European Gender Equality Week
3 - 9 November 2025
Gender Equality Week: advancing women’s rights
The European Parliament defends women’s rights across the EU. Its efforts to ensure gender equality at work, in politics and other areas have led to landmark legislation. New legally-binding measures cover a vast variety of issues: helping ending unequal pay, eliminating gender-based discrimination, boosting women’s presence on corporate boards and combatting violence against women.
Every year Parliament holds a Gender Equality Week to take stock of the achievements and identify new measures to advance girls' and women's rights and ensure gender equality. Events are organised by Parliament's committees, delegations, political groups and administration. The first edition was held in 2020, on the initiative of the Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee.
In 2025 the European Gender Equality Week will focus on talent. The main event will host a discussion on how to ensure women can access the same opportunities as men in order to be able to harness their talents.
Parliament wishes to emphasise that creating the conditions for women to participate fully in the workforce and public life is not only a matter of fairness, but it also brings economic and social benefits.
"When women succeed, they generate growth, they transform communities, and they inspire the next generation."
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament
"The future of Europe depends on our ability to nurture talent: from classrooms to boardrooms, from laboratories to parliaments, Europe must become a place where every talent can flourish. Our task is to break down all those barriers that should no longer exist."
Antonella Sberna, European Parliament vice-president for gender equality
"Talent is equally spread, opportunities are not. Let's challenge that. The time for equality is now."
Lina Gálvez, chair of Parliament’s women’s rights committee
