"Women's Rights in Turbulent Times"

Women's and girls' rights need promotion and protection, as they continue to be challenged. Any regression  is unacceptable. Gender equality has been a core value since the very creation of the European Union. The  promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls are crucial for achieving social justice, building
resilient democratic societies, and achieving sustainable development, as set out in the Agenda 2030.  The 2017 Colloquium aims to expand political engagement, to activate all stakeholders, and to improve  mutual cooperation for the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights of women and girls.  Politicians, representatives of civil society, activists, leading academics, businesses and trade unions, media  representatives, journalists, and international organisations will reflect together on the relationship between  the fulfilment of fundamental rights for women, and pluralism, solidarity, tolerance, justice and equality.  The wide range of topics for discussion will include the presence and normalisation of misogyny in society and  its links to the violation of the fundamental rights of women in all spheres of life; the key obstacles to gender  equality in economic empowerment and political participation; the international women's movement and the  shifting space for civil society; violence against women and links to other forms of violence in society,  including in the context of populist and extremist movements; the gendered nature of hate speech, racism,  and other forms of discrimination. The discussions during this event will explore avenues for action to ensure
women's rights and work towards gender equality in the EU.  This Colloquium meets in the form of a roundtable where all will discuss on an equal footing and in an interactive manner how EU institutions, EU Member States, International Organisations, NGOs, trade unions,
employers, academics journalists and media representatives can promote fundamental rights for all women  and girls. Each session will be introduced by short "impulse statements" to trigger the discussion. The floor  will then immediately be opened to the roundtable participants.  Meeting venue: Palais d'Egmont, 8 bis Rue des Petits Carmes, Brussels-20-25.11.2017