Women in power

Gender-based harassment and violence at work

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, September 2026

Almost one in three women surveyed report having suffered sexual harassment at work at least once during their lifetime, and many women suffer various other forms of abuse at work. This comes with considerable costs for victims, companies and society, perpetuating gender inequality. The EU has committed to addressing all forms of gender‑based violence and harassment, and has set up multiple instruments to address this issue. At the same time, a more comprehensive approach at EU level – one that would include work‑related violence not taking place at work and that would focus on a wide range of preventive and monitoring measures in collaboration with social partners – has yet to be developed, taking into account evolving challenges. Considering these developments, the European Parliament has asked for a new EU legal framework to address gender‑based violence at work.

International Equal Pay Day

'At a glance' note by Marie Lecerf, September 2026

The 'gender pay gap' is a measurable indicator of inequality between women and men. It generally refers to the average difference between the remuneration of employed female and male workers. The gender pay gap persists globally and in the European Union, and progress in reducing it is slow. To accelerate the realisation of the principle of 'equal pay for work of equal value', the United Nations marked the first International Day for Equal Pay on 18 September 2020. This year marks its seventh edition.

Gender mainstreaming in the European Parliament – State of play

Study by Nora Hahnkamper‑Vandenbulcke, Marie‑Astrid Huemer, Marie Lecerf and Rosamund Shreeves, June 2026

Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union commits the EU and its Member States to eliminating inequalities and promoting the principle of equality between women and men in all their actions. As set out in the EU gender equality strategy 2026‑2030, achieving gender equality is a joint responsibility, requiring action by all EU institutions, Member States and EU agencies, in partnership with civil society and women's organisations, social partners and the private sector. Since 2003, when the European Parliament formally launched gender mainstreaming activities within the institution, the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) has prepared regular monitoring reports. The subsequent resolutions, adopted in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2019 and 2022, are part of a sustained series of activities to support and intensify gender mainstreaming. This effort was significantly reinforced by the adoption of a gender action plan and a roadmap for its implementation in July 2020 and April 2021 respectively, and their renewal in October 2025 and April 2026. This study updates a previous edition from September 2021 and examines the current state of play in support of the forthcoming own‑initiative report on gender mainstreaming in Parliament, to be drawn up by the FEMM committee. It provides an overview of the concept of gender mainstreaming and the tools available to implement it; analyses Parliament's current gender mainstreaming policy, with particular focus on the 2022 resolution, Parliament's 2020 and 2025 gender action plans and their accompanying roadmaps, as well as committee gender action plans; and examines gender mainstreaming both in Parliament's policymaking and in terms of representation, institutional culture and working environment within the institution. It further reviews gender mainstreaming practices in other EU institutions and national parliaments to place the European Parliament's efforts in a broader comparative context.

Women in the age of AI-enabled disinformation

Briefing by Naja Bentzen, March 2026

New digital technologies are a mixed blessing for women's rights and representation in the information sphere in general, and in the democratic debate in particular. Innovative digital tools often promise to make public debates more inclusive, for women too. In practice, recent AI‑enabled technology – including deepfake tools – appears to facilitate an increasingly hostile information environment for women, with repercussions for their democratic participation both online and offline. At the same time, the ongoing global wave of autocratisation goes hand in hand with a backlash against women's rights and gender equality. Authoritarian regimes have strategic reasons for suppressing women, and often use gendered disinformation to undermine women opposition leaders, as well as to erode confidence in democratic values and rights. In the European Union, equality between men and women is a fundamental right and a founding value enshrined in the Treaties. Over the past decades, the EU has worked to increase gender equality at home, and used its global influence to support women's rights abroad. At the same time, its evolving digital regulatory framework aims to make the digital space safe for all, including by protecting the rights of women online.

Women in STEM in the EU: How to close the gender gap

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, March 2026

The EU has made closing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) a priority in its education, research and employment policies. This answers to legal requirements to pursue gender equality through any EU action, as well as to practical imperatives to address a shortage of specialists that limits the EU's ability to compete in the global technological race. Moreover, existing data show that many young women today have strong maths and science skills but are still largely absent from careers in engineering and information and communications technologies (ICT). Research shows that the under‑representation of women in STEM has many causes, including: unwelcoming work environments in STEM jobs, family caring responsibilities, and social norms that discourage girls from pursuing these fields. Tackling these issues requires a combined approach including: challenging rigid gender stereotypes, using gender‑sensitive teaching methods in schools, encouraging girls to choose STEM careers, and removing barriers to employment. The EU pursues gender equality as a cross‑cutting priority in various policies that cover STEM and has adopted specific initiatives to promote women in STEM. In education, it uses a range of measures to support women at all levels, from schools to universities. In research, EU funding now depends on programmes promoting gender equality. In employment, EU laws help remove obstacles that might put women off STEM careers. The EU also funds projects that support women's innovation, entrepreneurship, networking and mentoring. The European Parliament strongly backs these efforts, and has called for wider action by the EU and its Member States.

