Report on Equality Between Women and Men in the EU 2017

Published: 24 March 2017

Recently the European Commission published its 2017 Report on Equality Between Women and Men in the EU. The report is structured according to the priorities of the European Commission’s 2016-2019 Strategic engagement for gender equality and focuses on

1. Increasing female labour market participation and the equal economic independence of women and men

2. Reducing gender pay, earnings and pension gaps and thus fighting poverty among women

3. Promoting equality in decision-making

4. Combating gender-based violence and protecting and supporting victims

5. Promoting gender equality and women’s rights across the world

6. Gender mainstreaming, funding for gender equality and cooperation with all actors

The report concludes that at current pace, it would take more than a century to close gender gaps in the EU. Gender segregation on the labour market prevails. However, there have been some successes, such as the increase of women in decision-making positions in some countries as well as an increase of women holding Grade A (highest post at which research is normally conducted) or leadership positions in Higher Education institutions. Nonetheless, throughout the EU, further concrete actions are required to ensure equality between women and men.