(Brussels) Numerous demonstrations and events promoted by public bodies, individuals, associations and local authorities are taking place all across Europe today to mark International Women’s Day. Even the European institutions in Brussels are sponsoring several initiatives. The European Parliament is putting a special focus on “Women’s economic empowerment”. “Women are still paid less than men” with a pay gap of about 16% for the same job and responsibilities. “In other words – the website of the institution reads -, this is the equivalent of working for free for about two months a year. All too often, this is not the only unpaid work that women do since the majority of women devote most of their free time to household. In addition, women are underrepresented in politics, managerial positions and science”. The statistics presented by the European Parliament, for instance, show that the share of women working in research in Europe is only 11.6%; that women’s pensions are on average 40.2% lower than men’s; and that the proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments is only 23% (37% in the European Parliament).