Agenda of the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council, 7 May 2024

Equality

Women in public life

Ministers will hold a policy debate on the topic of women in public life, focusing on ways to enhance women’s representation in decision-making and foster gender equality in leadership roles.

Women in public life (background note)

Economic empowerment and financial independence of women

The Council will seek to approve conclusions on the economic empowerment and financial independence of women as a pathway to substantive gender equality. The conclusions call for measures such as addressing the gender pay gap, supporting victims of gender-based violence, and improving the availability of data on women’s financial independence.

Draft Council Conclusions on economic empowerment and financial independence of women as a pathway to substantive gender equality

Equal treatment directive

The Council will discuss the state of play of the proposed directive on equal treatment, which aims to establish the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Equal Treatment Directive

Other business

Topics dealt with under other business will include the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention, the state of play of the Violence Against Women Survey, and events organised by the Belgian presidency focusing on equality.

Practical information

• Location: Brussels
• Time (indicative): 09:30

Preparatory documents

• Provisional agenda
• Provisional list of A items
• Provisional list of A items, addition 1
• Background brief