Ahead of the 64th UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW64) in New York in March, Parliament spelled out its priorities on Thursday.
Written by European Parliament News
In a resolution adopted by 463 votes in favour, 108 against and 50 abstentions, MEPs deplore that many of the challenges identified by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 25 years ago are still relevant today.
They call on the Council to ensure a unified EU position and act to counter the backlash against gender equality and all measures undermining women’s rights.
Setting out their priorities for the upcoming UNCSW session in March, MEPs call for measures boosting women’s economic and political empowerment:
- greater inclusion of women in the labour market;
- more support for female entrepreneurship;
- close the gender pay gap (16%) and pension gap (37%);
- favour domestic and care responsibilities being shared equally;
- promote education for girls and encourage greater participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers;
- promote gender-balanced representation at all levels of decision-making, and
- unblock the “Women on Boards Directive” in the Council.