Women in politics in the EU: State of play in 2026

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, February 2026

Despite strong political commitments to gender equality at EU and national level, women remain politically under‑represented at all levels of political power. In the European Parliament, as well as in national parliaments, governments and local assemblies, their share most often is under the symbolic 40 % mark. Moreover, after successive electoral cycles in which women's share in representative assemblies had increased, this trend has slowed down or come to a halt. Progress has also been uneven among Member States, with women remaining markedly under‑represented in some Member States. Gender‑balanced political representation is not only important for women and female politicians but also for political parties themselves and the rest of society. It increases trust in the political system and strengthens economic and political governance. The EU has committed to achieving gender balance in political representation and participation in the EU. However, except for the European elections, its powers in the area remain limited. It can support the specific actions to be taken by the EU institutions, national governments, political parties, civil society and the media, by issuing recommendations, facilitating the exchange of good practice or funding projects. There is substantial evidence of the obstacles to women's political participation and the means to overcome it. This picture is not static, as new challenges emerge, particularly from mounting opposition to gender equality, as well as from digital technologies, most recently artificial intelligence, which can both empower women and discourage them.

Violence against women active in politics in the EU: A serious obstacle to political participation

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, November 2025

Women continue to be under‑represented in EU countries at all levels of political decision‑making as well as in political parties. The origins of this situation are complex, but one reason stands out: violence against women active in politics discourages many women from entering the political arena. Female politicians are exposed to two severe and intersecting forms of violence: political violence and gender‑based violence. Violence against people active in politics, whether men or women, is a major obstacle to the exercise of political rights and freedoms, and a serious violation of basic human rights. Increasing polarisation in liberal societies has led to rising violence against political actors. However, violence against women in politics is more than a symptom of political polarisation. It targets women because they are women, takes sexist and sexualised forms, and seeks to discourage women generally from taking part in political life. Women surveyed tend to consider its impact significant and feel less ready to defend certain positions and to continue their political career. At EU level, ensuring safe participation of women in politics is a priority of gender equality policies. The European Parliament has recognised the seriousness of the phenomenon in numerous resolutions, has adapted its internal rules to prevent sexist and hate speech in its debates, and has established specific mechanisms to deal with harassment.

Maternity leave and voting procedures in the European Parliament and EU national parliaments

Briefing by Marie Lecerf, September 2025

Maternity leave and voting procedures for Members of parliaments differ widely across the European Union. Maternity‑related absences are considered justified for Members of the European Parliament, but the current rules do not permit remote voting, proxy voting or temporary substitution. Maternity leave for parliamentarians is generally permitted across the EU's Member States, although legal frameworks and practical arrangements differ. Some national parliaments only allow for temporary substitution in committee work, while others rely on informal agreements. Only a small number of countries, including Spain, Greece and Luxembourg, have formal provisions enabling Members on maternity leave to vote in absentia. While several parliaments temporarily expanded remote participation during the COVID‑19 pandemic, such measures were typically limited in scope and duration. In most cases, voting in plenary continues to require physical presence in the chamber. This briefing focuses exclusively on maternity leave and does not cover other types of family‑related absence, such as paternity or parental leave.

Note: On 29 April 2026, Parliament approved a targeted revision of the European Electoral Act allowing female MEPs to delegate their voting rights during maternity‑related absences, from up to three months before childbirth to six months afterwards. The Council gave its final approval on 26 May 2026. The reform includes safeguards to ensure transparency and voting integrity, with implementing rules to be defined in Parliament's Rules of Procedure. It must now be ratified by all Member States before entering into force, expected ahead of the 2029 European elections.

