International Women’s Day is held every year on 8 March. Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union.

Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treates have helped shore up this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.

On this occassion the EP held a short ceremony on 15 March 2023 with participation of&nbsp;Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

President Metsola said International Women’s Day is not only a moment to recognise the achievements of women and girls across the world. It should also be a call to action to strengthen gender equality across all spheres of our society. Seeing it as an invitation for societies to do better, President Metsola said: “The time is now for the European Union to lead by example - to set standards in criminalising violence against women, to improve access to justice, and to ratify the Istanbul Convention before the end of this term.

International Women’s Day

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.

The European Parliament first sounded the alarm about the problem of violence against women in a resolution of 11 June 1986. Since then, Parliament has played a particularly important role in the field, including through the work of its Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). As of October 2020, it has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by 21.

Violence against women (2019-2020)

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The right to health, including sexual and reproductive health, is protected internationally.&nbsp;Access to sexual and reproductive healthcare goods and services is a fundamental component of sexual and reproductive rights.

Under international human rights law and standards, European Union Member States should ensure access to safe and quality sexual and reproductive healthcare.

A range of United Nations (UN) treaties ban discrimination in general terms, effectively outlawing discrimination in sexual and reproductive health and rights. These rights include the right to health and the right to family planning, equal access to service, freedom from violence and the right to life. Specific international treaty protections exist to combat discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability but not sexual orientation or gender identity.

At European level, the Council of Europe protects sexual and reproductive health and rights through the European Convention on Human Rights and through the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention).

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;As of August 2021, it has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by&nbsp;21.

The European Parliament first sounded the alarm about the problem of violence against women in a resolution of 11 June 1986. Since then, Parliament has played a particularly important role in the field, including through the work of its Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM).&nbsp;

Violence against women

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

The Istanbul Convention remains the international standard to eradicate gender-based violence, say MEPs in the draft resolution they are debating on. Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&amp;D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&amp;D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE)

MEPs debate on a draft resolution that would highlight how the The Istanbul Convention remains the international standard to eradicate gender-based violence. Second part of the debate.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate on a draft resolution that would highlight how the The Istanbul Convention remains the international standard to eradicate gender-based violence. First part of the debate.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate on a draft resolution that would highlight how the The Istanbul Convention remains the international standard to eradicate gender-based violence. First part of the debate. Opening statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D,PL) and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: opening statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&amp;D,PL), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, EU Commissioner for Equality

The FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality) and LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) Committees debate in a joint hearing on the consequences of the abortion ban in Poland with Barbara SKROBOL, sister-in-law of Ms Izabela SAJBOR, the first known victim of the de facto abortion ban, Kamila FERENC, Lawyer of FEDERA Foundation, and Caroline HICKSON, Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network.

Consequences of the de facto abortion ban in Poland - FEMM/LIBE Committees: extracts from the joint hearing

In Iran, nationwide demonstrations were triggered by the death in Tehran on 16 September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police, who assaulted her for, they claimed, incorrectly wearing her hijab. During the DROI (Subcommittee on Human Rights) meeting in Brussels, MEPs participate to an exchange of views with Firouzeh Nahavandi, Professor of Sociology and Director of the ‘Centre d'Études de la Coopération internationale et du Développement (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Sima Sabet, senior reporter and presenter of Talk Show Program on Iran International TV and Tara Sepehri Far, researcher in the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch.

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Kanali (4)

International Women’s Day

Violence against women (2019-2020)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Violence against women

Videoposnetki (127)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 2)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 1)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: opening statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D,PL), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, EU Commissioner for Equality

Consequences of the de facto abortion ban in Poland - FEMM/LIBE Committees: extracts from the joint hearing

Women’s role in the rights and freedoms protest in Iran and government crackdown: exchange of views - EP DROI Committee

Fotografija (1150)

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

1.281k rezultati za ""

Kanali (4)

International Women’s Day

Violence against women (2019-2020)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Violence against women

Videoposnetki (127)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&amp;D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 2)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 1)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: opening statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&amp;D,PL), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, EU Commissioner for Equality

Consequences of the de facto abortion ban in Poland - FEMM/LIBE Committees: extracts from the joint hearing

Women’s role in the rights and freedoms protest in Iran and government crackdown: exchange of views - EP DROI Committee

Fotografija (1150)

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE)

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: opening statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D,PL), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, EU Commissioner for Equality