International Women’s Day: Parliament sheds light on women’s economic empowerment | WPN World People News

Money alone does not make you happy. It can, however, give you financial independence and the freedom to determine your future or to quit a violent relationship. Yet women still receive lower wages and pensions, have limited access to top positions, are less represented in politics and devote more of their time to family and the home than men. This year Parliament is dedicating International Women’s Day to the economic empowerment of women.

While things may be moving in the right direction, we still cannot say women and men are equal. Women represent the majority in low-paid job, carers for example. They still earn less for doing the same work and struggle to access top positions. Some women are subject to violence and abuse or lack any form of education.

To raise awareness of these issues, for International Women’s Day 2017 Parliament’s gender equality committee will be putting the spotlight on the economic empowerment of women. Members will focus particularly on the following areas:

● Women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

● Freedom from violence

● Gender-sensitive policymaking

● Work-life balance and the gender pay gap

● The UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

On 7 March Parliament’s visitor centre opens a temporary exhibition entitled Eleven Women Facing War which will feature photographs and films by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Nick Danziger. The exhibition shares the tale of the often hidden world of women caught in violent conflicts in places such as Afghanistan, Colombia and Sierra Leone. Supported by the International Red Cross Committee, the exhibition will run until 14 May.

During the week, we will be bringing you interviews with newly-elected gender equality committee chair Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D, Lithuania) and a Facebook live session with Ernest Urtasun (Greens/EFA, Spain), author of the resolution on equality between women and men in the EU in 2014-2015.

On 7-8 March, Parliament also organises a seminar for journalists. The speakers will include the chair and members of the gender equality committee, as well as external experts, including renowned French nuclear physicist Hélène Langevin-Joliot who is the granddaughter of Marie Skłodowska-Curie. Business owner Gina Miller who took the British government to court over Brexit will also be in attendance.

Source: European Parliament