Minister concerned about tendencies against equality

« We have not yet achieved equality, » said Yuriko Backes (DP), minister for gender equality, on Monday morning on the occasion of a press conference on the presentation of the revised national action plan (Pan) for equality between women and men.

In the equality index of the European Institute for Equal Opportunities (egg) of the EU, Luxembourg occupied seventh place in 2024. The egg estimates that it will still take 60 years for the gender equality. The World Economic Forum even assumes that this could take more than 160 years.

With the planned plan, the ministry wants to achieve gender equality faster. This is a revised version of the previous Pan from 2020. There are a total of three action plans that are linked. Among them is the pan for gender equality, but also a plan against gender-specific violence and for the rights of the LGBTIQ+community. These will be presented at a later date this year.

Three priorities and six goals

The plan consists of three priorities with different measures and six goals with different steps to achieve them. The three priorities are the support of bourgeois and political engagement, the promotion of equality and diversity and the development of a society with more equality.

The goals include the reduction of gender stereotypes and sexism as well as the creation of a balanced and integrative environment. Especially in the education system and in the management position in the primary school and secondary area, most areas are still occupied by men. Also in the field of teachers in university education, only 36.5 percent are women, according to a study of 2022.

The Pan for equality of gender was revised by 17 ministries, including the Ministry for Equal Opportunities and Diversity. The plan and its goals are implemented by an interministerial body. It is important for the ministry and the ministry that it is implemented evidence -based. Therefore, the evaluation of the previous action plan and the resulting results is important to take suitable measures in order to achieve the gender equality in Luxembourg.

Minister Backes wants a participatory implementation. In particular, cooperation with civil society should play a larger role. « This is an issue for society, and every person in society has to be responsible, » said the minister.

Since Minister Backes also heads the Ministry of Mobility and Defense, new measures have also been incorporated here. Especially in the defense area, the minister wants to see more women in all areas of defense. She also wants a more inclusive language in defense.

Development against equality is worrying

In view of the recent tendencies in many democratic countries towards women and gender equality, such as the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, however, Backes is concerned. « We see that the situation has really deteriorated. »

This tendency can also be observed more and more in Luxembourg, especially on social media. « This worries me as a person, as a woman, as a mother, as a politician, » said the minister about the tendencies against equality. It is also concerned that the trend towards equality not only goes from right -wing extremists, but also from governments themselves who « move in the wrong direction, where we see intolerance and disrespect ».

« I am convinced that we have to position ourselves well in order not to allow us such a development in our society, in our country and not to tolerate, » emphasized Backes. The National Action Plan is Luxembourg’s solution to prevent this development and to ensure and improve the rights of women as well as the gender equality.