On Tuesday 23 September, the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) discussed the European Parliament’s draft recommendation on the EU Council’s priorities for the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, scheduled for March 2026.
Presented by rapporteur Lina Gálvez (S&D, Spanish), the text condemns the fact that access to justice remains “critical, particularly in cases of violence against women, which constitute violations of fundamental rights”. The Spanish MEP, who believes that the judicial system is too often impervious to women’s realities and is steeped in stereotypes, also defended greater female representation in the judiciary, “in order to take better account of victims”. Furthermore, the text calls on the EU Council to ensure that human rights “are fully implemented in all aspects of EU external action through an adequately funded, gender-transformative, inclusive and intersectional approach”.
The MEPs who spoke gave their support to the recommendation. Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greek) called for “services that are accessible to women, genuine support, and better information to change traditional mindsets”.
Lucia Yar (Renew Europe, Slovakian) drew a link between this report and the directive on victims’ rights – the revision of which she is co-rapporteur on (see EUROPE 13668/15) – pointing out that “victims must be informed of their rights and receive integrated legal, medical and psychological support”.
Read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/ilo (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)