Director Carlien Scheele opens the Agency’s second Gender Equality Forum on 10 December 2024 at The EGG in Brussels and online, with a message of hope and unity for participants. At a time where hard fought rights and freedoms are under threat, we need to be more dedicated and disciplined in working together for gender equality.
Dear participants of the Forum,
A very good morning to all and welcome to the second Gender Equality Forum here in Brussels and online! Together with my entire team at the European Institute for Gender Equality, I am happy to see you.
I am quite tempted to pick up where we left off two years ago at our first Forum and from our commitments as later captured in my Chair Statement.
But today we meet in a profoundly different Europe.
- A Europe still reeling from the realities of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
- A Europe where democracy is on thin ice and women’s rights – our hard-fought victories – are under more threat than ever before.
- And a European Union stepping into a new era, with fresh ambitions, with a new European Commission and European Parliament and a Strategic Agenda 2024-2029.
Many people were concerned with the political shift to the right in the recent European elections. Many women are frightened by the prospect of facing this new reality. But I want you all to remember that EIGE is still here to continue tirelessly championing gender equality, and working with Europe’s political leadership, in every way that we can. And we will never stop.
A Europe where democracy is on thin ice and women’s rights – our hard-fought victories – are under more threat than ever before.
EIGE as the EU’s gender equality agency has of course always studied the impact of changing realities that impact the future for gender equality.
But now we are entering unchartered waters with new security threats and developments including those that come along with Artificial Intelligence. These and other developments strain ongoing challenges like gender gaps and widening inequalities with added complexities.
So, we have to rethink how we are going to better protect and future-proof what should be our union of equality. And that is why we are here. In fact, that is why YOU are here.
We have, together with partners, put together a programme that we believe caters to the needs of the now.
The Forum is built on two thematic strands:
- Tackling gender-based violence in the EU’
- ‘Taking stock of gender equality in Europe now and beyond 2025’
From these two strands, you can tailor your journey – by picking the sessions that resonate with you the most and then revisiting live-streamed discussions you might not have time to attend.
So let me give you a glimpse of what lies ahead.
The first pillar: Gender-based violence.
Just a few weeks ago I was in Brussels for the release of the EU gender-based violence findings. And it was raised by many of us that Gender-based violence needs to be treated like what it is: a crisis - just like any other.
Because gender-based violence is not an abstract issue that affects someone else.
It is happening in our homes, in our workplaces and on our streets. To the people we know and love. By the people we know and love.
Gisele Pelicot
Debora Mihailova
Kyriaki Griva
Giulia Cecchettin
How many more public cases – and all the unreported cases – will it take for the EU to get its act together to better prevent gender-based violence, protect victims, prosecute perpetrators, and support the rebuilding of lives?
You will have the possibility to engage in many discussions on the GBV survey during our Forum.
Under the second pillar we are going to take stock of where we stand with gender equality. You will soon hear the latest Gender Equality Index results. These findings frame the rest of the programme under this pillar.
For example:
We are going to look critically at political participation and financial independence for building a truly equal Europe. Because barriers getting in the way of equitable resource allocation and power must be shattered.
How can powerful strategies like gender mainstreaming ensure fairness? How can legislated quotas rewrite age-old paradigms?
We have a series of strategic foresight sessions, where we discuss with you scenarios on how to ensure gender equality stays upfront in focus when developing environmental, economic, and social policies and thus contributing to a competitive European Union.
We must invest in diverse needs if we are to evolve into a more robust union of equality.
Artificial intelligence and the green transition – two areas meeting in the middle more and more. But it is evolving so rapidly that if you blink, you miss a beat in ongoing developments. How are we going to see women in all diverse situations at the forefront instead of the margins to ensure a fair and just transition?
I often speak about ‘women and men in all their diversity’ when discussing gender equality challenges. We are going to unpack this with our Forum programme.
From young migrant women who will share the complex challenges they encounter in the EU to women living with disabilities whose everyday experiences often go unheard; we are going to get a much-needed reality check on how solutions can never be a one-size fits all approach. We must invest in diverse needs if we are to evolve into a more robust union of equality.
The same for challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex communities and those who identify as non-binary. They face many challenges because of stubborn gender stereotypes and structural inequalities.
And we also look beyond the borders of the EU with a panel focusing on geopolitical challenges and we will hear from representatives from Ukrainian national authorities on how they have developed a Gender Equality Index against the day-to-day survival challenges as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues.
So, why do these discussions matter now more than ever?
I am sure you have realised by now that this Forum has a strategic place on this year’s calendar.
Because as President von der Leyen emphasised, "There is still so much to do” despite the incredible achievements under her previous mandate.
The Commission has announced a post 2025 Gender Equality Strategy as well as a Road Map for women’s right’s needs, the latter to be launched at International Women’s Day 2025. This Forum will support shaping these two documents.
More specifically, the EU is going to ask itself these kinds of challenging questions:
- How do we ensure Europe’s prosperity plan for the future is inclusive in its foundations?
- How do we ensure innovation is not just about technology? It is about designing systems where women and underrepresented groups are not just participants but leaders who enjoy equal opportunities and truly benefit from it. Otherwise, Europe’s competitive edge will fall short of true transformation.
- How do we ensure no one is left behind, whether in the labour market, public spaces, or leadership roles?
- How do we loosen rigid gender roles and expectations and bring more gender equality in our homes?
- And crucially, how do we make Europe a safer place for women and girls when 1 in 3 women STILL face diverse forms of violence?
We need to hit the ground running with a mindset that gender equality is the solution and not an obstacle.
Ok, back to the here and now.
My team has gone to great lengths and efforts to bring a broad and diverse group of speakers and participants to this forum.
This is your Forum as much as anyone’s. Your future depends on the decisions we make now.
I am so proud to have such diverse DNA in this very room to take these questions and deliver concrete answers and share insights and stories.
We have done our utmost to reflect the diversity in the gender equality and human rights community, reflecting a rich diversity of thought. Our Forum is both a place to listen and a place to be heard.
In our rich programme, we will be hearing from different perspectives and expertise on how we can build up towards sustainable gender equality and a truly inclusive union of equality.
That brings me to our youngest participants. This is your Forum as much as anyone’s. Your future depends on the decisions we make now. That is why I am not just asking you to listen; I am asking you to lead alongside everyone. We have worked with you for months in prep for this Forum and we all owe it to your voices to make this Forum a success.
And also, a shout out to the men and boys amongst us here. We need your ideas for positive allyship for gender equality. And how more men and boys can get involved in what ultimately benefits them as much as women and girls! At the same time, we also need, collectively, to do better to recognise the specific gender equality inequalities faced by men and boys.
I hope that by tomorrow afternoon, you have more answers than questions and I hope we also come away inspired by your ideas and solutions. I hope that you will be persuaded and galvanised to invest in the ideas shared and be a part of the solutions to Europe’s persisting problems.
To see you all off, let me leave you with what success looks like for me for the Forum.
Success looks like clear calls to action. Based on inter-generational, open dialogue and different sectors taking responsibility and committing to playing an active role.
What is the Europe you want? Or as President von der Leyen put it: “What kind of society do we want for our children and grandchildren?”
And what are you going to do to make the Europe you want happen.
It will take the disciplined and dedicated work of many – cooperating and collaborating at all levels for true gender equality and the Union of Equality that I know we can achieve if we double down on efforts.
Let us make the most of our time together.
Before I see you again here on-stage tomorrow afternoon at the closing session, I am pleased to announce that Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib will be joining us at the closing of day 1.
Until then, have a great start to the Forum 2024!
