Public Hearing on "Towards a new EU strategy for gender equality" - 28 January 2010

10 February 2010

The hearing was held to provide input for an own-initiative report, to be drafted by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL,PT), recommending actions and initiatives for a new EU gender strategy, based on an assessment of the results of the Roadmap for equality between women and men (2006-2010). The hearing consisted of two discussion panels: one on the objectives and priorities and a second on the tools and instruments for an effective EU gender equality strategy.

The EU has the best gender strategy in the world, yet it could be better, said Prof Sylvia Walby, UNESCO Chair in Gender Research, Department of Sociology, Lancaster University, UK. MEPs generally agreed that there is a lack of comparable, valid and reliable data, and that more research should be done, inter alia on violence against women. Livia Járóka (EPP,HU) criticised the very weak implementation of gender equality, especially in Eastern European countries. This would lead to greater discrimination of ethnic minority groups, particularly Roma women, she said. Prof Giovanna da Molin, University of Bari, Italy, identified several categories of vulnerable women such as elder women, separated women with children and also single immigrant women. A European observatory and "homogenous" strategy are needed to combat violence against women, said Marisa Soleto, Director of Fundación Mujeres, Spain.

Edite Estrela (S&D, PT) said that the maternity leave question is connected to that of reconciling work and private life, and that it is thus essential to promote equality between women and men. She also asked also about providing for maternity and paternity leave at Community level, since parental leave sharing is already possible in some EU Member States. Gender Institutes should be established in all Member States, said Britta Thomsen (S&D, DK), referring to the EU's 2002 Gender Equality Directive.

The Lisbon Treaty makes it mandatory to include gender mainstreaming, Commission representative Belinda Pyke replied to a question by Antoniya Parvanova (ALDE, BG), as to whether gender mainstreaming should be mandatory in all policies and Member States. Ms Figueiredo concluded that it is not enough to produce documents, "we have to mobilize ourselves", she said, adding that one has to learn from other countries, by sharing experience of best practices.

Further information

Programme of the public hearing (pdf, 12,7 Kb)

European Parliament - Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality