European Commission: a new DG on 'Equality'

End FGM European Network welcomes with enthusiasm the creation of a new Directorate General (DG) on Equality under the new European Commission composition, proposed by Ursula Von der Leyen.

It is very promising that the EU in the next 5 years will be giving such a prominent relevance to its commitment to inclusion and equality in all of its senses, irrespective of sex, racial or ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. In particular, we are very hopeful to see that President Von der Leyen mandated Commissioner-designated Helena Dalli (Malta) to do more to crack down on gender-based violence and to better support victims, including through prioritising the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention and using the possibilities in the Treaty to add violence against women to the list of EU crimes.

Women and girls cannot wait any longer to see their rights respected, protected and fulfilled, in the EU as much as in the rest of the world. In this regard it is very promising that President Von der Leyen mandates Ms. Dalli to work closely with the Commissioner for International partnerships to empower women and girls, while ensuring coherence in EU external and internal policies.

We stand ready to support Ms. Dalli in this ambitious mission ahead of her, in case she is confirmed in her position after the hearings in the European Parliament.