I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. 

1. In the context of the International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our strong commitment to achieve gender equality, empowerment of all women and girls and their full enjoyment of all human rights. 

2. This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by the UN at the end of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Its principles are as valid today as they were upon adoption. 

3. We recall the high level guidance received from the Reykjavik Declaration 2023 and the strategic objectives of the Gender Equality Strategy of the Council of Europe 2024-2029. 

4. The EU recalls its commitment to support women’s full, equal and meaningful participation, in all their diversity and in all spheres of public and political life, as per the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020 - 2027. This is central to the fulfilment of the Council of Europe’s mission: safeguarding human rights, upholding democracy and preserving the rule of law.

5. The EU will maintain its strong support for the equality agenda through all multilateral fora. In a context of an increasing pushback against gender equality, the EU will continue to work with all partners to advance international norms and standards. The EU will vigorously promote and scale up efforts towards gender equality, the advancement and full enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls and their empowerment, in line with its international commitments, including through mainstreaming gender equality in country and thematic contexts. The EU will stress the need for an ambitious and transformative approach to address the root causes and risk factors of gender inequality, discrimination and violence against women and girls.

6. The EU will cooperate with the Council of Europe in stepping up action to combat discrimination with attention to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.

7. The EU will deepen its work to promote gender equality and to prevent and combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including where relevant through the implementation of the “Istanbul Convention”. The EU will place the prevention and elimination of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) both online and offline at the centre of its efforts, including conflict-related sexual violence, domestic and intimate partner violence, technology-facilitated gender-based violence,  child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other harmful practices against women and girls.We underline the pioneering role of the Council of Europe in preventing and combating violence against women and girls.

8. The growing impact of information technologies on gender equality cannot be allowed to maintain or even deepen the existing gender biases and inequalities. Inappropriate design and misuse of technologies, including AI systems, can amplify and perpetuate gender bias, discriminatory social norms, and leading to exclusion and discrimination. We recognize the interrelation between offline and online gender based violence and the increase in technology facilitated gender based violence. We stress the need to address new online and technology facilitated threats such as cyber-harassment, deepfakes as well as the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.

9. The EU will promote whole-of-society approaches to engage men and boys as allies and beneficiaries in efforts to eliminate all gender inequalities, including by addressing discriminatory laws, and combatting discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes. Feminist and women’s rights organizations and movements and women human rights defenders are also key partners in countering the backsliding on gender equality.

10. We stress the importance of gender research and analysis with data disaggregated by sex, age and other characteristics for making visible gender inequalities, providing evidence for decision-making, measuring change and ensuring accountability.

11. The EU remains committed to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the outcomes of their review conferences and remains committed to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in this context. Having that in mind, the EU reaffirms its commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over, and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. The EU further stresses the need for universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, including comprehensive sexuality education, and health-care services. The EU invites others in Europe and beyond Europe to join these efforts. 

The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Ukraine, United Kingdom.