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New platform for women’s rights in Europe

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new platform for women's rights in the European Union launched, vote for womenGender equality is a fundamental principle enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union.

A new platform spearheaded by France to promote the rights of women and equality in the European Union was launched recently.

The Minister of Women’s Rights, City, and Youth and Sports, Najat Belkacem-Vallaud, and the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, presented the initiative in honour of the 70th anniversary of women’s right to vote in France.

The Platform for Women’s Rights in Europe urges the European Union to redouble its efforts to ensure gender equality within its own institutions and put girls’ and women’s access to social, economic and health services at the heart of its policies.

It intends to secure the EU’s role as a leader in the fight for women’s rights around the world.

The launch statement reads:

‘At a time when European citizens prepare to renew their European institutions, we recognise that equality is one of the fundamental values that enabled to build trust and cooperation among the member states and secured peace, democracy and prosperity of the European continent for many decades.

We are determined to continue building on the value of equality and revive the EU’s role as a vanguard in the fight for women’s rights around the world.

Gender equality is a fundamental principle enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

This principle is the core of the European charter for equality of women and men in local life.

It is based on the firm conviction that only a society that recognises the equal participation of women and men in all areas can be truly democratic and prosperous and safeguards the rule of law.

However, women still earn 16 per cent less than men per hour worked. Women represent 27 per cent of national parliaments and 18 per cent of company boards. 21 per cent of women are low income workers when 13 per cent men are. 62 million women are victims of physical and sexual violence.

These factors hinder women to unfold their full potential in society and hinder the EU economy to grow substantially via a strong participation of women in the labour market.

Since the conclusion of the Rome Treaty, the European Union has put the issue of gender equality at the heart of its objectives.

It must redouble its efforts to live up to its ambitions and become the exemplar continent for the promotion of equality.

We are convinced that a strong EU, based on gender equality will also positively influence the situation of women in non EU states which are its partners.

We must refuse to move backwards.

We categorically reject attempts to challenge or limit women’s rights, autonomy or freedom, for any reason.

Lack of access of girls and women to sexual and reproductive health and rights, to schools, university, jobs, equally paid work, violence against women, reinforce poverty and hinder economic and democratic development of entire societies. That is why women’s rights and gender equality must be at the heart of EU policies.

In order to redouble its success in achieving gender equality, parity must be automatic in all EU institutions.

We demand that candidates for positions in European institutions express themselves publicly in favour of a Europe that is equal and boasts freedom and women’s rights.

Gender equality and women’s rights must be a fully-fledged policy and priority of the European Union.

This requires concrete commitments that offer guarantees, including:

Complying with the requirement of parity when designating members of the Commission;

Having a Commissioner also explicitly in charge of Women’s Rights;

Mandating a gender equality aspect in the economic governance of the Union, leading to annual recommendations by the Commission to Member States on how to better promote gender equality;

Defining parity rules that apply to all appointments to key positions in EU institutions and organs and

Implementing gender mainstreaming into all policy of the EU through an ambitious action plan on gender mainstreaming.

We call on all European women and men to consider candidates for positions in European institutions in terms of their concrete commitments made in favour of gender equality and women’s rights.

We recall the special responsibility of local authorities and call on them to engage in this cause and join the European charter for equality of women and men in local life.’

The European Elections take place on 22 May this year. You have until 6 May to register to vote.

Please register and vote. And support women’s rights.

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