Dokumentai - Think Tank - Europos Parlamentas

Briefing - Roadmap for women's rights: Next steps for EU action on gender equality - 20-03-2025

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

On 7 March 2025, the European Commission published a roadmap for women's rights, to reaffirm the EU's commitment to gender equality, speed up progress in this area, and counteract political movements that contest EU gender equality policies. The roadmap outlines the challenges and benefits of gender equality today, emphasising its political and economic importance. In an annex, a declaration of eight principles for a gender-equal society, inspired by and phrased in the language of human rights, takes a women's rights-centric approach. The roadmap expresses the Commission's commitment to women's rights and invites other EU institutions to adhere to it. The roadmap will serve to guide future EU action and particularly for the new gender equality strategy from 2026, as well as EU external action. To a significant extent, the objectives outlined in the declaration are covered already by EU legislation or non-legislative measures, depending on the extent of the EU's own competences. Since, in some areas, the EU only has limited competences to support and coordinate the action of Member States (such as on health and education), the roadmap emphasises the importance of involving the Member States. �Ϸ��վ held a first debate in plenary on the roadmap on 11 March. In various previous resolutions, the �Ϸ��վ has expressed support for women's rights and has called on the EU to act against any regression and contestation of gender equality both internally and externally. Various civil society organisations have welcomed the Commission's initiative and called for a recognition of sexual and reproductive rights, as well as an emphasis on intersectional discrimination and vulnerable women, such as disabled women or women with children. The roadmap addresses sexual and reproductive rights, but more as a health issue than a women's rights issue, probably taking into account the EU's limited competences in the area.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Women in local and regional government: Trends, challenges and best practices - 06-03-2025

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:34:32 GMT

This briefing analyses the participation of women in local and regional government from a multilevel governance perspective. It seeks to present the current state of affairs and identify best practice and ideas for the future on the part of governmental organisations at all levels of the European system of multilevel governance.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Women in foreign affairs and international security: An increasingly salient debate - 04-03-2025

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

In a context of international turbulence, rising armed conflict and other evolving threats, the debate on the participation and role of women in foreign affairs and international security is a timely and relevant one. In particular, growing attention is being paid to imbalances in the representation of women in leadership and other key positions in the area of foreign and security policy, and to the growing body of evidence regarding the positive effect of including women and a gender perspective in several key areas. While gaps persist, women's representation in foreign affairs and security has increased both in the European Union (EU) and at United Nations (UN) level. Women's role in peacekeeping is receiving particular attention, as research has consistently shown that gender equality contributes to peace and higher security, and that peace negotiations involving women have a better chance of being sustainable and effective. This year marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which established the 'women, peace and security' (WPS) agenda. Since then, more WPS-related resolutions have been adopted, widening the scope and breadth of gendered peace and security. These resolutions have been instrumental in changing the philosophy and rhetoric around conflict and gender equality, thereby challenging the international community to do more. Initiatives are being implemented at EU level, including through the 2018 EU strategic approach to WPS. However, critics underline that a lot remains to be done, as women and gender perspectives continue to be under-represented in the field of foreign and security policy across the world. This is a further update of an EPRS briefing originally published in September 2019.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Strengthening the Women, Peace and Security Agenda - 03-03-2025

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

This briefing was commissioned by the European �Ϸ��վ's Policy Department for Citizens, Equality, and Culture at the request of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality ahead of the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on the occasion of the International Women's Day. The briefing gives an overview of the Women and Peace and Security Agenda and the current situation at global and European Union level. It examines women’s participation as active agents in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction. It also offers a brief outline of the role of international humanitarian and human rights law in the protection of women and their rights.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Glaustai - Gender gap in health and healthcare: Implications for women - 03-03-2025

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Recent findings suggesting that women in the EU outlive men yet often spend more years in poor health point to a significant gender gap in healthcare. Women face multiple challenges that negatively affect their well-being, including delayed diagnoses, pain bias, research disparities and limited access to essential services.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Glaustai - Zero tolerance for female genital mutilation - 04-02-2025

