![Gender equality is one of the European Union’s core values](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_medium_no_crop/public/2022-06/RSbangladesh_girls-scr.jpg?itok=TjtZYy0Q)
Gender equality is one of the European Union’s core values. Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is vital to building fair, inclusive, prosperous and peaceful societies everywhere.
Preventing and combating violence against women and girls is an important facet of this. It is one of the preconditions for equitable and inclusive sustainable development, as well as an important value and objective in itself.
Programmes
We implement programmes around the world wherever assistance is needed. We tailor our support to fit the region or country being helped. Programmes with a global reach allow the EU to provide similar support to countries facing similar problems.
![Mae Sot, Thailand](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2020-03/safe-fair-maesot-thailand-credit-un_womenyounghwa_choi-resized.jpg?itok=Za0-0pm1)
![EU and UN Women to boost women’s rights coalitions on ending violence against women](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-09/EU-UN-Women-ACT.jpg?itok=V9YhaHuL)
ACT to End Violence against Women (Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action to End Violence Against Women) is a programme to accelerate efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
Latest news
![](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2024-03/WYDE%20-%20Women%27s%20Leadership%20Initiative.jpeg?h=9dd951d5&itok=gbx_oldp)
The European Union and partners launch the Women’s Leadership Initiative, a component of the Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative (WYDE), in New York today during the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
![The EU is extending the duration of the Gender Action Plan from 2025 until 2027.](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-11/GAP%20III%20report.jpg?itok=YxlNrRqs)
In 2021–2022, during the first years of the new EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III), the European Union committed €22.4 billion to contribute to building a more gender-equal world, finds a joint mid-term report by the European Commission and the European External Action Service.
![EU-Tajikistan agreement signing](https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2023-10/Tajikistan-signing.png?itok=5DQAQwIc)
Today the EU has committed €30 million in budget support to Tajikistan to advance vocational education and training. It will empower local youth, women and returnee migrants, while also promoting employment in critical sectors such as agriculture, energy and the emerging green and digital industries