The EU has a robust policy framework on gender equality, notably the Gender Action Plan III (GAP III) that, together with the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, all represent a clear compass to global, regional and local promotion of gender equality and equal opportunities.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. It is also about ensuring equal economic participation and equal access to education and health, granting everybody equal participation in decision-making, combatting all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence as well as promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The EU is continuously working to strengthen gender mainstreaming in the EU’s foreign and security policy through ensuring a systematic use of a gender perspective, based on solid gender analysis, into all political dialogue, diplomacy and action.

The EU takes action globally to prevent and denounce all forms of discrimination inter alia on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, while promoting their access to equal opportunities in all spheres of life. It is important that discriminatory laws, policies and practices are fought worldwide, as they further expose persons in vulnerable situations to unemployment, social exclusion and poverty.

We combat discrimination and promote diversity, both within the EU’s borders and beyond, through a combination of public diplomacy and awareness-raising activities, political and human rights dialogues, capacity building and financial assistance. The EU supports the universal adherence to all the core human right instruments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities that it is a party to, alongside its Member States.

The EU actively implements the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS Agenda) putting it at the centre of the full spectrum of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. The implementation of the WPS agenda represents an essential tool in ensuring that the rights, agency and protection of women and girls are observed and upheld at all times, and to confirm that a meaningful and equitable role in decision-making is secured for women of all ages during all stages of conflict prevention, peace-making, peacebuilding and post-conflict rehabilitation. An example of this is the EU Strategic Compass where Women, Peace and Security forms an integral part.

Equality and non-discrimination are part of European Union’s core values, as emphasized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Treaties, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

LGBTIQ+ persons still face multiple challenges worldwide and action is needed to combat it. Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is a matter of human rights, but also of peace and security, social justice and economic progress.

The EU is stepping up its actions to prevent, denounce and combat all forms of discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ+ persons, including hate speech and hate crimes online as well as offline. The EU actively condemns and combats discriminatory laws, policies and practices, including the criminalisation of consenting same-sex relations.