International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 to recognise women’s achievements and shine a spotlight on women’s rights. It is an occasion to raise awareness of issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and the fight against violence and abuse towards women. Equality between women and men has always been one of the European Union’s core values and objectives, but this goal has still not been fully achieved.

EU’s fight for women’s rights

The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;

MEPs have voted during May 2023 plenary to approve the European Union’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, concluding Parliament’s role in the process. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention - it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of a few member states, despite&nbsp;Parliament’s multiple calls to this end.

However, the EU&nbsp;Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021&nbsp;confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention without having the agreement of all member states. The Court found that the appropriate scope for the EU’s accession is asylum, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and obligations of the EU institutions and public administration.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention does not exempt member states from ratifying it themselves, MEPs have repeatedly said, urging the remaining six countries - Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - to ratify the Convention without delay, so that it can protect women to the full extent of the Convention’s intended scope

Violence against women

<center>Image: ©Clara</center>

 

International Women’s Day is held every year on 8 March. Equality between women and men is one of the objectives of the European Union.

Over time, legislation, case-law and changes to the Treates have helped shore up this principle and its implementation in the EU. The European Parliament has always been a fervent defender of the principle of equality between men and women.

On this occassion, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo from the Spanish women’s national football team, which won the 2023 World Cup addressed the EP Plenary in Strasbourg on 12 March 2024.

President Metsola said International Women’s Day is not only a moment to recognise the achievements of women and girls across the world. It should also be a call to action to strengthen gender equality across all spheres of our society. Seeing it as an invitation for societies to do better, President Metsola said: “The time is now for the European Union to lead by example - to set standards in criminalising violence against women, to improve access to justice, and to ratify the Istanbul Convention before the end of this term.

International Women’s Day

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.

The European Parliament first sounded the alarm about the problem of violence against women in a resolution of 11 June 1986. Since then, Parliament has played a particularly important role in the field, including through the work of its Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). As of October 2020, it has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by 21.

Violence against women (2019-2020)

Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo from the Spanish women’s national football team address MEPs.

To mark International Women’s Day, captain of the Spanish women’s football team Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo, captain for club Levante, addresses MEPs,  followed by a round of political group speakers. Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for the first time, but the trophy presentation was marred by harassment. 

On the same day at around 10.30, , MEPs discuss whether Parliament should give its consent to Council for member states to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Convention on Violence and Harassment. The convention is the first international treaty to recognise the right to work free from violence and harassment.

Plenary Debate -  Parliament marks International Women’s Day (8 March)

International Women's day 2024 event by DG PERS

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - ' Orange your world ', UN campaign to end violence against women and girls. Orange flag flown outside the EP building in Brussels

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - ' Orange your world ', UN campaign to end violence against women and girls. Orange flag flown outside the EP building in Strasbourg.

International Women's Day Celebration - Lunch

International Women’s Day 2023 - All for Gender Equality

FEMM Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on the occasion of International Women's Day: Gender Aspects of Energy Poverty

Gender aspects of energy poverty.

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day Celebration, two players from the Spanish women’s national football team winner of the 2023 World Cup, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo, address the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for the first time, but the trophy presentation was marred by harassment. Closing of the ceremony and family photo.

International Women’s Day Celebration: Closing of the ceremony and family photo

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day Celebration, two players from the Spanish women’s national football team winner of the 2023 World Cup, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo, address the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for the first time, but the trophy presentation was marred by harassment. Statement by Ivana ANDRÉS, captain of the national football team of Spain, and Alba REDONDO, player in the national football team. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

International Women’s Day Celebration: Statement by Ivana ANDRÉS, captain of the national football team of Spain, and Alba REDONDO, player in the national football team

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day Celebration, two players from the Spanish women’s national football team winner of the 2023 World Cup, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo, address the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for the first time, but the trophy presentation was marred by harassment. Statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency followed by one round of political group speakers.

Statement by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency followed by one round of political group speakers

On the occasion of the International Women's Day Celebration, Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Spanish football players. Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo from the Spanish women’s national football team address MEPs in a ceremony, followed by a round of political group speakers. Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for the first time, but the trophy presentation was marred by harassment. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo, welcome by President Metsola and extracts from their address and ceremony.

International Women's Day: Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Ivana ANDRÉS, captain and Alba REDONDO, player of the Spanish national football team of Spain and extracts from the celebration

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day Celebration, two players from the Spanish women’s national football team winner of the 2023 World Cup, Ivana Andrés and Alba Redondo, address the hemicycle in Strasbourg. Spain won the World Cup in 2023 for the first time, but the trophy presentation was marred by harassment. Atmosphere in the Chamber, opening of the ceremony by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and video-clip. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

International Women’s Day Celebration: Atmosphere in the Chamber, opening of the ceremony by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and video-clip

This infoclip illustrates International women's day with women practicing sport in a competition level, and mixed teenagers' team. This infoclip illustrates also women at work today in different sector, agriculture, medical organisation, electronic technicians, scientists, board, television production. The annual inter-parliamentary committee meeting marking International Women’s Day (8 March) brings together MEPs and national MPs to discuss gender equality and women’s rights. This year’s theme is women in sport.

Infoclip: International women's day

To mark the 2024 International Women's Day (8 March), the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM Committee) holds an inter-parliamentary committee meeting, gathering EU and national parliamentarians, to discuss the situation of women in sport today. Topics include eradicating gender stereotypes, abuse scandals and getting equal financial rewards and status. The experts to speak include Olympians Charline Van Snick (Belgium), and Pia Sundhage (Sweden). The footage also shows extracts from the statement by Robert BIEDROŃ (S&D, PL), FEMM Chair. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

International Women’s Day 2024: extracts from the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on the occasion of International Women's Day

Samantha CRISTOFORETTI, Astronaut / International Space Station Commander and Josef ASCHBACHER, ESA Director General make a statement on the cooperation of the EU and European Space Agency and the gender equality in the context of Space program. Samantha CRISTOFORETTI is in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, on the occassion of the Internatinal Women's Day celebration.

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