European Parliament to hold its second European Gender Equality Week

Second European Gender Equality Week. EP committees and delegations will hold a series of discussions and public hearings on topics related to gender equality.

Following the success of the edition, launched by the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee in October 2020, the European Parliament will hold a second European Gender Equality Week from 25 to 28 October 2021. Several parliamentary committees and delegations will organise sessions addressing gender equality issues in their policy areas.

To highlight just a few of the many events taking place, the delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Assembly will hold an exchange of views on Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, on Monday afternoon.

Impact of Covid-19

The Employment and Social Affairs Committee will discuss gender equality and the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on how the recovery can be designed to protect women and promote gender equality, both on Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Legal Affairs Committee will hold an exchange of views on the Women on Boards Directive, a legislative file blocked in the Council for many years.

The Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee will hold several events, including a Conference on the Future of Europe side-event on ‘‘building an inclusive economy for women in the green and digital transformation’’ on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, it will hold a hearing on ‘‘Enhancing gender equality through common European action on care’’ with Commissioners Šuica (Democracy and Demography), Schmit (Jobs and Social Rights) and Dalli (Equality).

On Thursday afternoon, the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Carlien Scheele, will present to the Women’s Rights Committee the findings of the Gender Equality Index 2021, with a special focus on health.