MEPs debate on Women as key agents with Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC during the plenary session (9-12 March 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels. MEPs are likely to react to the new 2020-2025 Gender Equality Strategy presented by the Commission on 5 March. Statements by Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE), Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Manon AUBRY (GUE/NGL, FR).

Brussels

debate

plenary session

McGUINNESS, Mairead (EPP, IE)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

International Women's Day (T)

FITZGERALD, Frances (EPP, IE)

AUBRY, Manon (The Left, FR)

International Women's Day 2020 - Women as key Agents for Change: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE), This parliament has 40 percent of members that are women. And since parliamentarians are decision makers at the heart of change from people, there is no just and fair society without gender equality and women's participation in all walks of life. And of course, in politics, on the occasion of the International Women's Rights Day, we must remember that only one quarter of all parliamentarians worldwide are women, and that millions of women and girls are still discriminated and prevented from fully developing their skills and playing their role in society.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mairead MCGUINNESS (EPP, IE), Realising women's rights is not an option. It is a duty and it is possible where there is political will, it is important that the commission presented an ambitious EU gender equality strategy to achieve significant concrete progress by 2025 and parliament stands ready to work on the legislation proposals. In particular, on binding measures for pay transparency measures to be introduced by the end of 2020.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frances FITZGERALD (EPP, IE), Women in Europe, 84 cents pay for every Euro and an extraordinary pension gap of 40 percent. Think of the implications that for families, for children, for women, for old age. We do not have a critical mass in our parliaments, our business and our boards. That is important. Critical mass matters. And, of course, the very serious statistic in relation to violence. One in three women in the EU have been a victim of physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15. It is as simple as this. We need all Member States and the EU to ratify the Istanbul convention.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Now is the time for women to build a more equal society, where we take urgent steps to fight against stereotypes that have placed women at home where we have not had an opportunity to be part of the decision making process shaping our own lives. When we women are in those positions, more fair and equal decisions are taken. We welcome that the Commission recently adopted the gender equality strategy. We hope that this will mark a firm step forward championing for a fairer Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), So let's never, ever for one day even think the fight is over. It is not over. It needs to be continued. With women of all origins, of all religions, no matter how they look, no matter whom they love. And let's not forget either the struggle of trans women were often overlooked. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (French), Manon AUBRY (GUE/NGL, FR), I am speaking on women's rights and would like to speak to you dressed like a feminist icon. The workers overalls, the scarf and the yellow gloves is the attire of the millions of women wore last Sunday to celebrate women's Day to reject 16 per cent gender pay gap. We have been wearing this for months to criticize the pension reform in France, which will see women lose out massively. We have been wearing this attire tho support room maid women and the invisibility of those working in many luxury hotels. We have been wearing this attire for the women are far more likely to work in the domestic field than men.