THE European Union (EU) has made it clear that its future development assistance will bank on the respect for human-rights norms—including those for women and girls. We will continue supporting them globally, sticking to our values and beliefs.
Human rights, freedom and democracy, as well as equality represent core values that make the EU what it is. They enrich our societies and strengthen resilience. Gender equality is key for peace, security, economic prosperity and sustainable development.
That is why working on all levels to promote and safeguard progress on gender equality is a political priority and objective for the EU. Its Gender Action Plan III and the new external action budget provide a roadmap for global action toward a gender-equal world. We work closely together with multilateral, regional and bilateral partners, including civil-society organizations, to achieve those objectives. We still have a long way to go; there is no room for complacency.
In many countries, the pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequalities across different areas: education, vocational training, health, security and safety, sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as economic opportunities. In addition, pandemic-related lockdowns have often led to an increase in gender-based violence—in particular, those domestic in nature.
At the same time a significant part of the care burden has fallen on women and girls. Workers in the informal economy and in low-skilled jobs (most of whom are women), migrants, and those belonging to minorities, have been more at risk and face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.
Moreover, school closures have exposed girls to an increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy, child labor, and forced marriage. The Malala Fund estimates that 20 million more girls risk dropping out of school, adding up to a total of 150 million—equivalent to a third of the EU population—without educational prospects.
According to a recent UN report, military spending in 2020 still outpaced the worldwide expenses on health, even in a year that was dominated by the corona pandemic. For a sustainable recovery from it, we need to redouble our efforts to promote gender equality.
Time to do more
THIS challenge now requires a global response, when we are building the future we wish for our children and grandchildren to grow up in a post-pandemic world that is more equal, more diverse, and where equal opportunities are a reality. We need to address the root causes of inequality and discrimination in order to achieve sustainable change.
The EU and its member-states, as well as the European financial institutions, have stood with the women and girls of the world throughout the pandemic. As Team Europe, we have already mobilized €46 billion in support of over 130 partner countries, with a particular focus on women and youth.
Worldwide, the EU-United Nations Spotlight Initiative has helped 650,000 women and girls prevent or address violence against them, and educated 880,000 men and boys on positive masculinity, nonviolent conflict resolution and parenting.
Still, to meet the growing challenges, we need to do more. That is the purpose of the Gender Action Plan III. It promotes leadership and meaningful participation of women, girls and young people in political, economic, social and cultural life, as well as in all matters related to peace and security.
Human development on track
WE are making this plan a reality with the help of the new €79.5-billion NDICI-Global Europe instrument that will support the EU’s external action for the next seven years.
Support for education, particularly for girls, will have a central role. Just as we support education in emergencies, the EU has worked with partner-countries throughout the pandemic to minimize its impact on children, and to facilitate a safe return to school.
We already provide more than half of all global aid to education as Team Europe. But we will increase funding further, to promote gender equality through quality education at all levels. Our joint €1.7-billion pledge to the Global Partnership for Education in July to transform education for girls and boys in up to 90 countries and territories is part of this new beginning.
We are multiplying our efforts: from supporting women and girls’ education and economic opportunities, to improving their access to sexual and reproductive health services. By 2025 85 percent of all the EU’s new external actions across all sectors will contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is now being finalized with our partner-countries based on close consultation with civil-society organizations, women’s rights activists, and youth.
We need to put human development back on track and reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, leaving no one behind. It is crucial we get it right.