Citizens

The main objectives of the EU strategy for gender equality are: to end gender-based violence; to combat gender stereotypes; to close the gender gap in the labour market; to achieve equality in participation in different economic sectors; to address the gender pay gap and pension gap; to close the gap and achieve gender balance in decision-making and policy.

Despite the inequalities that still exist, the EU has made considerable progress in gender equality in recent decades, thanks to:

• equal treatment standards
• the inclusion of the gender dimension in all other policies (gender mainstreaming)
• specific measures to promote the status of women.

Gender inequalities, however, persist, and in the labour market women continue to be over-represented in low-paid sectors and under-represented in decision-making positions.

In this article, we want to point out a nice campaign to combat gender stereotypes that the European Commission has launched, focusing on stereotypes that affect men and women in various aspects of life, including when it comes to making professional choices, sharing caring responsibilities and making decisions.

It starts with staggering numbers: 44% of Europeans believe that the most important role for a woman is to take care of home and family; 36% is how much less women on average earn than men; only 8% of CEOs in large listed companies in the EU are women.

To change this, we need to start with training, culture, communication and then move on to action.

See the campaign website to combat gender stereotypes

Cohesion policies in favour of gender equality and women’s empowerment were the focus of the ‘EU Factor Next – Objective Woman’ event, held on Saturday 21 September at Auditorium Chiesa di San Giacomo in Forlì, part of the programme of the Festival del Buon Vivere, now in its 15th edition.

Organised by Cooperdiem with the participation of Legacoop Emilia-Romagna and Innovacoop, TR Media, Area A.G., Radio Coop and RadUni, the meeting focused on the gender inequalities still present in Europe and the policies needed to overcome them.

This well-attended event represented the closing of the EU FACTOR NEXT project, financed by DG REGIO, which proposed a very rich and articulated journey to discover the impact of the European Commission’s policies and funding aimed at reducing economic, labour, educational and social inequalities between the different European regions.

EU Factor Next saw the active involvement of young international journalists, three of whom (Laura Bannier from France, Belle De Jong from Malta and Amée Zoutberg from Belgium) launched discussion topics focusing on politics, civil rights and cooperation during the event.

In particular, Belle De Jong proposed the focus on the abortion ban in Malta, which forces around 400 women each year to travel abroad or turn to unsafe alternatives: ‘What concrete measures can the European Parliament or the EU take to put pressure on Malta and other restrictive countries’.

Laura Bannier, on the other hand, drew attention to the first EU regulations concerning the fight against violence against women and domestic violence adopted by the Parliament.

Finally, Amée Zoutberg’s question focused on the European commitment to the awareness and active participation of young people and women through social initiatives.

The round table, introduced by the greetings of Daniele Montroni, President of Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, featured Alessandra Moretti, Member of the European Parliament and Member of the Commission for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality; Annalisa Casino, President of the Equal Opportunities Commission of Legacoop Nazionale; and Anna Magnani, representative of the Forlì feminist collective Monnalisa APS. The event was moderated by Catiuscia Marini, Head of the Office for European Policies, Relations with the EU, PNRR of Legacoop Nazionale.

The result was a lively discussion on cohesion policies for gender equality, including reconciliation and career opportunities, and women’s empowerment.