Violence against women in the EU: State of play in 2025

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, June 2025

Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a serious form of discrimination against women. It takes many forms and, according to survey data, affects one third of women in the EU. Such violence has a major impact on victims and imposes a significant cost burden on society. International documents adopted by the United Nations and Council of Europe, including the latter's 'Istanbul Convention', to which the EU acceded in 2023, set the normative framework for combating violence against women. The EU has embodied these international norms in its legislation and policies. The EU has deployed all the tools at its disposal to combat this phenomenon. It has adopted specific legislation focused on violence against women and has used legislation on other related subjects to address this type of violence. It has funded multiple programmes at EU and international level and has organised exchanges of good practice among its Member States. Although there are similarities between national policies to combat violence against women, the Member States have adopted different approaches. Parliament has been a strong supporter of EU action in the area. It has repeatedly called on the Commission and Member States to adopt legislative and non‑legislative measures to combat violence against women, and has debated the multiple forms of this violence in its resolutions.

Roadmap for women's rights: Next steps for EU action on gender equality

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, March 2025

On 7 March 2025, the European Commission published a roadmap for women's rights, to reaffirm the EU's commitment to gender equality, speed up progress in this area, and counteract political movements that contest EU gender equality policies. The roadmap outlines the challenges and benefits of gender equality today, emphasising its political and economic importance. In an annex, a declaration of eight principles for a gender‑equal society, inspired by and phrased in the language of human rights, takes a women's rights‑centric approach. The roadmap expresses the Commission's commitment to women's rights and invites other EU institutions to adhere to it. The roadmap will serve to guide future EU action and particularly for the gender equality strategy 2026‑2030, as well as EU external action. To a significant extent, the objectives outlined in the declaration are covered already by EU legislation or non‑legislative measures, depending on the extent of the EU's own competences. Since, in some areas, the EU only has limited competences to support and coordinate the action of Member States (such as on health and education), the roadmap emphasises the importance of involving the Member States. Various civil society organisations have welcomed the Commission's initiative and called for a recognition of sexual and reproductive rights, as well as an emphasis on intersectional discrimination and vulnerable women, such as disabled women or women with children. The roadmap addresses sexual and reproductive rights, but more as a health issue than a women's rights issue, probably taking into account the EU's limited competences in the area.

Women in foreign affairs and international security: An increasingly salient debate

Briefing by Eleni Lazarou, Rosamund Shreeves and Ionel Zamfir, March 2025

In a context of international turbulence, rising armed conflict and other evolving threats, the debate on the participation and role of women in foreign affairs and international security is a timely and relevant one. In particular, growing attention is being paid to imbalances in the representation of women in leadership and other key positions in the area of foreign and security policy, and to the growing body of evidence regarding the positive effect of including women and a gender perspective in several key areas. While gaps persist, women's representation in foreign affairs and security has increased both in the European Union and at United Nations (UN) level. Women's role in peacekeeping is receiving particular attention, as research has consistently shown that gender equality contributes to peace and higher security, and that peace negotiations involving women have a better chance of being sustainable and effective. This year marks the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which established the 'women, peace and security' (WPS) agenda. Since then, more WPS‑related resolutions have been adopted, widening the scope and breadth of gendered peace and security. These resolutions have been instrumental in changing the philosophy and rhetoric around conflict and gender equality, thereby challenging the international community to do more. Initiatives are being implemented at EU level, including through the 2018 EU strategic approach to WPS. However, critics underline that a lot remains to be done, as women and gender perspectives continue to be under‑represented in the field of foreign and security policy across the world.

Taxation's impact on gender equality in the EU

'At a glance' note by Pieter Baert, January 2025

Equality between men and women is one of the key foundational principles of the European Union. Despite much progress, however, significant gaps persist between men and women regarding employment opportunities and income levels. Taxation can either mitigate or exacerbate these gender inequalities.

Standards for equality bodies: Equal treatment between women and men in employment

Briefing by Ionel Zamfir, June 2024

Several EU directives dealing with equality require EU Member States to establish equality bodies to assist victims of discrimination and to fight discrimination more broadly. However, their rules are general and do not define these bodies' duties and operation, leading to disparities among Member States. Additionally, some Member States' bodies have experienced a lack of resources, limited independence or a narrow remit. To address this situation, in December 2022 the European Commission published a proposal, under the ordinary legislative procedure, setting standards for equality bodies involved in fighting discrimination on grounds of sex in the area of employment, in parallel to another proposal, under the consent procedure, on fighting discrimination on other grounds. The proposal focusing on equality bodies also sought to reinforce their independence, resources and mandate. Overall, stakeholders welcomed the proposal but suggested changes. In trilogue negotiations, the co‑legislators agreed on an amended text affording more flexibility to Member States by taking into account their institutional and legal setups. Parliament endorsed the agreement in its April I 2024 plenary and the Council adopted the act on 7 May. The act was published in the Official Journal on 29 May and entered into force on 18 June 2024. The transposition deadline was set for June 2026.