In the framework of the PES Congress in Berlin, PES Women has held a series of meetings and activities to promote gender equality as a core value, inside and outside the PES.
Yesterday, PES Women and ASF, the women’s organization of the SPD, co-hosted an Annual Conference under the slogan #MakeHerCount in times of crisis, which addressed the ways in which all crises – from economic to wars – affect women and men differently, and how progressive answers can contribute to solving these deep inequalities. Re-visit the live stream here and see photos of the event here.
The PES Congress will vote on a resolution which places a strong emphasis on women’s rights, notably to tackling gender-based violence, to defending sexual and reproductive health and rights, which are under attack in the EU and worldwide, and to the importance of the care economy.
Throughout the weekend, PES Women promoted its campaign #ReclaimYourSpace with Rainbow Rose, PES’ LGBTI organization, by adopting a Resolution on the rights of women, and in particular LBT women who face several layers of discrimination, in its Statutory Meeting on 14 October. You can learn more about the campaign here.
The elections of PES Women President and Executive Board also took place, with Zita Gurmai being re-elected as PES Women President. She said:
“It is an honour to have been re-elected as PES Women President. Our last mandate strived through the pandemic, a very difficult period, but also saw some of our long-standing demands become a reality, such as the EU’s Commissioner for Equality, the pay transparency directive or the women on boards directive.
Our newly elected executive team takes on their role at a key moment for women in the EU and worldwide: Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran are clear examples of direct attacks on women’s rights. This, coupled with backtrack on women’s right to bodily autonomy outside and in several EU member states, make us even more determined to keep moving forward. Our mission remains to shed light on gender inequalities and put forward solutions inside and outside the EU, because feminism must be global and inclusive.”
The new Executive is as follows:
- Zita Gurmai, MSZP (Hungary), PES Women President
- Elke Ferner, SPD (Germany), Vice-President
- Zefi Dimadama, PASOK (Greece), Vice-President
- Katrine Skov, SD (Denmark), Vice-President
- Sonja Kovac, SDP (Croatia), Vice-President
- Emmi Lintonen, SD (Finland), Executive member
- Inga Verhaert, Vooruit (Belgium), Executive member
- Michaela Kauer, SPÖ (Austria), Executive member
- Jackie Jones, Labour (UK), Executive member
- Roulla Mavronikola, EDEK (Cyprus), Executive member
- Cecilia Gondard, PS (France), Executive member
- Elza Pais, PS (Portugal), Executive member
- Andrea Fernandez, PSOE (Spain), Executive member
- Katarzyna Kotula, New Lewica (Poland), Executive member
- Rhonda Donaghey, Labour Party (Ireland), Executive member
- Pille Petersoo, SDP (Estonia), Executive member
- Vera Tax, PvdA (Netherlands), Executive member
- Maria Noichl, Ex-officio member for the S&D Group in the European Parliament
- Kata Tutto, Ex- officio member for the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions
- Laeticia Thissen, ex-officio member for the Foundation for European Progressive Studies
- Evelyn Logghe, ex-officio member for the Young European Socialists
- Hannah Carter, ex-officio member for Rainbow Rose
Tomorrow morning, PES Women will hold a progressive female leaders meeting, bringing together women leaders of PES parties and organisations, EU Commissioners and representatives of the S&D Group in the European Parliament to discuss the role of women in leadership positions and its effect on gender equality.