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 07:52:16 GMT

As part of broader efforts to combat all forms of violence against women and girls, the European Union (EU) is committed to working collectively to eradicate female genital mutilation (FGM) and to supporting its Member States' efforts in this field. The European Commission assesses EU measures to combat FGM every year, on or around 6 February – the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. This publication is a further update of an 'at a glance' note originally published in January 2015.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Glaustai - Taxation's impact on gender equality in the EU - 08-01-2025

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:43:28 GMT

Equality between men and women is one of the key foundational principles of the European Union. Despite much progress, however, significant gaps persist between men and women regarding employment opportunities and income levels. Taxation can either mitigate or exacerbate these gender inequalities. On 13 January 2025, the European �Ϸ��վ's Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) is due to hold a public hearing on the topic.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2025 - EP

Glaustai - Discrimination and gender-based violence in sport - 29-11-2024

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 23:00:00 GMT

In the run-up to this year's European Gender Equality Week (9 to 13 December), the European �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Culture and Education – also responsible for sport policy – is hosting an exchange of views on 3 December with the Council of the EU and the European Commission on preventing and addressing discrimination and gender-based violence in sport. The event will be followed by the screening of one of the films nominated for this year's Lux Audience Award – Julie Keeps Quiet – a film that touches on these very issues.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - EU gender equality policy: Beneficial for both women and men - 28-11-2024

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:25:43 GMT

Since its creation in the 1950s, the European Economic Community, and today's European Union, has had the power to promote equality between women and men, initially in employment and later also in other areas of life. EU action has driven significant progress, even if disparities persist in many areas. To secure this progress, the EU has enabled Member States to implement positive action measures in favour of women and has adopted ground-breaking legislative and non-legislative measures, such as its recent legislation on gender-based violence. Although consensus on EU gender equality policy is long established, a minority array of civil society and political actors are increasingly voicing their opposition to some aspects of gender equality policy. Recent surveys in EU countries show that some citizens have also started questioning a policy that, in their view, has fulfilled its mission. However, perennial gender inequalities in many areas of life suggest that this is a hasty assumption. Fears that gender equality is a zero-sum game that disempowers men highlight a need to dispel misunderstandings about EU gender equality policy. The policy focuses on women as the primary subjects of sex-based discrimination but is formulated in gender-neutral language. Any discrimination is strictly forbidden, although the policy enables Member States to conduct positive action on behalf of women. The Court of Justice of the EU upholds rigorous enforcement of positive action, which has to remain exceptional, limited and non-discriminatory against men. Changing realities meanwhile suggest that men too can benefit from the data collection and the tools developed by the EU, for instance with regard to health and education. Here, some EU countries display the biggest gender gaps in life expectancy in the world, as well as a notable gap in tertiary educational attainment in favour of women.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Glaustai - Outcome of the Summit of the Future: Transforming global governance to build peace, promote human rights and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals - 01-10-2024

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:31:13 GMT

On 22-23 September 2024, world leaders, including �Ϸ��վ's President Roberta Metsola, convened at the United Nations for a 'Summit of the Future'. The UN Secretary-General presented the summit as a 'once-in-a-generation' opportunity to revive multilateral cooperation to address current and future global challenges. �Ϸ��վ's ad-hoc delegation welcomed the 'Pact for the Future' endorsed at the summit. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) is due to report back to Members in a plenary statement on the outcome of the summit.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5): Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls - 18-09-2024

