Search

People from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds face discrimination and its consequences on a daily basis. However, the exact scale of the problem is hard to gauge, owing to a lack of data and general under reporting of racist incidents. Although the European Union (EU) has been introducing legislation to combat racial and xenophobic discrimination since 2000, the problem persists. The global Black Lives Matter protests highlighted the need for new measures, while the COVID 19 pandemic saw a major ...

On 18 March 2025, a law was adopted in Hungary restricting the freedom of assembly, by connecting it to a previous controversial law from 2021, which prohibited the public portrayal to children of 'divergence from self-identity corresponding to sex at birth, sex change or homosexuality'. Consequently, events such as Pride marches have been prohibited in the country. On 2 April 2025, Parliament held a debate on recent legislative changes introduced in Hungary, including this one, and their impact ...

International Roma Day has been marked on 8 April every year since 1990. This day provides an opportunity to discuss the situation of Roma people and celebrate their culture. In the run-up to International Roma Day in 2025, the Council of the EU and the Commission will make statements in plenary, taking stock of progress in implementing the EU Roma strategy and the fight against discrimination within the EU.

Commitments made by Jessika Roswall, Commissioner-designate for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, 2024-2029

Every child has rights and deserves protection. It is estimated that around 2.5 million children in the European Union come into contact with the justice system every year. This can be a very stressful and even harmful experience for a child, who may participate in criminal proceedings as either a victim, a witness or a perpetrator. Children can also be parties to civil proceedings such as divorce, custody or adoption procedures, as well as administrative procedures, for example those related to ...

This briefing contains background materials for the FEMM Committee mission to the sixty-ninth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which focuses on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. The briefing has been prepared by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens, Equality and Culture at the request of the FEMM Committee.

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 ...

The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million Roma in Europe as a whole, some 6 million live in the European Union (EU) and most of them are citizens of an EU Member State. A significant number of Roma people live in very poor socio-economic conditions. The social exclusion, discrimination and segregation they face are mutually reinforcing. Their restricted access to education and difficulties entering the labour market result in low income and poor health ...

This briefing analyses the participation of women in local and regional government from a multilevel governance perspective. It seeks to present the current state of affairs and identify best practice and ideas for the future on the part of governmental organisations at all levels of the European system of multilevel governance.

During the March plenary session, oral questions will be asked to the Commission and Council on the state of negotiations on the proposed Parenthood Regulation, on which Parliament adopted its opinion in December 2023, and their willingness – in case of failure to reach unanimity in the Council – to use enhanced cooperation.