Promoting equal economic independence for women and men, closing the gender pay gap, advancing gender balance in decision making, ending gender based violence and promoting gender equality beyond the EU.

Achievements and key areas for action.

The EU encourages an equal participation of women and men in the labour market and an equal sharing of care responsibilities.

The gender pay gap in the EU, how the EU fights pay discrimination, actions for improving pay equality.

Equal and meaningful participation of women in both economic and political decision-making is essential for democracy, with positive impacts on the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness.

Violence against women is happening across the EU. It’s criminal, a brutal form of discrimination and a violation of women’s fundamental rights.

The EU promotes and financially supports gender equality and women’s empowerment across the globe.

Many organisations and expert groups work together across the EU to end gender discrimination through initiatives and exchanges of ideas and practices.

Gender mainstreaming has been internationally adopted as a key strategy towards making gender equality a reality.