Hearing of Commissioner-designate Hadja Lahbib
The hearing of Commissioner-designate Hadja Lahbib, candidate for the Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality portfolio, took place on Wednesday 6 November. Having attended the hearing online, the Policy & Advocacy team summarises the following points relevant to VSE’s priorities.
The Commissioner-designate emphasised her dedication to promoting equality and civil liberties across the EU, strengthening proactive crisis management, and boosting the Union’s preparedness. Lahbib underscored her commitment towards ensuring the full enforcement of equality and protection laws across the EU, including successful implementation of the recently adopted Directive on Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, as well as prioritise the full ratification and application of the Istanbul Convention – which remains a central tool in protecting victims of gender-based violence.
To further reinforce her commitment towards equality, Lahib announced plans to release a Roadmap for women’s rights – likely to be unveiled on Woman’s Day 2025 – which will serve as a strategic compass for a forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy. Along the same lines, she pledged to prioritise key rights issues, including the EU-wide adoption of a consent-based legal definition of rape, protections for abortion rights, and improved legal frameworks for vulnerable groups, including children and individuals with disabilities.
Lahib also expressed her determination to deliver targeted measures under a renewed LGBTQI+ Equality Strategy post-2025, which include positive incentives for Member States to adopt inclusive policies, promote visibility and safety for LGBTQI+ communities, and launch communication campaigns. This will be complemented by a new Anti-Racism Action Plan, a cornerstone of her strategy to uphold equality and combat discrimination in all forms. Additionally, she intends to advance deinstitutionalisation efforts and improve social support systems for people with disabilities to create a more supportive and accessible society.
The candidate Commissioner highlighted the escalating global humanitarian crises and the insufficient international response, and she stressed the importance of educating children to understand global complexities and champion human rights. Furthermore, she addressed the growing problem of online violence, proposing a code of conduct to ensure that digital platforms take responsibility for preventing anonymity that can lead to harmful behavior.
While Lahbib’s intervention highlighted important aspects of victims’ rights, it missed key elements that could strengthen protections further, such as:
- Including specific measures/funding to eradicate both direct and indirect discrimination, ensuring all individuals have equal access to education, healthcare, and justice, regardless of background.
- Increased and stronger collaboration with national and local leaders to develop inclusive policies that directly support vulnerable groups.
- Making and implementing a clear commitment to the updated EU Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict – through sanctions, human rights monitoring, and international partnerships – which is crucial for securing lasting protection and peace for children in conflict areas.
Further Reading
- Written questions and Answers: https://hearings.elections.europa.eu/documents/lahbib/lahbib_writtenquestionsandanswers_en.pdf
