More women and girls active in shaping global transformations

In early 2020, Awa had just turned 15-years-old when she heard that her marriage was being arranged. Escaping it seemed difficult, but Awa found the courage to defy her father’s decision. Her small village in Mali had a committee for the prevention of early marriage, and she took her case to them.

This body of respected people presented Awa’s father with all the arguments against early marriage, and managed to convince him.  It is crucial for everyone to have the same power to shape society and their own lives.

In it’s third Gender Action Plan adopted on November 24, the European Union is calling for a gender-equal world.

Due to the setback that Covid-19 has brought on the global work on equality and as we watch civil society organisations, including women’s and LGBTIQ organisations facing shrinking civic and democratic space, stepping up in building gender-equal world is more important than ever.

Awa’s story is similar to those of many girls around the world who manage to gain control over their lives and stand up to gender-based inequalities and discrimination. They have a voice, they drive change.

Gender-based violence

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the level of gender-based violence increased significantly and the EU partnered with the United Nations to offer shelters and helplines, and to give lifeline support to women’s grassroots organisations. 

Yet, beyond immediate action, we must remain aware of the challenges facing women in a shrinking labour market and shifting global economy. But challenges also bring opportunities.

We celebrate the fact that women and girls are increasingly taking part in shaping global transformations, with new generations active in grassroots movements for a green and just transition, equal rights for all, democracy, and for peaceful and inclusive societies.

Beijing Declaration

Positive change is possible and the post-Covid-19 recovery must be an opportunity to address structural inequalities and build more inclusive societies. Underscoring women’s role in the green and digital transitions ahead is key.

Change is still needed. This year, it is 25 years since the Beijing Declaration on women’s rights and 20 years since UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women and peace and security were adopted.

While progress has been achieved since, not a single country in the world is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. Too many women still do not have access to resources, essential social services and equal power. The call for more action is therefore immediate.

The EU’s Gender Action Plan is not a paper exercise. It is a call for action, with concrete measures. We want to empower more women and girls, in all their diversity, to be economic, political, or environmental actors and leaders.

We want to continue integrating Women, Peace and Security in the broader gender equality and women’s empowerment agenda.

 We want to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights and make gender-responsive leadership the norm in the EU institutions, leading by example.

We believe that gender equality deserves to be put at the heart of European policies.

Not only because a gender-equal, fair and inclusive world means a more prosperous and safer world for all of us, but because we see gender equality is an objective in its own right and a mission for Europe, at home and abroad.