On Thursday 10 April, the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) examined the draft report by Marko Vešligaj (S&D, Slovenia) on the ‘gender Equality Strategy 2025’. The text supports a cross-cutting strategy, combining legislative and non-legislative measures.
“The European Union’s new strategy for equality between women and men is the key document in terms of priorities for the protection and promotion of women’s rights”, stated Marko Vešligaj before presenting a report with multiple objectives.
The main guidelines are the fight against violence, the right to abortion, equality in employment, political participation and gender mainstreaming in all European policies.
The rapporteur also warned of the current backlash: “There is a marginalisation of the issue of women’s rights (...) this strategy is an opportunity to show that we are not going to allow that to happen”.
During the speeches by the shadow rapporteurs, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral (EPP, Portuguese) praised the rapporteur’s work. He also stressed the need for concrete action. “At the current rate of progress, the EU will need another 60 years to achieve gender equality”, he said.
Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew Europe, Sweden) welcomed what she described as an “ambitious” report supporting the place given to sexual health, reproductive rights and the role of women in foreign policy. Stressing the importance of the institutional environment, she also spoke of the need to strengthen the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
Several MEPs have argued in favour of recognising consent in the definition of rape, a subject debated at length during the drafting of the directive against gender-based and domestic violence (see EUROPE 13431/33).
With good reason, the report calls on “the Commission to put forward EU legislation to criminalise rape on the basis of the absence of consent”. “Yes, means yes. No means no. Without consent it is rape”, insisted Maria Noichl (S&D, German).
Finally, if, on the left, Elena Koundourá (The Left, Greek) said that “we need strong collective action from the EU”, on the far right and the sovereignist right, opinions differed. Mathilde Androuët (PfE, French) denounced an “egalitarian ideology” and excessive state intervention. Amendments can be tabled until 29 April at noon.
To see the project report: https://aeur.eu/f/ged (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)