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:01:59 GMT

Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) – 'achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls' – is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) that is very likely to be missed by the target date of 2030. This undermines the rest of the goals. The inclusion in the SDGs of a standalone goal on gender equality was seen as a spur to mobilise action and resources to tackle persistent barriers to women and girls' full enjoyment of their rights, which also undermine sustainable development. The targets in SDG 5 specify actions or outcomes that countries should aim for. These are to remove discriminatory legislation and social norms, eliminate gender-based violence, ensure the bodily autonomy of women and girls, value their unpaid care work and close gender gaps in access to resources and decision-making. At the mid-point to 2030, no country or region in the world has achieved all these targets. Already slow, global progress has stalled, prompting evaluation of which policy measures have been effective, where gaps exist and how to catalyse further action. The European Union (EU) supported the inclusion of SDG 5 and has comprehensive policy frameworks in place to support non-EU countries to achieve the targets and to advance gender equality in the Union. In the EU itself, many of the targets are on track, but progress has been uneven, with significant disparities between Member States. �Ϸ��վ has taken a strong stance on putting gender equality at the heart of sustainable development policy and has called for concrete steps to accelerate progress towards SDG 5.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Women's rights in Afghanistan: An ongoing battle - 16-09-2024

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Since the Taliban regime overtook the country in mid-August 2021, Afghanistan's record on women's rights has been one of the worst, if not the worst, in the world. Despite promises to 'uphold women's rights in line with Sharia law', the Taliban have suppressed the rights of their citizens, with women the main target of restrictions. As well as prohibiting women and girls from travelling without a male relative, the Taliban have denied them post-primary education, banned them from numerous public places, and restricted their employment to healthcare and primary education. In December 2022, women were banned from working for non-governmental organisations in most sectors. In April 2023, the ban was extended to include Afghan women working for the United Nations mission in the country. In August 2024, the Taliban published a law codifying existing norms and introducing new ones, including a prohibition on women's voices being heard in public. This crackdown on women's rights has attracted considerable international condemnation, including from Muslim states. In response to the regressive policies, many international donors have reduced or threatened to halt their humanitarian assistance, upon which the country is strongly reliant. It is feared that women could, unintentionally, be the worst affected by this reduction or suspension of humanitarian aid. The Taliban nevertheless appears inflexible, leaving international actors with a dilemma as to how to proceed. The European Union (EU) has been engaged in Afghanistan since the mid-1980s and has prioritised the advancement of Afghan women's rights. While changing its terms of engagement, it has continued to provide humanitarian aid and to support civil society. �Ϸ��վ has followed the situation closely and recommended further action to support Afghan women and girls. This briefing analyses the current situation of women's rights in Afghanistan, taking a long view. Women's rights have been an intense battleground between different actors for over a century, with periods of promising reforms followed by resistance and often reversals of progress. This helps to explain how a country where women won voting rights in 1919 – earlier than in most of the Western world – has ended up treating its female population in a manner that possibly amounts to a crime against humanity. This briefing updates an earlier one written by the same authors in April 2023.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Standards for equality bodies: Equal treatment between women and men in employment (ordinary legislative procedure) - 19-06-2024

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Several EU directives dealing with equality require EU Member States to establish equality bodies to assist victims of discrimination and to fight discrimination more broadly. However, their rules are general and do not define these bodies' duties and operation, leading to disparities among Member States. Additionally, some Member States' bodies have experienced a lack of resources, limited independence or a narrow remit. To address this situation, in December 2022 the European Commission published a proposal, under the ordinary legislative procedure, setting standards for equality bodies involved in fighting discrimination on grounds of sex in the area of employment, in parallel to another proposal, under the consent procedure, on fighting discrimination on other grounds. The proposal focusing on equality bodies also sought to reinforce their independence, resources and mandate. Overall, stakeholders welcomed the proposal but suggested changes. In trilogue negotiations, the co-legislators agreed on an amended text affording more flexibility to Member States by taking into account their institutional and legal setups. �Ϸ��վ endorsed the agreement in its April I 2024 plenary. Council adopted the act on 7 May. The act was published in the Official Journal on 29 May and entered into force on 18 June 2024. The transposition deadline is set for June 2026. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Combating violence against women and domestic violence - 30-05-2024

