Strong debate on quotas for women and calls for an end to violence against women and the gender pay gap top as Plenary dissects progress made in equality between men and women.

International Women's Day: How much to commemorate?

After people all over the world  commemorated International Women’s Day,

But in the chamber,  it wasn’t much of a celebration

with differences of culture  and religion coming to the fore.

A new report reaffirms  the need to close the gender pay gap,

reinforce quotas for women, but importantly  calls for an end to violence against women.

In 2013, we saw that the EP's  regulatory pressure can work.

women on the boards of directors  of big publicly-listed companies.

Although we don't yet  have a Council decision,

the proportion of women  on the boards is progressing.

Last year,  a gender equality report failed.

Inequality between men and women  continues to be the rule

and even if efforts are being made for  equality, the process is far too slow.

I have stressed that we will have to wait  until 2084 to see equal pay.

but it could well galvanise a march towards  a new age of 21st century equality.