🌹 Gender equality: what are we waiting for? | Your PES Group (special) newsletter

23 March 2022

Sometimes it seems as if we are getting closer to a gender-equal Europe, but the progress is too slow and the support for equal rights has even decreased in some countries in recent years. The war unfolding in Ukraine is a stark reminder of how the most vulnerable are suffering. Women represent the vast majority of those fleeing the country and in need of support.

This month we bring you our special newsletter dedicated to the fight for gender equality. This is certainly one of the most important priorities for the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions.

Scroll down to learn more about how progressive local and regional leaders are putting concrete solutions forward to improve gender equality. We have also added a spotlight on #ProgressiveLocalStories to brighten up your day. 👇👇👇

💪 🙍‍♀️ Women: key players of a stronger democracy

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, progressive regions and cities called for more women in politics at all levels. Local governments must play a role in empowering women. Watch below how we can forge a path for women in politics ⤵️

🇪🇺 👭 EU Cohesion Policy is instrumental in closing the gender gap

The EU must empower cities and regions with useful support and guidelines to better integrate the gender perspective into the different areas of intervention. Our member Donatella Porzi, regional Councillor for the Region of Umbria, is urging the European Commission to propose a methodology for assessing the gender impact of programmes funded by the EU. ➡️ LEARN MORE WITH THIS ARTICLE ON THE TOPIC

🌍 #GenderEquality: solving the climate crisis by investing in women

The stakes are high to ensure that the solutions to address the climate emergency are not gender-blind. We’re proud of having put forward the gender dimension under the climate crisis spotlight. 📺 Watch Kata Tüttő, Deputy Mayor of Budapest and our Vice-President, calling for the EU to bring gender equality at the heart of the Green Deal.

We are fighting to make sure that climate-related policies are designed and implemented with a clear gender and social dimension. ➡️ READ OUR ARTICLE ON THIS TOPIC

Thanks to the work of our Vice-President Concha Andreu, President of La Rioja, our Group has been calling for the mainstreaming of gender equality across all policies and measures already in 2020. ➡️ FIND OUT MORE ON THE EU GENDER EQUALITY STRATEGY

💙💛 #ProgressiveLocalStories: European cities and regions united in solidarity with Ukraine

We can be extremely proud of the outpouring of solidarity among European cities and regions since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. On 12 March, more than 175 cities across Europe joined the initiative led by PES Group member Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, which included a live intervention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Humanitarian convoys, temporary nursery and schools, fundraising initiatives and many more actions are taken every day by European regions and cities. Progressive cities and regions have shown extraordinary solidarity towards Ukrainian people. ➡️ CHECK OUT OUR ONGOING REPORTING OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND

❤️ #ProgressiveLocalStories

Concha Andreu, President of La Rioja in Spain, has recently presented a new plan for education in rural areas to make rural school work an attractive option for students. One of the projects is #ErasmusRural, which is meant to be an incentive for students to do internships in rural centers. ➡️ TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CAMPAIGN FOR A #CHILDUNION

What’s next?

📢 Final reminder: join the programme for young elected politicians!

Are you a local or regional politician under 40 years old? Join the European Committee of the Region’s Young Elected Politicians 2022 programme! We look forward to closely involving young progressive local and regional leaders in our work. ➡️ APPLY HERE BEFORE 8 APRIL

📅 Join the #Progressives4Europe in your city

The S&D Group in the European Parliament is hosting many events across Europe. Join the debate in Rotterdam, Riga or many other places and bring your ideas to the online platform for the Conference on the Future of Europe. ➡️ CHECK IT OUT to share your ideas and have the possibility to win a trip and get your name on the programme!

🙏 For the header photo we thank: Miguel Bruna on Unsplash.