A new EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights

Brussels, Wednesday 12th March 2025

In the wake of the International Women’s Day on March 8th, European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, has announced the publication of a “Roadmap on Women’s Rights” to boost Gender-mainstraiming among EU actions. This roadmap will not put forward new legislation, even if it was asked for by feminist lobbies, but it will enhance Gender perspective on all current policies.

You may find this Roadmap for Women’s Rights on the website of the European Commission.

As said Commissioner Hadja Lahbib in front of FEMM Committee : “Our role is to make this roadmap a compass for women’s rights. Will push gender’s perspective at the core of EU’s actions and promote gender mainstreaming. But the roadmap will not set out concrete policy initiatives. The Gender Equality Strategy post-2025 will do so, it will be presented in March next year.”

 ©Union européenne, 2024 – Source: PE 

This week in Strasbourg, the plenary session of the European Parliament debated on this Roadmap. European Commissioner Roxana Minzatu, was taking the floor in place of her colleague Hadja Lahbib on official trip to the United Nations for Women’s Day.

Commissioner Minzatu highlighted the fact that “In the European Union, we have made historic progress with rules on pay transparency, work-life balance, gender balance on company boards and combating violence against women. But we know there is still lots and lots more to do.”  

She developed the plans of the Commission saying : “We aim to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls, including femicide, domestic violence, including coercive control, cyber violence, sexual harassment or exploitation.”

Commissioner Minzatu also specified that this Roadmap includes women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. She also clarified that the aim of this Roadmap would be “an effective gender mainstreaming approach”, meaning that “all policy areas should apply a gender perspective”.