Spain, Belgium and Hungary, the Member States holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) during the 18-month period from July 2023 to December 2024, have pledged to advocate and work together to advance gender equality in Europe by means of a declaration.
The declaration, signed under the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, is the roadmap for action from July 2023 to December 2024. The declaration covers issues such as combating sex-based violence, the segregation of women in the labour market and education, reducing the gender pay and care gap, empowering women in decision-making, and integrating gender issues into other integral dimensions of the EU, such as the green transition.
As the signatory countries have pointed out, gender equality is not only a human right and a fundamental principle of the EU, but it is also a prerequisite for inclusive and sustainable growth and the correct functioning of democracy.
EATRIS particularly welcomes the 4th recommendation from the declaration, highlighting the imperative,
“to combat gender segregation in the labour market and education. To this end, attracting more women and girls to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector, tackling gender stereotypes and addressing all forms of gender digital divide must be prioritized, not only in order to advance gender equality but as a prerequisite for economic growth, more jobs and a successful digital transition.”
As a Research Infrastructure of a European dimension in the field of health research, EATRIS is also committed and has a role to play to improve gender equality in the science world. We published our first Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in 2022, which covers five action areas:
- Work-life balance and organisational culture;
- Gender balance in leadership and decision-making;
- Gender equality in recruitment and career progression;
- Integration of the gender dimension into research and teaching content;
- Measures against gender-based violence.
EATRIS has also founded and chaired the gender equality working group within the ERIC Forum, and will lead a task dedicated to the topic in the ERIC Forum 2 project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, and kicking off by 1 September 2023.
- Find out more on the Spanish Presidency’s website here.
- Read the declaration in full here.
- Find out more about the EATRIS’ Gender Equality Plan here (GEP) here.
Image courtesy of Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU
