International Women’s Day: the EPP Group presents concrete measures to defend women's rights

“Fighting against the glass ceiling preventing women from evolving in their career, fighting to eradicate the gender gap (which is still at 16.4%), encouraging female entrepreneurship... Improving women's economic situation is, more than ever, at the centre of the EPP Group's priorities,” declared Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group at the European Parliament, on International Women's Day.

“A legislative framework and tools to promote equality between men and women already exist. They must be respected and implemented. From that perspective, we back the Commission’s roadmap, which addresses the challenges of work-life balance faced by working families,” he added.

“In addition to the economic situation, we cannot ignore the current migration crisis and the condition of women and children refugees. Their protection on European soil is essential for the EPP Group who, since the beginning of the crisis, has mobilised to present concrete and realistic measures,” said Constance Le Grip, EPP Group Coordinator in the Committee on Women's Rights.

The EPP Group has tabled an alternative resolution on "the situation of women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU".

“What is essential for us among our different proposals is that, as part of an integrated, dignified and responsible migration policy, women benefit from specific help while requesting asylum. Moreover, we think that centres for refugees should be adapted to respect women's right to privacy and that adequate medical assistance should be granted to pregnant women,” explained Barbara Matera, EPP Group Rapporteur on the resolution.

“Fighting against smugglers is also one of our priorities, as some of them sexually abuse women as payment for their services. The EPP Group calls, once again, on the European institutions and the Member States to take measures that are as strong as possible to fight all forms of trafficking of human beings and asks them to sign the Istanbul convention on the matter,” concluded Manfred Weber, Constance Le Grip and Barbara Matera.