News
“For a Strong and Equal Europe” – Series of events on the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and the Observatory are organizing a joint series of events on the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan with a special focus on sociopolitical aspects in Germany and Europe.The European Pillar of Social Rights and its 20 principles are a guiding line for a strong social Europe that is fair and inclusive and offer opportunities for all. In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan to translate the general principles into concrete action. Turning the pillar’s principles into reality requires a commitment by EU institutions, national, regional and local governments, social partners and civil society.
The event series is aimed at European and national political and civil society stakeholders. The goal is to exchange knowledge and experiences on the various projects under the Action Plan and on the different approaches by the Member States.
The virtual kick-off event took place on 22 February 2022 and featured Nicolas Schmit, EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, and former Federal Minister Anne Spiegel. The first of three events focus in greater detail on the social rights of children and young, particularly on the European Child Guarantee. Two further events will follow in the course of the year and deal with gender equality and social rights of LGBTIQ* people.
For more information, please visit our website for the event series.
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2022“For a Strong and Equal Europe” – Strengthen the European Pillar of Social RightsPress Release, 22.02.2022 (in German)
The anti-gender movement in Europe
Right-wing populist and anti-feminist movements mobilising against gender equality as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) have gained strength across Europe in recent years. This strengthening also brings to light an increasingly transnationally organised and financed independent anti-gender movement that attacks the rights of women and LGBTIQ* persons as well as civil society. This is evident not only at the national (and local) but also at the European level, where alliances are organising transnationally in attempting to undermine the foundations of the European Union and to reverse already existing consensus on European level.
The latest issue of the newsletter of the Observatory provides an introduction to the emergence, main lines of argumentation, and actors of the transnational anti-gender movement in Europe. To do so, the newsletter takes a look at the specific case of the Istanbul Convention. Furthermore, the newsletter provides insights into three focal topics: transnational financing structures of the anti-gender movement, increasing anti-trans attacks and corresponding counterstrategies, as well as gender-based cyber violence.
European Child Guarantee to Combat Child Poverty
Child poverty is widespread in Europe, even in economically strong countries. One in four children in the European Union is at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities even further. In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, which aims to reduce the number of children at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the European Union by at least five million by 2030. To achieve this, an integrated approach is needed that focuses on the causes of poverty and social exclusion, and that breaks the intergenerational cycle of poverty.On 14 June 2021, the EU Member States adopted a Council recommendation establishing a European Child Guarantee. Its aim is to prevent and combat the social exclusion of children in need by guaranteeing access to a set of key services, e.g. access to early childhood education and care, education, healthcare or healthy nutrition and adequate housing. The European Commission has called on the EU Member States to establish a national action plan covering the period until 2030 to implement the European Child Guarantee.
