Access to abortion, violence against women, the far-right threat to rights, workplaces that work for women, and feminist public spaces – these topics and more were in focus today as the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the French Parti socialiste (PS) convened a joint conference in Nantes, France.
The event – Time for women – featured speakers including Mayor of Nantes Johanna Rolland, PS First Secretary Olivier Faure, PES Presidency member and Vice-President of PS Belgium Anne Lambelin, President of the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions Christophe Rouillon, PS National Secretary for Women’s Rights Marie Le Vern, and PES Women executive board member Cécilia Gondard.
PES and PS – which is a full member party of the PES – are united behind a common vision for a European Union where women enjoy the same rights and opportunities as men.
As part of the Time for women conference, participants took part in workshops which put forward concrete proposals that can inform future socialist policies. Ideas from each workshop were presented on-stage at the event and will be part of a written report sent to participants.
Following the conference, PES and PS figures were invited to a shelter for women in Nantes who have been victims of violence, so they could see first-hand the vital service that the organisation provides.