In the run-up to International Women's Day (8 March), progressive leaders and essential workers joined in with PES Women's #MakerHerCount campaign. We wanted to call attention to the fact that women during COVID-19 are working at their maximum while receiving only the minimum of pay and recognition. Applause and empty words are not enough. PES Women wants Europe to show that women’s contributions count. Read more and check out all the women workers' and leaders' videos.

The importance of sufficient funding for LGBTIQ activism to promote human rights across Europe and the world cannot be underestimated. Even the smallest steps of visibility and pride can literally save lives and also help the fight for equal rights. Read the full article by Rainbow Rose about equal distribution across activist elements and solidarity within the LGBTIQ community.

PES Women strongly condemned the Turkish government's decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. President Zita Gurmai also participated in a meeting with the Turkish HDP party's women's organisation to discuss the situation in the country. Read more.

In the context of the 65th UN Commission on the Status of Women, PES Women co-hosted two parallel events: a Fair Pay Political Roundtable together with FEPS, Fondation Jean Jaurès and Fair Pay Innovation Lab & a webinar on Building Gender Just Societies through Intergenerational Solidarity with UN Women Germany, FEPS and Fondation Jean Jaurès.

PES Women members form the Nordic/Baltic countries met with Minister Morgan Johansson to discuss Sweden's consent-based rape legislation and how it could be duplicated in other countries. Read more.

PES Women sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging the Commission to make women truly count in the recovery from the current crisis. We attached a check-list that should be taken into account when evaluating the national recovery and resilience plans submitted by the Member States. Read more.
 

Together with the Swedish feminist organization MÄN, PES Women hosted a workshop on "Collective engagement for gender equality - building allies to overcome discrimination". Watch our report at the public event and the intervention by our President Zita Gurmai here.

PES Women Vice-Presidents Marja Bijl and Mija Javornik contributed a gender equality perspective to the PES Migration & Integration Network (30 March) and the PES Democracy Network (19 March). PES Women also participated in the PES Social Europe Network  (1 April).