This Monday, International Women's Day, the ministers of employment and social affairs of the European Union (EU) are defining the instruments and the main lines of action in Europe's strategy against gender-based violence.

At the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), which is taking place in Brussels, the 27 EU Member States are expected to support specific measures, such as the launch of an EU-wide free helpline with a single number (116016) to provide abused women with information and support, or the creation of a European observatory on gender-based violence, "based on existing institutional structures and in the proposals of the European Commission.

The move aims to strengthen collaboration between the European Institute for Gender Equality, a Community body based in Vilnius, and the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities, which is made up of representatives from Member States, social partners and non-governmental organisations.

The ministers will also discuss the employment and social policy issues of the 2020 Strategy, and will prepare the Tripartite Social Summit that will take place before the summit of European leaders in the spring. The European Commission's proposal for the next decade includes raising the employment rate in the 20-64 age range from the existing 69% to at least 75%.

It will also formally adopt the EU's mechanism for microloans for the unemployed; extend maternity and paternity leave to up to four months; and will recognise the social security rights of the spouses of self-employed workers that work in the same family business.

On this issue, Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, has said: "This is a global challenge of the highest order, to deliver gender Equality and empower women, within Europe and beyond. That is why the EU will continue to put pro-active work in this field at the heart of our policies, both internal and external."