FEANTSA Welcomes the European Commission’s Renewed Commitment to Women’s Rights on International Women’s Day
Download the statement here (PDF)
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the European Commission has released a new Roadmap for Women’s Rights, reaffirming its commitment to advancing gender equality and integrating gender perspectives across EU policies over the long term. This document will shape the EU’s gender equality agenda and guide the implementation of gender mainstreaming across all policy areas.
FEANTSA welcomes this strong commitment and supports the European Commission’s vision for a European Union rooted in gender equality and the protection of women’s rights. As a European network dedicated to ending women’s homelessness, FEANTSA highlights three key messages:
1. Recognising the Diversity of Women
Women are not a homogeneous group; they have diverse identities and experiences shaped by factors such as race, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation. These intersecting characteristics influence their pathways into and out of homelessness. FEANTSA urges the European Commission to recognise and address the complexity of women’s identities fully and to take action against intersectional discrimination.
2. Embedding a Gender Perspective in Housing and Anti-Poverty Strategies
FEANTSA particularly welcomes the commitment to gender mainstreaming in upcoming initiatives, including the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, and the European Affordable Housing Plan. Women experience homelessness differently from men, facing distinct risks such as poverty, barriers to housing, childcare responsibilities, and gender-based violence. The challenges women encounter during homelessness and the transition into permanent housing require gender-sensitive responses. To effectively prevent and end women’s homelessness, policies must be designed through a gender-informed lens.
3. Addressing the Link Between Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Homelessness
The connection between gender-based violence (GBV), housing insecurity, and homelessness must be explicitly recognised. Women escaping domestic violence often face significant barriers in accessing safe, affordable housing. FEANTSA calls for stronger EU policies and funding mechanisms that integrate housing solutions with support services for survivors of domestic violence.
A Stronger EU Commitment to Ending Homelessness
The EU’s commitment to ending homelessness has never been stronger. Under the European Platform on Combating Homelessness, launched four years ago, all 27 Member States and EU institutions have signed the Lisbon Declaration, pledging to end homelessness by 2030. Ending homelessness means ending it for everyone. This goal can only be achieved if women’s homelessness is fully recognised, understood, and addressed through gender-informed policies.
