'March 8: advances in the feminist struggle from the European Union'

March 9 2024 (10:17 WET)

As March 8 approaches each year, the agendas of the main institutions, organizations and civil society pile up awareness activities and events that demonstrate the importance of advancing the feminist struggle.

In this sense, the European Union is presented as the main actor responsible for taking action in the attempt to adopt laws that involve all the member states in a feminist awareness, respect for women's rights and harmonization of the regulatory architecture in the penal codes of the 27.

An express commitment assumed by the current president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, was limited to the approval of the so-called "EU Directive on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence." A text that, having overcome the first agreement in the European Parliament, represents a decisive step forward in terms of equality and the fight against all forms of discrimination (art. 21 CDFUE).

This evil, improper of developed democracies, does not find a legislative harmony in the scope of the European Union, so that this norm aims to establish common frameworks that until now had not, moving away from the classic purpose of criminal directives consisting of limiting the margin of action of the EEMMs to set the penalties and protection measures they deem appropriate. And, approaching, with special attention, those countries with less regulatory tradition in this area of regulation.

Thus, there is no doubt that the agreement reached for the adoption of this Directive (mandatory rule for all EEMMs with mandatory transposition) is great news insofar as women's rights are strengthened, as it was at the national level since 2004 or international - with the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by the EU in 2023 and previously by Spain in April 2014.

It is worth noting that Spain is at the forefront in the fight against discrimination, the achievement of real and effective equality between men and women (even with successes and failures, the prevailing logic of a constantly evolving democracy), with undeniable leadership within the European Union.

We are advancing in regulation and protection of victims and their dependents. However, this epidemic shakes us daily. It is an issue that poses a stress test for Western democracies, which see how the seams of the system fail to stop the atrocious cases of sexist violence. It is an opportunity to think and reflect on what we get right and also on what we fail at. Yes, all of us, the whole of society. It is important to point out that there is still much to be done: safety of women and children, full equality between men and women, access in conditions of freedom and equality to all opportunities of power and representation in all dimensions of life in society, greater education in the matter.

There is a phrase by Simone de Beauvoir that deals with this issue that says: "Never forget that it will only take a political, economic or religious crisis for women's rights to be questioned again. These rights are never taken for granted, you must remain vigilant all your life."

It would be irresponsible and negligent if, knowing what we know now, we did not position ourselves and contribute to the advancement of European integration as a resilient, egalitarian and diverse society.

Cheers and keep fighting!

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