About: Women

Two centuries needed to close gender gap, says Davos Forum

The reduction of gender disparities in the workplace continues to progress slowly, with the current rate suggesting that it would take 202 years to reach economic parity between men and women, according to a study from the World Economic Forum.

France wants to support women’s role in addressing climate change

The inclusion of women in the climate debate remains in its early stages. The French women involved in the climate negotiations are trying to alert people to this issue. EURACTIV France reports.

Commissioner Gabriel in Argentina for G20 ministerial meeting on digital economy

The EU's Digital Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will attend the G20 digital economy ministerial meeting in Salta, Argentina this week (23-24 August), with the aim of promoting the EU’s gender equality agenda in digital affairs.

‘Water, women and waste’ are our development priorities, says Coca-Cola SVP

In an interview at the European Development Days in Brussels, Perez underlined Coca-Cola's hopes to work with the EU on its flagship External Investment Plan that seeks to build partnerships between local communities, governments, and the private sector.

Women entrepreneurs ‘a vast untapped resource’, say development policy-makers

Women and girls are too often forgotten in development policy, despite being in the front-line. A mere 2% of total overseas development aid is spent on policies related to gender equality, panellists heard at the European Development Days in Brussels.

Don’t leave women out of EU investment programme, Commission is told

The issue of how the EU's External Investment Plan can help empower women and girls dominated the agenda at the European Development Days on Tuesday (5 June), as some panellists voiced concern that it might be marginalised in the final big picture.

Everyone gains from investing in the health and gender equality of women and children

Five million women and children die every year from entirely preventable causes. The Global Financing Facility (GFF) supports the 50 countries with the greatest needs by investing in their health systems but that is not enough, writes Mariam Claeson.

Backlash of regressive laws curtail women’s rights, report finds

Women’s sexual and reproductive rights are “under threat”, warned the Council of Europe.

Belgium highlights pioneering role in linking private sector to aid policy

Alexander De Croo, Belgium's Minister for Development Cooperation, made a passionate plea yesterday (15 November) for closer synergies between private and public funding for development, using his country's pioneering experience as an example.

Private sector and development: The EU is not doing enough!

To ensure business enterprises play their role in generating more and better jobs and contribute to the transition towards a green and sustainable economic model in the Global South, the EU needs to adopt in-depth reforms, argues Isabelle Brachet.

Women have to appease gender stereotypes to be influential

Men and women have sharply divergent routes for converting self-confidence into organisational influence, and the path available to women is far more complex, writes Natalia Karelaia.

Top Europe court upholds ban on full-face veil in Belgium

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday (11 July) upheld a Belgian ban on wearing the full-face niqab veil in public, calling the restriction "necessary in a democratic society".

Women’s Forum chief: EU should stop infighting and regain ambition

At a time of deep reflection on the future of the EU, the executive president of the Women’s Forum insisted Europe should regain its ambition, adding that the biggest market in the world and its well-educated labour force have enormous potential.

W20 Summit champions women’s interests ahead of G20

At the Women20 Summit in Berlin, female leaders from around the world discussed how to promote economic empowerment of women on the agenda of a still male-dominated G20 leadership. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Report: ‘Multifunctional’ women could save EU rural areas

Women can help revive declining rural areas in the EU and prevent further urbanisation, say MEPs in a new report.

Icelandic politician Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir on gender equality

Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir is Iceland's former interior minister and chairperson of the board of Women in Parliaments Global Forum.

Prostitution legal in several EU countries, but Nordic Model could change that

MEPs, feminists and police officers met today, on International Women’s Day (8 March), at the European Parliament, to discuss a new approach to criminalising prostitution: the Nordic Model.

The Brief: Women are better drivers than men, confirms Commission

Who are the best drivers? Men or women? Fortunately, thanks to the European Commission, we can set this controversy to rest, once and for all.

Women: One of the Mediterranean’s brightest hopes

For too long, women have been absent from decision-making, too little involved in the formal labour market and too often victims of violence. They are now one of our brightest hopes for the Mediterranean, writes Delphine Borione.

Abortion protests rock Polish government, prompt backtrack

Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has looked firmly in control since sweeping to power a year ago but it may have pressed its conservative agenda too far by initially backing a virtual ban on abortion.

Poll: British public heavily in favour of burqa ban

Twice as many British people support a ban on women wearing a burqa than oppose one, with a majority also in favour of outlawing the burkini, according to a poll published Thursday (31 August).

Ban on headscarves and religious clothing is discrimination

Muslim women wearing headscarves are facing yet another hurdle on the path towards inclusion and employment in the European labour market, writes Michaël Privot.

Bulgarian socialists elect woman as leader

Bulgaria's Socialist Party (BSP), the biggest opposition party in the Balkan country, chose a new leader yesterday (8 May) with the task of winning back disaffected voters and pushing for an early general election.