The creation of a European political version of the MeToo movement was launched on Friday 24 November in Brussels, on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Orchestrated by the Observatoire pour les violences sexistes et sexuelles en politique, in collaboration with the activist network Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community (EL*C), and supported by the European Commission, the initiative was announced at a press conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 22 November by Alice Coffin, an elected representative for the city of Paris, who is also a journalist, a feminist, an LGBTQI+ activist and the person behind this project.
Its aim is to promote the introduction of effective policies within parliaments to combat the “system of impunity”. The event, hosted by the journalist Florence Hainaut, brought together activists, journalists and politicians, including Swedish MEP Malin Björk (The Left).
She highlighted the importance of using political power to create fair laws and rules. She stressed the responsibility of elected representatives not to abuse their position to oppress women, racialised people and minorities.
Ms Björk also highlighted the need for female solidarity, particularly in politics, when denouncing acts of gender-based violence. Finally, she called for collective action to put an end to impunity and the culture of silence in political circles. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)