As part of European Gender Equality Week, the European Parliament organised a high-level discussion on Wednesday 11 December on eliminating violence against women and empowering them in the digital world. Moderated by European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Colard, the session brought together the Vice-President of the European Parliament responsible for Gender Equality Week, Antonella Sberna (ECR, Italian), the Vice-President chairing the High Level Group on Gender Equality and Diversity, Ewa Kopacz (EPP, Polish), the Chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, Lina Gálvez (S&D, Spanish), and former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, also contributed a video message.
Antonella Sberna opened the discussion by welcoming the progress that has been made, while acknowledging that there are still a number of problems, particularly in the digital field. Referring to the 2019 directive on work-life balance and the 2022 directive on women on boards of directors (see EUROPE 13068/15), she called for awareness-raising beyond institutional circles.
In a video message, Catherine De Bolle told the story of a Europol employee murdered by her ex-partner. “This tragic event is a reminder that violence can affect anyone, even in protected environments”, she said. She called for better cooperation between police forces, prosecutors and associations, while welcoming as “a step forward” the European directive against gender-based and domestic violence, adopted in June, which criminalises online violence (see EUROPE 13431/33).
Ewa Kopacz stressed the impact of digital violence, saying that “cyber-violence is real violence. It hurts as much as physical aggression”. She pointed out that, from the age of 15, 10% of European women have experienced online violence, calling for early education to prevent such behaviour.
Lina Gálvez called for European policies to be harmonised, regretting the lack of consensus on women’s rights: “We have agreements to harmonise the management of plastic bottles, but not to guarantee equal rights for women in all Member States. That has to change”. She proposed the creation of a Gender Equality Council, demonstrating the urgent need to integrate gender perspectives into all policies.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero called for strict regulation of online content, particularly pornography, which he described as “devastating for young people’s emotional and sexual relationships”. “Equality is the pillar of democracy. To attack women’s rights is to attack democracy itself”, he said.
The speakers agreed that combating violence against women requires concerted efforts at all levels. “We have to show that this Parliament can be a model”, said Ewa Kopacz. Antonella Sberna, for her part, expressed the hope that this discussion would lead to significant changes: “See you next year to measure the progress made”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)