Wed, 29 May 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Violence directed against a woman because she is a woman, or that affects women disproportionately ('gender-based violence against women') is a violation of fundamental rights, and a major obstacle to gender equality in all EU Member States. Despite increased attention, national legislation does not offer equal protection for women against all forms of gender-based violence across the EU, and there are significant gaps in the measures adopted at EU level. On 8 March 2022, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal on combating violence against women and domestic violence, to enshrine minimum standards in EU law for criminalising certain forms of gender-based violence, improve access to justice, protection and support for victims, ensure coordination between relevant services, and prevent these types of crime. In July 2023, based on a joint report drafted by its Committees for Gender Equality (FEMM) and Civil Liberties (LIBE), the �Ϸ��վ decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations. After difficult discussions, a compromise was reached that removed rape from the scope of the directive, owing to the Council's concerns over the absence of an EU legal basis. The final text was adopted by a large majority in �Ϸ��վ during its April II 2024 plenary session and by the Council on 7 May 2024. Member States have three years to transpose it. Third edition of a briefing, the first edition of which was drafted by Rosamund Shreeves. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Glaustai - Briefing for the FEMM delegation to UN CSW 68 (18 – 22 March 2024) - 24-04-2024

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT

The original briefing, prepared for the FEMM delegation to the 68th session of the UN CSW maps out the background for its priority theme, Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. The briefing highlights the European �Ϸ��վ's position on the priority theme and outlines as well the main EU policy and legislative initiatives with respect to fostering gender equality and fighting poverty in the Union. The briefing features as well EU measures with respect to gender budgeting and taxation, women's access to finance and European funding opportunities for gender equality

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Išsami analizė - Briefing for the FEMM delegation to UN CSW 68 (18 – 22 March 2024) - 23-04-2024

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT

This briefing contains background materials for the FEMM Committee mission to the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW 68), which focuses on the priority theme ‘Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective’. The briefing has been prepared by the European �Ϸ��վ’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Glaustai - Policy Departments’ Monthly Highlights April 2024 - 17-04-2024

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Glaustai - Revision of the Human Trafficking Directive - 16-04-2024

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:28:59 GMT

In December 2022, the European Commission proposed to revised Directive 2011/36/EU, the EU's main instrument to combat trafficking in human beings. During its April II session, the European �Ϸ��վ is due to vote on the agreement reached between �Ϸ��վ and Council negotiators on the proposal.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Glaustai - EU rules on combating violence against women - 16-04-2024

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 08:45:16 GMT

In March 2022, the Commission proposed a directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence in the EU, and the co-legislators agreed on a compromise text in early 2024. �Ϸ��վ is set to vote on the text during its April II part-session. The new directive would set minimum standards for criminalising severe forms of violence and for enhancing prevention, access to justice and protection of victims.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Main activities of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs 2019-2024 - 15-03-2024

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT

�Ϸ��վ, the Council and the European Commission proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights in 2017. Spelled out in 20 principles, the social pillar has since served as a compass towards building a stronger social Europe. In the related action plan, the Commission set out concrete initiatives and, after the Porto Social Summit of May 2021, EU lawmakers committed to headline targets for 2030 regarding employment, training, and poverty. Consequently, this legislative term has seen concrete steps towards implementing the pillar, with the Commission tabling a number of proposals for recommendations and several directives that were subsequently negotiated by EU lawmakers and where �Ϸ��վ sought to assert its positions. The preparatory work for these negotiations was done by �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Employment and Social Rights (EMPL), alone or together with other parliamentary committees. Without attempting a thorough end-of-term overview or an in-depth analysis of achievements, this briefing sketches out �Ϸ��վ's main activities in this legislative term that bear the signature of the EMPL committee. After a glimpse at successfully concluded legislative files relating to the world of work, equality between men and women, health and safety at work, skills and EU funding, it looks at legislative own-initiative resolutions and demands put forward by the EMPL committee. With the European elections approaching and several files still ongoing, the time has also come to look forward to some EMPL-related issues that are likely to fill the agenda of the next legislative term. Owing to space constraints, this text cannot do justice to the broad variety of challenges to which the EMPL committee has devoted its energy and expertise, leaving aside, for instance, the work done in relation to the integration of third-country nationals into the labour market and the equal treatment of persons with disabilities. Nor does it examine in detail the dynamics of �Ϸ��վ's resolutions that help to push social issues into the EU political spotlight.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Briefing - Women in politics in the EU: State of play in 2024 - 06-03-2024

