Civil society organisations unite today to put forward our shared vision for the future of gender equality in the European Union (EU). We call on the EU to work over the next five years towards the practical realisation of a Union where everyone can live in safety, free from discrimination and violence, and where gender equality is not just an aspiration but a lived reality for all - regardless of their gender, ethnicity, race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, disability, residence status, social class, age, among others. The last mandate saw notable initiatives to advance gender equality. However, despite these achievements, striking inequalities remain. As the new European Commission is taking office, we request the EU institutions and Member States to redouble their efforts and to ensure that advancing gender equality remains a key priority mainstreamed throughout EU laws and policies for the next 5 years, with the necessary resources allocated. In particular, we call on the EU to ensure the highest level of ambition is reflected in the upcoming Roadmap for Women’s Rights and the Gender Equality Strategy post-2025, particularly geared towards achieving the following objectives (download the joint statement below for our detailed asks): Realising the full range of women’s rights: Upholding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) Combating the backlash against gender equality Protecting Women Human Rights Defenders and their organisations Ending sexual and gender-based violence: Implementing the EU Directive combating violence against women and domestic violence (VAW)  Going beyond the Directive on VAW Responding to intersectional discrimination and oppression Ensuring sufficient funding for these objectives Our call to action: We urge the EU institutions and Member States to join us in building a more just and equal society. Gender equality must remain a top priority in all EU policy processes over the next five years. Let us work together to ensure that women and girls in all their diversity in the EU can live free from violence, discrimination, and oppression.  Signatories: AGE Platform Europe Amnesty International Center for Reproductive Rights EL*C - Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community End FGM European Network European Sex Workers Rights Alliance IGLYO ILGA-Europe International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN) La Strada International - European NGO Platform against Human Trafficking Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) Protection International Organisation Intersex International Europe - OII Europe

On 3 December, Norway took a major step closer to reproductive freedom when its Parliament adopted by a large majority a groundbreaking new law extending self-determined abortion rights from 12 weeks to 18. "This is significant progress for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Norway, and reflects the growing global trend toward liberalizing abortion access. Over the past 30 years, more than 60 countries have expanded abortion rights, and this move demonstrates Norway’s commitment to reproductive autonomy and gender equality​.” said Kjersti Augland, assistant general manager with Sex og Politikk, IPPF’s Member Association in Norway. “The fact that the new law in Norway uses inclusive, gender-neutral language needs to be highlighted and celebrated. It will ensure that all pregnant people—regardless of gender—can access abortion care, recognizing diverse identities and experiences,” said Micah Grzywnowicz, the Regional Director of IPPF European Network. The new law will assess the accessibility of abortion care within the primary health care system, since until now, abortions have only been accessible at regional hospitals. Sex og Politikk will follow implementation closely, holding the government accountable for ensuring equitable access, emphasizing that most abortions today are performed using medication, making it feasible for primary healthcare providers to provide this care. Advocates continue to call for abortion care to be accessible, compassionate, and tailored to people’s needs regardless of location​. Regrettably, abortion review boards will still exist, creating unnecessary obstacles and delays for people needing care beyond 18 weeks, and forcing them to defend their right to access care. Sex og Politikk and its partners are committed to ensuring that future revisions of Norway’s abortion law address these concerns and further dismantle barriers to care. This moment represents not just a legislative milestone, but a call to continue advocating for full reproductive freedom in Norway.   Photo by Maryan Ivasyk on Unsplash

IPPF European Network warmly welcomes the coming into force on 1 December of a new law that introduces legal protections and labour rights for sex workers in Belgium. This is a major step forward in Belgian sex workers’ long-running campaign for greater safety and freedom, following their victory in securing decriminalisation of sex work in 2022. It is also the first case in Europe of a country introducing a legal framework aimed at safeguarding sex working people and guaranteeing their employment rights. “Decriminalization of all aspects of sex work, together with social policies that address structural inequalities, is the only way that countries can protect the health, safety and lives of sex workers. With this new law, Belgium continues to lead the way,” said Micah Grzywnowicz, Regional Director of IPPF EN. The new law, adopted by the Belgian Parliament in May 2024, applies to people who carry out sex work as employees. It aims to reduce discrimination by ensuring that - like those who work in any other sector - sex workers have access to social security, including health insurance, annual leave, sick and maternity leave, unemployment benefits and pension rights. It also enshrines freedoms and protections that safeguard sex workers’ health and safety. These include people’s right to refuse a client, to refuse a sexual act, to set the conditions of a sexual act and to end a sexual act at any moment, safe from fear of being fired. The law mandates criminal record checks for employers and obliges them to put in place safety measures for the people they employ. “We congratulate the Belgian government for the steps it has taken together with sex worker organisations, in a process that has been guided by our expertise,” said Sabrina Sanchez, Coordinator of ESWA, the European Sex Workers‘ Rights Alliance . “Decriminalisation is not perfect and this law is just the beginning of broader labour rights for sex workers in Belgium; it may need to be strengthened in future. We will continue to share our knowledge and experience to ensure that we have a good model in Belgium that can also be an example to other countries on how to progress towards the decriminalisation of sex work and the achievement of labour rights for sex workers,” added Sanchez. “IPPF EN applauds sex workers in Belgium for their leadership in the fight for social justice, first through decriminalisation in 2022, and now with the introduction of the specific legal framework needed to begin delivering concrete change in people’s lives,” said Micah Grzywnowicz. *** More information on the new law here via UTSOPI, the Belgian Union of Sex Workers *** IPPF EN is a proud supporter of ESWA. We are opposed to any measures in EU policy or legislative instruments that would criminalise any aspect of sex work, including clients and third parties, in line with IPPF’s global policy position and allyship with sex worker communities.  

