EESC President

The Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) signed a pivotal joint declaration today on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York. The declaration reaffirms the two institutions’ shared and unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across the globe.

The declaration was signed by UN Women’s Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous and by EESC President Oliver Röpke, marking a milestone moment of collaboration on gender policy. This joint statement comes at a significant juncture, with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 10th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and both organisations’ continuing resolve to achieve full gender equality.

In the declaration, the leaders of both organisations commit to deepening their collaboration on a wide range of issues, including:

• mainstreaming gender across governance and policymaking;
• promoting women’s leadership and representation;
• combating gender-based violence and discriminatory norms;
• addressing the unpaid care burden and structural barriers in labour and financial markets;
• supporting access to education, digital tools and economic empowerment for all women and girls, particularly those facing intersecting forms of discrimination;
• strengthening the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

President Röpke emphasised the urgency and scope of the agreement: ‘This joint declaration is not just a symbol of shared values, it is a call to action. The EESC and UN Women are sending a clear message that gender equality must be at the core of global policy and democratic resilience.’

The declaration builds on the European Union’s Gender Equality Strategy and Care Strategy and aligns with UN Women’s global mission to achieve a gender-equal world.

UN Women and the EESC call on governments, institutions and civil society to help turn these commitments into concrete outcomes that leave no woman or girl behind.

Background

The EESC and UN Women share a strong commitment to advancing gender equality, women’s rights and inclusive growth. The EESC works closely with UN Women’s Brussels Office on key policy priorities and advocacy initiatives.

In 2024, the EESC joined the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) for the first time, marking a milestone in bringing the voice of EU organised civil society to the global stage. Since then, cooperation with UN Women has included high-level dialogues, joint advocacy on ending gender-based violence, promoting women’s leadership, addressing the digital gender gap and recognising unpaid care work. Both organisations are firmly committed to ensuring that no woman or girl is left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.