The FEMM – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality has published its October 2017 Newsletter.
“The next FEMM committee meetings will take place on Tuesday 10 October and on Monday 16 October. Members will also take part in a joint committee meeting with LIBE on 12 October. As you can see, in the next few weeks we are going to deal with topics related to economic and social affairs and the external dimension of women’s rights and gender equality. We will have quite a hectic agenda full of truly interesting hearings and workshops.
I would like to firstly highlight the two hearings that we will host related to the rights and wellness of women with specific needs or with tough health conditions. The hearing on the situation and rights of women with disabilities will allow our members to know the problems that these women face and to consider practical solutions for protecting and promoting their rights. On the other hand, the hearing on the EU strategy against women’s cancers will allow us to look deeper into the situation of those patients that suffer cancers that exist predominantly among or are exclusive to women such as breast, uterus and cervical cancers. Unfortunately, as in other women related topics, these types of cancers do not receive the attention that they deserve. The hearing will assess the EU’s health and anti-cancer strategies in order to learn and improve how these cancers are prevented, diagnosed and treated.
Finally I want to call your attention to the workshop that we will host on eradicating gender stereotypes. Members and experts will discuss how gender stereotypes affect equality and how combating and reflecting on masculinities can bring support to the cause of gender equality. The UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2004 recognised that “everyone benefits from gender equality and that the negative impacts of gender inequality are borne by society as a whole and emphasize, therefore, that men and boys, through taking responsibility themselves and working jointly in partnership with women and girls, are essential to achieving the goals of gender equality, development and peace”.”
Read the full Newsletter here
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