Gender equality in Europe: progress or retreat?

This policy debate marked the final event of the EURIGHT project, led by a consortium of five cities (Alba Iulia in Romania, Genoa in Italy, Gijón in Spain, and Nurnberg in Germany). The objectives of the EURIGHT project were to raise awareness about the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU Charter) and engage people in the construction of a strong European Union through the knowledge of the European instruments and their connection with citizenship.

Gender equality should be a legal duty for the EU

Gender equality should be mainstreamed into all EU policies and debates, including through parity between women and men across political parties, agreed experts at the Friends of Europe debate on gender equality in Europe, which also gathered recommendations for a Renewed Social Contract.

The event kicked off with Laura Gonzalez Mendez, Project Coordinator for International Affairs at the Gijón City Council, presenting the EURIGHT project conclusions on connecting citizens with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The panel of experts and audience agreed “it should be a legal duty of elected parliamentarians to take into account women’s and minorities’ interests when designing public policies.” In the development of any policy or activity, there should be “a pause to say: how will this impact women?” contended Pierangelo Celle, Law Professor at the University of Genoa.

Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President and Founder of Women Political Leaders, recommended that “we make it mandatory for each political party competing in upcoming elections at European and national level to have gender parity in their pool of candidates,” in addition to placing the women candidates in constituencies they can actually win.

Karen Melchior, Member of the European Parliament Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, said there was “a very large silent majority supporting women’s rights,” which needs to be “more vocal.” She also urged for proper implementation of the new directive on parental leave, which goes beyond men doing the ‘women’s job’ and taking on the responsibility of running a household.

Moderator and Friends of Europe’s Dharmendra Kanani said increased parity should include a more representative audience at events like the Friends of Europe debate. “It’s a bit unfortunate that 80% of the people here today are women.”

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Related content:

• State of Europe 2022 Report
• EURIGHT Project

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