EU Emphasizes Investment in Women’s Rights for Gender Equality

• UN Women underscores the need to invest in and empower women’s rights organizations for effective progress in achieving gender equality
• Ms. Beatrice Eyong emphasizes the importance of a strong feminist movement and announces the A.C.T. initiative to combat violence against women

The United Nations Women (UN Women) has stressed that achieving gender equality requires investing in and empowering women’s rights organizations. The statement was made during the Regional Consultation with women’s rights organizations organized as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the Country Representative of UN Women, expressed concern that significant changes have not been made since the initiation of the 16 Days of Activism 20 years ago.

Ms. Eyong emphasized that addressing and eradicating gender-based violence requires proactive and innovative solutions, with a key focus on investing in and empowering women’s rights organizations. She acknowledged these organisations’ critical role in reshaping societies to be safer, more inclusive, and just.

While acknowledging the progress made over the past two decades in the fight against violence against women and girls, Ms. Eyong noted the persistence of challenges, such as the limited representation of women in peace processes and the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of atrocities against women.

Highlighting the well-coordinated pushback against gender equality, Ms. Eyong stressed the need to combat this resistance and emphasized the importance of a strong and autonomous feminist movement. Research indicates that such a movement is critical in driving change, influencing policy-making, and transforming social norms and power relations.

In response to these challenges, Ms. Eyong highlighted the A.C.T. to End Violence Against Women initiative, a partnership between the European Union and UN Women. The initiative focuses on strengthening global and regional advocacy, coalition building, and transformative feminist action to combat violence against women.

Mrs. Eseme Stuart, the European Union focal point, emphasized the EU’s commitment to the A.C.T. program, which builds on the experience of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative. The Action Coalition mobilizes governments, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector to fight against gender-based violence collectively.