EESC contribution to the EU's priorities at the UNCSW70

Rapporteurs:

• Christa SCHWENG (Employers' Group – AT)
• Giulia BARBUCCI (Workers' Group – IT)
• Juliane Marie NEIIENDAM (Civil Society Organisations' Group – DK)

Key points

The EESC:

• reaffirms its long-standing commitment to gender equality, women’s rights, the rule of law as core foundations of democracy, social justice and inclusive growth, the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, and the full and effective participation of women in economic, political and social life;
• stresses that access to justice is both a fundamental human right in itself and a precondition for the implementation of other human rights such as gender equality, and that ensuring it requires: eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices, strengthening gender-responsive justice systems, accessible, affordable and quality legal aid and representation, protection, safety and confidentiality for survivors of violence; digital access to legislation, removing socio-economic barriers, and adequately funded national access-to-justice action plans that integrate gender equality;
• as to participation in public life and eliminating violence, reiterates the need to: ensure equal representation of women in political, economic and public decision-making, zero tolerance for gender-based violence, support and protect women human-rights defenders and civil society organisations, promote safe, inclusive and democratic civic spaces, and support intersectional approaches, combat stereotypes and disinformation;
• undertakes to contribute to implementation of the CSW70 objectives by: promoting structured social and civil dialogue to support gender-responsive justice reforms, advocating gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting, supporting awareness-raising, education and prevention measures, including on legal rights, digital safety and dismantling stereotypes, and encouraging cooperation between EU institutions, Member States, social partners and civil society to ensure coordinated, whole-of-society approaches.