victims of domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis. Read more

VP McGuinness on women’s rights: “Not an option, but a duty” (10.03.2020)

EP Vice-President Mairead McGuinness opened Tuesday’s session with a debate on women’s rights and the EU’s continued push for gender equality. Read more

All for equality - 2020 is a pivotal year for Gender Equality (08.03.2020)

On International Women's Day, the European Parliament celebrates the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). Read more

Women’s rights: MEPs call for action to fight backlash against gender equality (13.02.2020)

Ahead of the 64th UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW64) in New York in March, Parliament spelled out its priorities in a resolution adopted on Thursday 13 February. Read more

The EU must contribute to ending female genital mutilation, say MEPs (12.02.2020)

Parliament adopted a resolution urging the EU to come up with a strategy and concrete measures to eradicate female genital mutilation. Read more

Parliament strongly condemns ‘‘LGBTI-free zones’’ in Poland (18.12.2019)

MEPs urge the Commission to condemn all public acts of discrimination against LGBTI people, notably the development of so-called ‘LGBTI-free zones’ in Poland. Read more

Istanbul Convention: All member states must ratify it without delay, say MEPs (28.11.2019)

To end violence against women, MEPs call on the EU to accede to and all member states to ratify the Istanbul Convention. Read more

ICPD25: the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (15.11.2019)

Gender Equality and Development MEPs attended the 25th UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Nairobi, Kenya (12-14 November). Read more

MEPs condemn criminalisation of sex education in Poland (14.11.2019)

In a resolution put to the vote on Thursday 14 November, MEPs express their deep concern over a Polish draft law that could put teachers who provide sex education in prison. Read more

Hearing of Commissioner-designate for Equality, Helena Dalli (Malta) (02.10.2019)

Women’s Rights and Employment committees quizzed Ms Dalli, Maltese candidate for the equality portfolio, on EU Gender Strategy and the fight against discrimination. Read more

Evelyn Regner elected Chair of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee (10.07.2019)

Evelyn Regner (S&D, AT), elected by acclamation on Wednesday, will be the Chair of Parliament’s Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) for the coming two and a half years. Read more

Members of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee (03.07.2019)

The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) will have 35 full members in the ninth legislature. Read more

Women must have an equal share in politics, say MEPs and national MPs (07.03.2019)

Less than three months before the European Elections, the Gender Equality Committee held an inter-parliamentary meeting on women’s power in politics on Thursday 7 March. Read more

Spain: a FEMM delegation reviewed policies fighting gender-based violence (01.03.2019)

MEPs from the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee visited Madrid on 28 February and 1 March to analyse policies aimed at combating gender-based violence in Spain. Read more

MEPs concerned by a backlash in women’s rights in some member states (13.02.2019)

The EP expressed its concerns regarding the offensive against women’s rights and gender equality in some member states, in a resolution adopted on Wednesday 13 February. Read more

Individual taxation is crucial to achieving tax fairness for women (15.01.2019)

The Parliament adopted a non-legislative report on gender equality and taxation policies in the EU on Tuesday 15 January. Read more

Italy: full implementation of Law 194 and more investment for victims of trafficking (19.12.2018)

From 17 to 19 December 2018, a delegation of members of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) travelled to Rome and Naples. Their objective was to assess the implementation of the Italian law on abortion and the measures to protect victims of trafficking and prostitution. Read more

MEPs push for measures to improve the situation fo women with disabilities (29.11.2018)

MEPs urged the Commission and member states to take measures to strengthen the rights of women with disabilities, in a resolution adopted on Thursday 29 November. Read more

Joint FEMM/DROI statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (Sunday 25 November 2018) (22.11.2018)

Joint statement by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality, and Pier Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights. Read more

Individual taxation is crucial to achieving tax fairness for women (21.11.2018)

Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee MEPs adopted a draft report on gender equality and taxation policies in the EU on Wednesday 21 November.  Read more

Making quality care services available to all is crucial for work-life balance (15.11.2018)

The European Parliament adopted a non-legislative resolution on care services in the EU for improved gender equality on Thursday 15 November. Read more

Care services should meet women and men's needs for a work-life balance (10.10.2018)

Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee MEPs adopted a draft report on care services in the EU for improved gender equality on Wednesday 10 October. Read more

FEMM delegation to Estonia and EIGE: digitalisation and women's role in the ICT sector (21.09.2018)

A delegation of three members of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee visited Tallinn (Estonia) on September 19-21. Read more

MEPs adopted measures to combat mobbing and sexual harassment (11.09.2018)

Sexual harassment victims should be helped to report cases and perpetrators should face sanctions, said MEPs in a non-legislative resolution adopted on Tuesday 11 September. Read more

MEPs propose measures to combat mobbing and sexual harassment (10.07.2018)

Sexual harassment victims should be helped to report cases and perpetrators should face sanctions, say Women’s Rights MEPs in a draft report adopted on Tuesday 10 July. Read more

Victims' Rights Directive: MEPs call for better enforcement (30.05.2018)

Parts of the Victims’ Rights Directive have been properly enforced by some EU countries, but more must be done to help victims of violence and terrorism. Read more

MEPs assess the implementation of the European Protection Order Directive (19.04.2018)

European Protection Orders won’t function correctly nor safeguard victims until fully enforced by all member states, say MEPs in a report adopted on April 19. Read more

Combatting gender inequality in the media and empowering women through the digital sector (17.04.2018)

EU countries should monitor the presence of women in the media and the Commission should take action to tackle the digital gap between men and women, say MEPs. Read more

UN Commission on the Status of Women: EP delegation promoted the empowerment of rural women and girls (22.03.2018)

