Statement for the International Women's Day 2017

International Women's Day provides an important opportunity to celebrate the progress in empowering women but also to critically survey the numerous issues that prevent the equal treatment of women in our social, cultural, political and economic life.

A fundamental tenet of the European Union since its inception, the equal treatment of men and women is central to all its activities. Nonetheless, gender equality is progressing at a slow speed. If no significant changes are made, Europe would need 70 years before equal pay is achieved, 40 years before housework is equally shared, and 20 years before gender balance in politics is achieved. Women get 40% less pension than their male counterparts. The World Economic Forum's global gender-gap index shows that economic disparity between women and men around the world is on the rise forecasting that the gender gap won't close until 2186.

170 years is too long to wait. Alongside with authorities, as civil society organisations and as individuals, the time is ripe for resolute and bold actions which can help accelerate gender parity. The European Commission has unveiled a broad equality roadmap for the future but has yet to publish concrete solutions on the five priority action areas and the horizontal issues. What we need is much more ambition, a clearer voice and confidence in the role of the EU as a driver of change in gender equality. The European Economic and Social Committee is prepared to contribute to this process.

Above all, we need to unlock the full potential of women in the rapidly changing world of work, Globalisation, technological change and the opportunities they bring are accompanied by the growing informality of labour, unstable livelihoods and incomes, new fiscal and trade policies and environmental impacts—all of which must be addressed with a view to empower women economically. To this end, the UN theme for 2017 is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50–50 by 2030”.

In this light, women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work requires measures bridging the gender pay gap, as well as addressing gender gaps in leadership, entrepreneurship and access to social protection; and ensuring gender-responsive economic policies for job creation, poverty reduction and sustainable, inclusive growth. Additionally, policies must consider the overwhelming majority of women in the informal economy, promote women’s access to innovative technologies and practices, decent work and climate-resilient jobs and protect women from violence in the work place.

Last but not least, it is important to combat multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence against women who belong to a specific subgroup such as young or elderly women, women in the informal economy, women with disabilities, LGBT groups, survivors of violence, migrant women (including refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented women), single mothers, women from ethnic minorities or from various religious or social origins.

The main thread running through all these objectives is the principle that there can be no lasting solution to the social, economic and political problems of society unless women are fully involved in the process. Similarly, organised civil society can play a decisive part in driving better outcomes for women in more inclusive, sustainable and gender balanced world.