In todays chaotic world, we are witnessing a global backlash against gender equality. In this 30th year since the Beijing Declaration — which recognized womens rights as human rights — its time to restore clarity. As we say in French: “Remettre léglise au milieu du village.”
Questioning equality is questioning progress.
The EU is one of the best places in the world to be a woman. But we are not perfect and still have work to do to make womens and girls lives fairer and more equal.
That is why I am pleased to be here today. At the European Economic and Social Committee, you are taking strong actions for gender equality. These two opinions and this High-Level Forum are clear proof of that.
Violence against women is a poison in the bloodstream of our societies.
It attacks the health of our societies — the fundamental human right to physical and mental integrity and safety. In the EU, one in three women have experienced violence. This shows that women and girls are still not safe in Europe.
Unacceptable!
Today, one of our headline priorities in the EU is driving up our competitiveness. Violence against women costs the EU 290 billion euros each year. 290 billion euros! If we want to be more competitive, why not start here?
In the EU, we are 100% committed to ending violence against women.
In recent years, we acceded to the Istanbul Convention and adopted the first Directive on Combating Violence Against Women. Since October 2023, the EU must follow the high standards of the Istanbul Convention.
The Directive on Combating Violence against Women implements a large part of the Istanbul Convention in the EU and even goes further to address gender-based cyberviolence.
The Commission will support Member States to implement this new legislation. Starting this spring, we will organize workshops to ensure the Directive is fully put into action by June 2027. The scope of the Directive is not limited to the crimes defined.
The numerous measures on the protection and support of victims are there for all victims of violence against women or domestic violence. These new rights and measures ensure better protection and support for victims of intersectional discrimination, especially women with disabilities.
This is a milestone year for gender equality.
Besides the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, there is the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. I am pleased that the European Economic and Social Committee will be there. I would like to thank you for your rich opinion on CSW69.
Next week, we will launch our Roadmap for Womens Rights, marking International Womens Day. It reinforces our commitment to empower women and girls across Europe and the world.
This Roadmap sets out a long-term vision with key principles and policy goals. It will be our guiding compass on womens rights, independent of the changing winds of politics.
This Roadmap reaffirms the EUs commitment to advancing gender equality and womens rights for everyone. We call on other institutions to join the Roadmap.
The rights and principles in the Roadmap will largely reaffirm those already recognized at the EU level and beyond. But it will also focus on todays new challenges — in society, economies, and technology, including the risks and opportunities of digital technologies.
It will serve as a basis for developing concrete initiatives in the upcoming Gender Equality Strategy post-2025 that I will present in March next year.
Today marks an important step in our journey towards true gender equality. We have what it takes to make Europe a safer, fairer place for our women and girls.
Now we need to make it happen.
The fight doesnt stop here. The rights and freedoms of women must never be up for debate. They must be a reality. Together, we can make our future brighter and more equal for everyone.