European Parliament Urges EU Leadership in Advancing Gender Equality at 2025 UN Gathering

The European Parliament has completed its recommendations in preparation for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, scheduled for March 2025. Members of the European Parliament are calling on the EU to take decisive action in promoting gender equality and fulfilling the commitments outlined in the Beijing Declaration regarding women's rights. The resolution, which received 322 votes in favor, emphasizes the need for a robust EU commitment to uphold current protections for women’s rights, particularly in light of an increasing global backlash against gender equality.

The MEPs support the integration of gender considerations and enhanced data gathering to guarantee equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and employment. They highlight the importance of addressing gender-based violence, advocating for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, and supporting a consent-based definition of rape. The Parliament also calls for enhanced female political leadership, equal pay, and economic independence for women, especially in rural regions.

Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality Lina Gálvez (S&D, Spain) emphasized the sluggish global advancement regarding women's rights, pointing out that at the current pace, it will require more than 200 years to bridge the gender gap in legal protections. MEPs emphasize the importance of a proactive EU role in prioritizing women’s rights across all policy ar