BRUSSELS - From 9 to 15 December, EP committees and delegations will discuss how to empower women in the digital world as part of the fifth European Week for Gender Equality.
As part of the fifth European Week for Gender Equality, several debates and events will be held under the common theme of "The Digital World: security and empowerment". MEPs will address gender equality issues in different policy areas and focus on the opportunities and challenges women face online, said Antonella Sberna (ECR, Italy), Vice-President responsible for Gender Equality Week, in a video message.
Speaking ahead of the annual event, Parliament President Roberta Metsola highlighted recent legislative achievements in the field of gender equality, including the Violence Against Women Directive. Speaker Metsola said that work on equality can go further by focusing on women and girls' digital skills and education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and improving their safety both online and offline. "The European Parliament is committed to a fair and equal Europe for all. Every woman must feel safe and empowered wherever she goes, offline or online," said President Metsola.
As highlighted in the video by Chair Lina Gálvez (S&D, Spain), the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality will hold several events, including a hearing with the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday to discuss how to ensure gender equality and women's rights in the digital space. On the same day, Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), will present the latest Gender Equality Index to the Women's Rights Committee.
Eliminating violence against women and empowering them online
On Wednesday, Vice-President Sberna and President Gálvez will join Eva Kopacz, Vice-President of the European Parliament, who chairs the High Level Group on Gender Equality, and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former President of the Spanish Government, in an online debate on eliminating violence against women and empowering them in the digital world. Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, will also contribute a video message.
In the context of Gender Equality Week, MEPs discussed the impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence on gender equality in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy on Monday 2 December. On Tuesday 3 December, the Committee on Culture and Education discussed policy measures to tackle and prevent gender discrimination and violence in sport, followed by a screening of the shortlisted film Julie Shut Up for the LUX 2025 Audience Award on Wednesday evening.
Every year, the European Parliament organises Gender Equality Week to take stock of progress, highlight achievements and identify new measures to promote women's and girls' rights and achieve gender equality. The events are organised by parliamentary committees, delegations, political groups and the administration. It was first launched in 2020 by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality.
europarl.europa.eu / gnews.cz-jav_07
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