Press Release: European Commission proposes a European strategy to promote gender equality in development cooperation

Equal opportunities and equal access to resources for both men and women is key to sustainable development. With the European Strategy to promote gender equality in development cooperation adopted on 8 March 2007, the Commission translates into practice the EU commitment to put gender equality at the heart of its development policy. The strategy suggests concrete actions in five key areas for the promotion of gender equality: governance, employment, education, health and domestic violence. It provides guidelines on how to improve gender mainstreaming in development policy and shows the potential of budget support for the promotion of gender equality.