Zonta Essentials: The CoE Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2029: Key actions to achieve de facto gender equality in Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) Strategy is a comprehensive document with the overall goal to achieve the advancement and empowerment of women and hence the effective realization of gender equality in the CoE’s member states. 

The Strategy builds upon the legally binding standards and norms of the CoE as regards gender equality. It is focusing on the impact of gender equality instruments and their implementation in the member states (e.g. like the Istanbul Convention, the European Social Charter, etc.) and on equal access to resources for women and men. 

The Strategy is a flexible document. The first CoE Gender Equality Strategy 2014-2017 was adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 2013.
As women’s rights and gender equality are backsliding and acquired rights cannot be taken for granted, the Gender Equality Strategy has been prolonged several times ever since, and is now in its fourth edition 2024-2029.   

The current 2024-2029 Gender Equality Strategy sets six strategic objectives, covering the following areas of concern in women’s private and political life, addressing existing and emerging challenges: 

• Preventing and combating gender stereotypes and sexism.
• Preventing and combating violence against women and girls and domestic violence.
• Ensuring equal access to justice for women and girls.
• Achieving balanced participation of women and men in political, public, social and economic life.
• Ensuring women’s empowerment and gender equality in relation to global and geopolitical challenges.
• Achieving gender mainstreaming and including an intersectional approach in all policies and measures.

The Gender Equality Strategy is one of the most recognized strategy documents at the CoE. 

It was built on the strength and values of the Council of Europe and has established a vision and a framework for the Organization’s role and actions in the area of gender equality. 

Next episode: The structure of the Council of Europe.

14 MAY 2025