IPPF EN, together with around 80 civil society organisations, healthcare professionals and academics working to advance women’s rights and the rights of LGBTI people, address letter to President von der Leyen to express our deep concern at the long delay in the publication of the European Commission Recommendation on the prevention of harmful practices against women and girls. We urge the current Commission to adopt the Recommendation swiftly or guarantee its adoption by the next Commission before 2025, in line with the clear commitments made under the Gender Equality Strategy and the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025. We strongly support the adoption of this Recommendation, which will provide effective guidance for Member States on ways to address various harmful practices, including those committed to in the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and in the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025. Furthermore, we call on the Commission to ensure all forms of obstetric and gynaecological violence, mistreatment and abuse are included in this Recommendation. We strongly believe this Recommendation would fill a critical gap and make a substantial contribution towards protecting women and girls in all their diversity from all forms of harm in the EU. Please read the full letter below. 

Three Polish feminists on trial for pro-abortion protests have been found not-guilty. Although positive news, this is not a complete win for activists around the world. Marta Lempart, Klementyna Suchanow and Agnieszka Czerederecka-Fabin - three leading women’s rights defenders from the Polish Women's Strike were facing eight years in prison in Poland for exercising their right to peaceful protest. At today’s trial they were found not guilty. Though the not guilty verdict is a relief, we can’t ignore the fact that this trial never should have happened in the first place. These women’s rights defenders were unfairly targeted because of their work, with the prosecution attempting to use the courts as a tool of intimidation. Defending reproductive rights is not a crime. It is deeply troubling that they were subjected to a sham trial that not only robbed them of time, energy and money, but also affected their mental well-being. Cases like this are designed to silence activists. They are a dangerous attack on fundamental human rights and democratic values.     In future, we urge the Polish government, and all governments, to focus on protecting rights, not prosecuting those who defend them.   Marta Lempart said "I'm looking forward to going back to work. Thank you for all the solidarity from the international community."

Date: 3.10.2024 Time: 12.00 Courtroom: 224 Location: District Court in Warsaw, Solidarności 127 Press briefing after the verdict.   The criminal case against Polish Women's Strike pro abortion protests’ (2020) leaders is finally coming to an end in the District Court in Warsaw, Poland. Marta Lempart, Agnieszka Czerederecka and Klementyna Suchanow are charged under Article 165 of the Penal Code (endangering the public by organizing protests)  and Women's Strike leader Marta Lempart is additionally charged under Article 226 and Article 255 of the Penal Code. All three women face up to 8 years in prison. The announcement of the verdict will take place on October 3rd at noon in the District Court in Warsaw at 127 Solidarności Avenue (room: 224). This date is significant and symbolic for the entire movement that the Polish Women's Strike is. It was on October 3rd, 2016 that the Women's Strike organized the first mass protests in Poland in defense of abortion rights, which went down in history as Black Monday. At that time, women took to the streets of more than 160 cities and towns dressed in black in protest against the tightening of abortion law in Poland. On the 8th anniversary of the first Polish Women’s Strike protest (2016), activists will hear the verdict for their involvement in the 2020 100-days stress protests, brutally suppressed by the state police and secret services. It will be a verdict for their years of fighting in the streets, for the many days and nights spent protesting, in police cauldrons and in police detention. Judgment for their courage and determination, for their eyes burning with pain from the police gas, for their arms broken during the demonstrations, their spines physically damaged from the police batons. The judgment will therefore be symbolic not only for the anniversary of the Women's Strike, but above all for the fight for women's rights in contemporary Poland. The verdict will show which way we are heading - towards the shameful direction of maternity wards where women are dying, or towards the civilized part of Europe. Marta Lempart: Please be with us on that day. It is important that not only we, but also others who are still being dragged through the courts, know that they are not walking alone. Whatever happens this October 3rd or afterwards. See you there!   Media contact: +48 577 099 077 Marta Lempart [email protected]