Trade unions are challenging European governments to start matching their words on International Women’s Day with action on gender equality.
Politicians from across Europe will today post messages celebrating international women’s day despite many recently watering down the EU directive on combatting violence against women.
In a letter to the ambassadors of all member states, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) remind them that “gender equality has to be fought every day of the year.”
Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary of the ETUC, delivered the message to permanent representations in Brussels earlier this week.
The letter raises the alarm about the backlash to gender equality being led by the far-right and says women’s rights are on the ballot paper in June’s European elections.
That’s why the ETUC will today launch its campaign for a “vote for progress, not the backlash.”
Action to deliver equal pay, safer workplaces, women’s rights and investment in public services are all needed in the next political term to deliver a more equal Europe.
ETUC Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann said:
“On international women’s day, the ETUC message to all governments is clear: Whatever words you chose to celebrate the 8th of March, women workers across Europe need you to put them into action.
“Too many member states, Germany and France among them, worked to water down the directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence, that could have delivered real change toward safe workplaces for women workers.
“Warm words on the 8th of March will not bring transformative change, neither will they be enough to fight the backlash dismantling women’s rights that is already underway.
“It’s clear that women’s rights are on the ballot paper in June’s European elections and I urge European workers to vote for progress, not the backlash.”
