The European Commission released its Gender Equality Strategy for 2020-2025 on 5 March, aimed at achieving a Union of Equality.

The strategy, overseen by Jourová, presents political guidelines to achieve equality for all, in all senses, and sets out key actions for the three main European institutions in the coming years. This includes gender mainstreaming aimed at introducing an equality perspective in all EU policy areas and initiatives adopted by the European Commission. A Taskforce of Equality will be created to ensure the concrete implementation.

Key actions outlined in the strategy include:
• Actions to eliminate gender-based violence and gender stereotypes (creation of measures to prevent and combat gender-based violence, adding violence against women to the list of EU crimes & encouraging all member states to ratify the Istanbul Convention as well as an EU-wide campaign to tackle gender stereotypes)
• Actions to achieve a gender-equal economy (proposing binding measures on pay transparency & supporting women to find jobs in sectors with skills shortages, as well as develop these skills)
• Actions to increase women’s leadership and participation in society (introducing gender quotas for both public and private sectors and promoting participation of women in the next European elections)

Read the full article here.