A delegation of eight Members of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee attended the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York on March 19-21. Read more

EU trade agreements and policy should help promote gender equality, say MEPs (13.03.2018)

MEPs call for the inclusion of a specific gender chapter in all future EU trade and investment agreements, in a report adopted in Plenary on Tuesday. Read more

Combatting violence against women: all EU countries must ratify the Istanbul Convention (13.03.2018)

MEPs called on the 11 member states that haven’t ratified the Istanbul Convention to do so, in a plenary debate with Commissioner Ansip on Monday evening. Read more

''Women entrepreneurs have to play a key role in the digital world'' (08.03.2018)

On International Women's Day, Women's Rights Committee held an interparliamentary meeting on the empowerment of women in the media and ICT sectors. Read more

Rural women should have better access to education and decision-making spheres (01.03.2018)

The Parliament adopted its recommendation to the Council on the EU priorities for the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women on Thursday. Read more

European Protection Orders must be fully implemented by member states, say MEPs (27.02.2018)

European Protection Orders can neither function correctly nor safeguard victims until fully enforced by all member states, say Gender Equality and Civil Liberties MEPs. Read more

Parliament calls for measures to promote gender equality in the media sector (20.02.2018)

Member states and media companies should step up their efforts to combat gender inequality in the media sector, say Gender Equality MEPs. Read more

Parliament's Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee visited Hungary (14.02.2018)

The European Parliament’s Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee visited Hungary 12-14 February to observe the situation of women’s rights in the country. The delegation looked into the status of the Istanbul Convention, sexual and reproductive rights, women’s participation in political and economic life, work-life balance, and the situation of Roma women. Read more

Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (07.02.2018)

The Commission and member states must step up their efforts to help end female genital mutilation, said MEPs in a resolution voted on Wednesday. Read more

Strengthening gender equality in trade agreements (24-01-2018)

Women’s Rights and International Trade MEPs call for provisions in EU trade agreements to promote women’s rights, in a resolution voted on Wednesday. Read more

Climate change: mitigating the impact on women (16-01-2018)

As women are hit harder than men by climate change, MEPs call for action to empower them and protect those most vulnerable, in a resolution adopted on Tuesday. Read more

Ending child marriages (04-10-2017)

Women’s empowerment, protecting and promoting sexual and reproductive health are among the measures to be taken to combat child marriages, say MEPs in a resolution adopted on Wednesday. Read more

MEPs call for zero tolerance for violence against women(12-09-2017)

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention will provide a coherent European legal framework to prevent and combat violence against women and gender-based violence.Read more

Stepping up women’s economic empowerment in private and public sectors: good for gender equality and boosting EU economy (12-07-2017)

Better work-life balance, gender equality plans and measures on pay transparency for private companies are needed to improve women’s economic empowerment in private and public sectors. Read more

Women´s rights in Poland: MEPs checked the situation in the country  (24-05-2017)

MEPs observed the situation of women’s rights in the country with a special focus on the implementation of the Istanbul convention and victims of violence, sexual and reproductive rights and women’s economic empowerment. Read more

Women’s Rights: MEPs call for better work-life balance to prevent pension gaps (04-05-2017)

Better work-life balance, awareness and fighting inequality in employment and pay gaps are important measures to end and prevent gender pension gaps, said members of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee in a text adopted on Wednesday. Read more

FEMM committee Chair reaction to the work-life balance proposal (26-04-2017)

In the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Commission presented its proposal on work-life balance to the Parliament on Wednesday afternoon. Chair of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D, LT), stated: Read more

Women empowerment: Women’s Rights Committee successfully concluded CSW session (23-03-2017)

A delegation of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament, led by the Committee Chair Ms Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D, LT), successfully concluded its work in the 61st annual session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. Participants included Agnieszka Kozłowska-Rajewicz, Anna Hedh, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Ángela Vallina, Monika Vana and Daniela Aiuto. Members attended the session from 20 to 23 March 2017. Read more

EU is stuck half way to achieving gender equality, MEPs say(14-03-2017)

The EU and its member states should step up their efforts to achieve equality between women and men. Despite progress on some issues, much remains to be done to reduce pay gaps, remove “glass ceilings” blocking women’s careers, remedy their lack of economic independence and improve their work/life balance, say MEPs in a non-legislative resolution voted on Tuesday. Read more

"Women’s economic empowerment: let’s act together" (08-03-2017)

“We cannot make the world a safer, fairer and more prosperous place unless we empower women to realise their full potential in all areas”, said EP President Antonio Tajani at the opening of an interparliamentary meeting on Wednesday. Read more

Step up the fight for equal pay for men and women in the EU, say MEPs (02-03-2017)

Despite the 2006 EU directive promoting gender equality in the labour market, differences in pay for men and women persist and exceed 40% when it comes to pensions. In Wednesday’s debate, MEPs asked the EU Commission and the Council what steps they plan to take to close the gender pay gap. Read more

Give more support to women in rural areas, urge MEPs (28-02-2017)

EU member states should pay particular attention to the needs of women in rural areas to create better living conditions and halt depopulation, say the Agriculture and Women’s Rights Committees in a resolution voted on Tuesday. Facilitating and promoting women’s access to the labour market in rural areas could be the key to sustaining populations in rural areas and should become a top priority in future rural development policies, they add. Read more

Women's Rights MEPs elected the new bureau (25-01-2017)

Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ (S&D, LT) will chair the European Parliament’s Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) for the next two and a half years, decided committee members by acclamation on Wednesday. They also elected the four vice-chairs, who together with the chair will form the new FEMM bureau. Read more