Proritise and advance gender equality in all EU external actions
07-05-2026
Together with our members, WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform has submitted feedback
to the call for evidence for the development of the European’s fourth Gender Action
Plan (GAP IV) to accelerate gender equality and women's empowerment in the European Union's external
actions.
WO=MEN welcomes the
opportunity to contribute to the development of the fourth European Gender
Action Plan (GAP IV). At a time of growing and global backlash against gender
equality, shrinking civic space and increasing geopolitical and economic
instability, an ambitious and coherent GAP IV demands political priority to
sustain and advance the EU’s commitments to gender equality and women’s rights
in external action.
GAP IV must address key challenges such as implementation gaps,
financing, policy coherence and accountability. GAP IV must commit to meaningful engagement with gender
equality and women’s rights organisations, as identified under previous Gender
Action Plans.
Recommendations
- Maintain the core principles of GAP III:
intersectionality, human rights-based approach and gender-transformative
approach. Also maintain in GAP IV a broad geographical scope at multilateral,
regional and country level, as well as a broad thematic scope, as gender
equality is a cross-cutting issue integral to all the EU’s external policy
areas.
- The EU must significantly increase funding for
women’s rights organisations, particularly feminist and grassroots movements,
both in Europe and externally, who are critical actors in upholding human
rights, advancing democracy, and reaching marginalised communities. Ensure
funding is flexible, long-term, accessible and allocated through transparent
and participatory mechanisms that allow gender equality and women rights
organisations to set their own priorities. Dedicate at least 5% of Official
Development Assistance (ODA) to supporting gender equality and women's rights
organisations.
- Gender equality must be fully integrated
through systematic gender mainstreaming and targeted actions across the EU’s
external actions. This requires robust gender mainstreaming and gender
budgeting across defence, security, migration and crisis preparedness, the
EU’s external agendas on sustainable competitiveness, economic and social
rights and security, as well as the green transition and digital transformation.
- Furthermore, GAP IV should stimulate targeted
interventions to address priority topics with a gender-transformative approach.
Keep the commitment from GAP III that at least 85% of all new
external action programmes contribute to gender equality (Gender Marker 1 -
significant objective) and raise the goal for gender-principal actions (Gender
Marker 2) from 5% to 20%. A higher target on gender-principal programmes
signals a strong commitment to advancing gender equality, which the EU
must demonstrate to counter growing authoritarianism and the
instrumentalisation of gender equality to attack democracy and human rights.
- Align GAP IV with international binding
treaties and commitments on human rights, including the European Convention on
Human Rights (ECHR), the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Union (CFR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Istanbul Convention. Protect,
promote and invest in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), for the
right to self-determination for all women and girls. Remain committedto the full and effective
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Commission on the Status
of Women (CSW) and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD), as well as the outcomes of their review
conferences. Continue to place the rights and position of all women and girls, at the forefront of the
political agenda, also in security and human rights dialogues. In line
with the UN’s agenda for sustainable development, adhere to the principle of "Leave No One Behind".
- The EU needs to demonstrate its commitment at
the highest level. Therefore, GAP IV should be an official Communication,
rather than a Staff Working Document. It should also be endorsed by the Member
States through Council Conclusions and by the European Parliament, so that it
commits both Member States and EU institutions.
For more information, see our full response
to the GAP IV consultation
here.
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