Written answer
Gender Equality
Ireland says gender equality is central to its EU Presidency, mainstreaming it in Council work, advancing the EU Gender Action Plan, and hosting events on maternal health and gender-based violence.
5. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific actions Ireland has taken, and intends to take during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to deliver on its stated commitment to shepherd an ambitious European agenda on gender equality and the rights and empowerment of all women and girls, strengthening the Union’s role as a principled global actor. [74641/26]
Comment on this
The Government recognises gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as a fundamental human right and a strategic imperative. Advancing the rights and empowerment of all women and girls in society is vital for global sustainable development, peace and security, and is a key for economic growth and good governance.
Gender equality is a core dimension under Ireland’s EU Presidency. There is an important focus on gender in the Presidency programme, in the area of development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. For example, dedicated agenda items have been set in relevant Council meetings and working parties in order to guide a focused strategic debate under the Presidency. These strategic debates have in turn facilitated the mainstreaming of gender equality across all relevant outcome documents, including Council Conclusions.
We are aiming to maintain an ambitious European agenda on gender equality and the rights and empowerment of all women and girls, strengthening the Union’s role as a principled global actor. We are supporting discussions on how the development of the fourth EU Gender Action Plan will contribute towards making the world safer for women and girls, including through the elimination of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, the creation of safe environments for women human rights defenders on the frontlines, and the implementation of the Women Peace and Security agenda.
Over the course of the Presidency, we are also organising gender-focused Presidency Associated Events on maternal health and gender equality and gender-based violence, in collaboration with civil society partners.