1. Women with disabilities in the EU: situation and way forward EESC (Brussels) - 9 February 2017

2. Implementation of the Strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019

3. Priority areas for action 2016-2019
1st: Increasing female labour-market participation and the equal economic independence of women and men;
2nd: Reducing the gender pay, earnings and pension gaps and thus fighting poverty among women;
3rd: Promoting equality between women and men in decision-making;
4th: Combating gender-based violence and protecting and supporting victims; and
5th: Promoting gender equality and women’s rights across the world.

4. 33 key actions In addition, the Strategic Engagement sets out:
Objectives to be achieved and progress indicators;
Timelines and responsibilities within the Commission;
That gender mainstreaming remains a key tool for the promotion of gender equality (dual approach);
How EU funding programmes contribute to the promotion of gender equality;
That particular attention will be paid to the specific needs of groups facing multiple disadvantages, e.g. women with disabilities, single parents and older, migrant, Roma.

5. Combating gender-based violence
1st: Increasing female labour-market participation and the equal economic independence of women and men;
2nd: Reducing the gender pay, earnings and pension gaps and thus fighting poverty among women;
3rd: Promoting equality between women and men in decision-making;
4th: Combating gender-based violence and protecting and supporting victims; and
5th: Promoting gender equality and women’s rights across the world.

6. 16 % of women indicate in the FRA survey on violence against women that their health is bad or very bad, that their everyday activities are limited by their health or that they consider themselves as disabled or belonging to a minority in their country in terms of disability.
The survey results show that women who have health problems or a disability indicate a higher prevalence of various forms of violence than women who do not have similar health problems or a disability: 34% of women with disabilities experienced physical and sexual partner violence during the relationship.

7. What is the Commission doing?
DATA COLLECTION
Fundamental Rights Agency
EIGE
Eurostat
Member States
Eurobarometer
LEGISLATION & POLICIES
Sexual harassment
Trafficking
Child abuse
Minimum rights for victims
European Protection Orders
EU accession to Istanbul Convention
What is the Commission doing?
FUNDING
Awareness-raising campaigns by Member States
European networks
Grassroots projects by NGOs
ELIMINATING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Knowledge
Prevention
Prosecution
Protection
External dimension

8. 2017: Focused Actions to combat violence against women
Funding to support national information, awareness-raising and education activities aimed at preventing and combating violence against women
Funding for transnational projects by civil society organisations, local authorities, universities and other stakeholders
European "umbrella" activities including Eurobarometer on gender-based violence, social media campaign, exchanges of good practice, Maltese Presidency conference on violence against women, mainstreaming in other policy areas

9. Focused Actions – European "umbrella" activities
NON.NO.NEIN. campaign: social media campaign under the hashtag #SayNoStopVAW
EU accession to the Istanbul Convention
Eurostat survey on the prevalence of gender-based violence
Maltese Council Presidency conference, February 2017
Mutual Learning Programme on Gender Equality Member State seminar, September 2017: on Danish policy and legislation on digital sexual abuse and French campaign addressing sexual harassment on public transport.
Fundamental Rights Colloquium on Women's Rights, November 2017

10. Gender Equality Index - violence
The structure of the measurement framework is built around the central aspects of the Istanbul Convention.
Current value at EU level: 27,5 (out of 100)
Violence against women is the consequence as well as a driver of structural inequalities experienced by women in all aspects of their lives, ranging from health and education to work, finances and access to decision-making and time use.

11. Gender Equality Index: violence and intersectionality
Women suffering economic vulnerability are at a higher risk of violence at home than the others.
The Index shows in particular evidence of heightened victimisation levels for non-heterosexual women, women with disabilities and women who do not possess the citizenship of the country they live in.
Multiple discrimination may increase the forms of violence that women experience.

12. Fundamental Rights Colloquium 2017: Women’s rights in turbulent times
The third edition of the Fundamental Rights Colloquium
Over 400 participants
Topics: "women's rights under attack"; economic and political empowerment; violence against women
Significant media attention with coverage in 22 Member States
Discussion informed by concept papers and the Special Eurobarometer survey on gender equality 2017
Demonstrated political momentum for the promotion and protection of women's rights

13. Colloquium – recurring themes
The importance of intersectional responses
The role of men and boys in the movement for gender equality
The importance of supporting civil society actors, through funding and collaboration
The need for more funding for gender equality work (including for more and more transparent funding for civil society)
The need for more training for professionals and in work places
Importance of alliance-building between different stakeholders in the gender equality field and between different social justice movements

14. Thank you for your attention!
Halliki Voolma
Policy Officer
DG Justice, Gender equality unit