International Women's Day – Statement by President Oliver Röpke

The EU has made big advancements towards gender equality, but there is still a long way to go.

In politics, women make up on average only 30% of Members of Parliament and only 5 Member States out of 27 have female heads of state. In the business sector, only 8% of CEOs are women, despite there being more women university graduates than man. These figures show that the glass ceilings, barriers, and stereotypes are still very much present in our daily lives. This comes in addition to the fact that globally 10.3% of women live in extreme poverty, and they are poorer than men. Poverty is not gender-neutral, so neither can be our response.

The EESC is committed to breaking those barriers and building a future where women have equal opportunities to thrive and lead within European society. 

On this International Women's day, we celebrate the incredible achievements of women, and we reflect on how organised civil society can drive change both at EU and international levels.

I am delighted to announce that next week, I will lead a Delegation of EESC Members, marking the first active participation of the EESC in the United Nations Convention on the Status of Women. During the event, which will focus on gender equality, empowerment and poverty, I will engage with the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF – all crucial in shaping a brighter and more prosperous future for girls and women worldwide. This is an important step in our commitment to global gender equality, ensuring that the voice of the civil society resonates on the international arena.

While advocating for women's rights in the EU and beyond, it is imperative that the EESC does the homework within its own house. Our dedicated group on equality is exploring ways to promote a more representative and inclusive Committee, amplifying women's voices within our organisation.

We have made a great progress! The EESC has achieved gender parity in middle management roles. However, our work is far from over, and we will continue to push for full equality.