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT

One hundred years after women won the right to vote in elections or were first elected to parliament in some EU Member States, they continue to be under-represented in politics and public life. This is true whether looking at the composition of the European �Ϸ��վ or that of national parliaments, governments and local assemblies. On the other hand, gender balance in politics benefits not only women and female politicians but also political parties themselves and the rest of society. Women form half the population and deserve to be better represented in power structures. There is now solid evidence about what hinders or enables women's participation and representation, with political parties and the media serving a dual role in this respect. The EU has committed to achieving gender balance in political representation and participation as a matter of justice, equality and democracy. Practical recommendations have been made for achieving this goal, including specific actions to be taken by the EU institutions, national governments, political parties, civil society and the media. A number of pivotal elections are taking place across the world this year, leading to a renewed focus on gender equality and women's participation in politics. Gender equality is one of the issues expected to take centre stage in political debates. Mainstream parties are pushing for further progress in this area, while some populist and radical political forces are campaigning for a renewed emphasis on family and traditional social roles for women and men. Women's rights (for instance, reproductive rights), could even prove decisive in determining the outcome of certain elections. This is an update of a briefing from March 2023 by Rosamund Shreeves and Ionel Zamfir.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Išsami analizė - The EU as a « Union of Equality »? - 05-03-2024

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT

This briefing, drafted by the Policy Department on Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs in the view of the LIBE Workshop on “The EU as a Union of Equality?” organised for the LIBE Committee, aims at providing relevant information and updates on the various strategies, action plans and strategic frameworks launched by the Commission under the Union of Equality umbrella, as well as on other equality directives, framework decisions and initiatives falling under the same remit.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Išsami analizė - Definitions of rape in the legislation of EU Member States - 26-01-2024

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 23:00:00 GMT

This comparative analysis of the national legislation on rape in European Union Member States provides an overview of legal provisions with a focus on the notion of consent. According to the proposed EU directive on violence against women and domestic violence, lack of consent from victims of rape should be made a constitutive element of the crime.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2024 - EP

Tyrimas - The 2020-2025 LGBTIQ equality strategy: Implementation overview - 06-12-2023

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 23:00:00 GMT

On 12 November 2020, the European Commission adopted the 'Union of Equality: LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025'. With its LGBTIQ equality strategy, the Commission seeks to address inequalities and challenges affecting LGBTIQ people, with the objective of moving towards a Union of equality. It underscores the diversity of needs of LGBTIQ people, including the most vulnerable groups who experience intersectional discrimination, and trans, non-binary and intersex people who are the least accepted groups in society. Conducted at the request of the European �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), this study offers an overview of implementation of the Commission's LGBTIQ equality strategy to date. The study examines the progress made in the past 3 years. It also studies the position of the European �Ϸ��վ, which has been very active as regards the protection of rights of LGBTI people in the past four decades, along with the positions of other EU institutions, stakeholders and experts. The study has been prepared to feed into the LIBE committee's implementation report 'Implementation of the EU LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020-2025', Rapporteur José Gusmao (The Left, Portugal).

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2023 - EP

Briefing - Revision of the Victims' Rights Directive - 24-11-2023

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 23:00:00 GMT

This impact assessment effectively substantiates the need for a revision of the Victims' Rights Directive, to strengthen the rights of all victims of all crimes, including the right to information and the right to support and protection, taking into account the individual needs of each victim, effective participation in criminal proceedings, and access to compensation from the offender. In line with the 'evaluate first' principle, the IA draws largely on the findings of a prior evaluation, and it is well-evidenced. The IA presents a sufficiently broad range of policy options that address the problems identified. Stakeholders were widely consulted and their views taken into account throughout the IA. The preferred option package enjoys broad stakeholder support, with any divergent views sufficiently presented in the IA. The IA provides information on calculation methods and limitations with regard to cost and benefit estimations. The IA substantiates the preferred option package; however, the arguments concerning the efficiency aspect could have been further clarified.

Šaltinis : © Europos Sąjunga, 2023 - EP