European Parliament Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

The committee is responsible for policy and legislation concerning women's rights and gender equality. It also works with other parliamentary committees to ensure that equality considerations are incorporated into legislation and budgetary decisions across different policy areas.^[2]

Its remit includes:

• the definition, promotion and protection of women's rights in the European Union;
• equal opportunities and equality between women and men;
• the elimination of discrimination based on sex;
• gender mainstreaming in all policy sectors;
• the implementation and development of international agreements and conventions concerning women's rights;
• legislation and policy addressing violence against women and domestic violence;
• the economic independence of women and equality in employment;
• the gender pay and pension gaps;
• sexual and reproductive health and rights within the limits of Union competence;
• the representation of women in political, economic and public decision-making; and
• relations with EU bodies and international organisations working on gender equality.^[2]

FEMM prepares reports and opinions on legislation affecting gender equality and women's rights. It may act as the lead committee or contribute an opinion to another committee where a proposal has a substantial gender-equality dimension.

The committee has worked on measures concerning pay transparency, gender balance on corporate boards, combating violence against women, trafficking and sexual exploitation, work–life balance, equality in employment and the integration of gender considerations into EU budgets and programmes.^[3]

Gender mainstreaming is the systematic consideration of the effects of policies and legislation on women and men. FEMM coordinates Parliament's work in this area and cooperates with other committees to incorporate gender-equality objectives into employment, health, education, external relations, development, digital policy, climate policy and the EU budget.^[2]

FEMM has a central role in Parliament's work on preventing and combating gender-based violence. Its activities cover domestic violence, sexual violence, harassment, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, trafficking and online violence.^[4]

The committee monitors the implementation of EU legislation and international standards, including the Istanbul Convention, and cooperates with national parliaments, civil-society organisations and international institutions.

Each year the committee organises events connected with International Women's Day, often together with national parliaments. These meetings focus on a specific aspect of women's rights and provide a forum for parliamentarians, experts and civil-society representatives.^[5]

The committee is supported by the European Parliament's research services and policy departments. They provide studies, briefings and impact assessments on equality law, gender-based violence, employment, health, political representation, gender mainstreaming and the economic and social position of women.^[7]

• Gender equality
• Women's rights
• LGBTQ rights in the European Union
• European Institute for Gender Equality
• Istanbul Convention
• Violence against women
• Gender pay gap
• International Women's Day
• European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
• European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs