The seminar seeks to share and deepen knowledge about and understanding of the issue of cyber violence and to inform the policies and practices required for its elimination.

Addressing gender-based violence has been an ongoing commitment of the European Union (EU). Currently, the European Commission ‘Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025’ identifies that ‘gender-based violence, in all its forms, remains under-reported and overlooked, both inside and outside the EU. The EU will do all it can to prevent and combat gender-based violence, support and protect victims of such crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable for their abusive behaviour’.

The Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 aims at realising the potential of the media, in that the media has ‘considerable say in shaping people’s beliefs, values and perception of reality, and are thus further key channels for changing attitudes and challenging stereotypes’. The Commission is committed to a number of actions to progress gender equality through this key sector. 

The annual seminar will focus on sharing information and generating perspectives on the issues of energy poverty, the cost of living, and the changing world of work and their implications for gender equality and gender equality policy.

Harmful practices are forms of violence committed primarily against women and girls. They are forms of gender-based violence. The most common forms of harmful practices include female genital mutilation or cutting, forced or early marriage and 'honour' based violence.