Global challenges, such as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, violent conflict, or climate change are further intensifying gender disparities. Recent data and progress reports on the implementation of Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development suggest that, at the current pace, it will take around 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to address legal gaps and discriminatory laws 140 years to achieve gender parity in leadership roles, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.

In the European Union (EU), the Gender Equality Index of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) measures the progress every year in the EU and the Member States. The Gender Equality Index assigns scores from 1 to 100. For the first time, the EU has surpassed 70 points (70.2), although this figure still falls short if we consider that a score of 100 is the equivalent of full gender equality.

In 2024, International Women’s Day campaign theme ‘’Inspire inclusion’’ calls for action to challenge gender stereotypes, create safe environments where all women feel protected and respected and reach out to marginalised groups often invisible in our society. According to the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2025, more inclusion and more diversity are essential to bring forward innovative approaches that better serve a dynamic and flourishing EU society.

In line with this idea, the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV) supports a comprehensive, gender-sensitive and intersectional approach and funds actions aimed at mitigating the challenges encountered by specific groups and communities disproportionately impacted by discrimination.. Launched in 2021, CERV is the largest-ever EU fund for advancing and protecting fundamental rights within the EU. One of the strands of the programme promotes rights, non-discrimination, and equality, including gender equality, and advance gender mainstreaming.

Here a selection of projects supported by the CERV programme that focus on advocating for women's rights and promoting gender equality:

• SPEAK OUT: Together for a safer circus
• Rewriting the story: Media, Gender, and Politics
• FULFIL: Protecting & Promoting Fundamental Rights of Migrant Women in Europe
• Town Twinning for Gender Equality
• Empowering Women and Promoting Gender Equality: European Women Lobby
• Ending Female Genital mutilation and Gender-based Violence
• Women in Resistance: Reshaping the narratives on Female Anti-totalitarian Resistance in Europe (WIRE) & Female Resistance in Germany and France against National Socialism (WEWIGENS)