Women Empowerment, Gender Equality Discussed at Council of Europe

On Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 November 2024, Luxembourg's Minister of Gender Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes, visited the Council of Europe (CoE) in Strasbourg.

This working visit formed part of the Luxembourg Presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers, which began on 13 November 2024 and will end on 14 May 2025.

As reported by the Ministry for Gender Equality and Diversity, Minister Backes addressed the Committee for Gender Equality, to discuss the empowerment of women and gender equality in the face of global and geopolitical challenges. The minister stressed that "this is a powerful affirmation of a simple truth: there can be no peace without full respect for women’s rights. But this is unfortunately not a time to celebrate. We are witnessing a global backlash against the rights of women and girls. To counter these dangerous trends, we must remain vigilant, and, indeed, we must oppose pressures through democratic means and on the values of tolerance, respect for diversity and inclusion."

The programme also included the seminar "Facing the future with confidence, building on a quarter century of experience", at which Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri delivered the keynote address.

Minister Backes also gave a speech at the seminar which was organised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights. During her speech, the minister stated that it was "a great honour" to open this event, adding: "It is indeed a wonderful coincidence that this moment, which can be described as historic, falls exactly at the beginning of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, a Presidency which has also set the respect for and promotion of human rights at the heart of its priorities for the next six months. This national commitment is motivated by the conviction that human rights have lost none of their relevance today."

Moreover, the minister held bilateral discussions with the Secretary General, Alain Berset, and the Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty. The discussions focused on the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Committee of Ministers and the human rights situation in Europe and beyond. The minister accompanied the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg to a meeting with the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Marc Cools.

Minister Backes, accompanied by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, also visited the European Youth Centre, an international centre for training, meetings and education. It hosts activities on education and youth work, democracy, human rights and other topics related to building civil society.

On the evening of Wednesday 20 November, the Grand Duke, Grand Duchess and Minister Backes attended the inaugural concert of the Luxembourg Presidency.