1st meeting of @GENDERACTION_EU final conference task force this afternoon. We have discussed the target audience, date & venues, and of course main topics.
EU’s top court said the extra leave had to be linked to pregnancy or birth, otherwise, it risks falling foul of the bloc’s gender equality rules.
EU development ministers to discuss gender equality and debt sustainability in partner countries
Ministry for Foreign Affairs 20.11.2020 12.51 | Published in English on 20.11.2020 at 14.42PRESS RELEASE
EU development ministers will gather to discuss debt sustainability and debt relief in partner countries on 23 November 2020. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland in the informal video conference.
The COVID-19 pandemic has weakened the economic situation and deepened the debt crisis in many developing countries. As a result, debt sustainability in developing countries has attracted international attention once again.
“Finland emphasises that ensuring debt sustainability in developing countries is a joint mission for all EU Member States. We must take the role of China and the private sector into consideration and encourage them to take part in the mission”, says Minister for Development and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari.
At their meeting, EU development ministers will also discuss gender equality and promoting the empowerment of women in all external relations. The EU’s new action plan for promoting gender equality in external relations, Gender Action Plan, will be published on 24 November. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, aimed at strengthening women’s human rights, and the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UN Resolution 1325 ‘Women, Peace and Security’.
“All women and girls have the right to have control over their own bodies, sexuality and reproduction. Including sexual and reproductive health and rights in the action plan will promote its implementation. It is important that the action plan cover all external relations. In accordance with UN Resolution 1325 ‘Women, Peace and Security’, Finland will continue its efforts to strengthen the role of women in peace processes”, Minister Skinnari says.
