The 2017 Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights took place in Brussels on 20 and 21 November. The 2017 event's focus was on "Women's rights in turbulent times". The objective of the Annual Colloquium is to improve mutual cooperation and greater political engagement for the promotion and protection of key fundamental rights in the EU.

The 2017 Colloquium was a forum in which political decision-makers in the European Union, representatives of civil society organisations, leading academics, businesses and trade unions, media representatives, journalists, and international organisations reflected together, from a fundamental rights perspective, on the relationship between strong fundamental rights for women, and resilient democratic societies. The wide range of topics for discussion included the link between misogyny in society and the violation of the fundamental rights of women; women's economic and political empowerment and the key obstacles to gender equality; the international women's movement and the shrinking space for civil society; violence against women and links to other forms of violence in society; gender stereotypes, culture, and attitudes. The discussions during this event explored avenues for action to ensure women's rights and work towards gender equality in the EU.

The 2016 Colloquium, which focussed on media pluralism and democracy, led to concrete actions which are now being implemented at various levels. Information on the 2016 Colloquium is available here.

Programme and Conclusions

Please view the Programme

Read the Conclusions

Photos

Participation of Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission, and Vĕra Jourová, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, in the Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights 2017

For more photos

Discussion notes

20 November:

• Plenary A
• Plenary B
• Plenary C

21 November:

• Session I.a
• Session I.b
• Session I.c
• Session II.a
• Session II.b
• Session II.c

Participation

Background documents

Gender Equality Index 2017 - European Institute for Gender Equality

Challenges to women's human rights in the EU - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

Dedicated hashtag

 #EU4women

Live streaming

Europe Room 20/11: 
Social justice and the Europe we want to live in

Europe Room 21/11 : 
Parallel session I.c: Harnessing our collective capacity to end violence against women.
Session II.a: Promoting women's rights through inclusive and sustainable civil society.

https://livestream.com/streaming/events/7933676

Arenberg Room 21/11:
Parallel session I.b: Women's economic empowerment: is it possible to close the gender pay gap?
Session II.b: Engendering democracy: women in the political process.

https://livestream.com/streaming/events/7933678

Orange Room 21/11:
Parallel session I.a: Empowering women's public voices, including online
Session II.c: Trafficking of women for labour and sexual exploitation

https://livestream.com/streaming/events/7933683