EU and the Philippines: Partners in gender equality and equity

Across continents and cultures, the progress of a society is measured also by how it protects its women and children. In both the European Union and the Philippines, as we celebrate the Women’s Month, we share a deep conviction that gender equality and the empowerment of women are central to democracy, sustainable development and lasting peace.

This conviction is reflected in law, policy and concrete action. Since May 2024, the European Union has been implementing its landmark Directive 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence. It recognizes that gender-based violence increasingly occurs both offline and online, and that the law must evolve accordingly.

The Directive builds on the European Union’s broader strategic framework for gender equality. The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 laid the foundations for stronger policies across institutions and member-states. In March 2025, the European Commission launched the Roadmap for Women’s Rights, setting the direction for the next phase of work toward a society where women and girls can thrive, free from discrimination and violence. This commitment was further reaffirmed with the adoption of the Declaration of Principles for a Gender-Equal Society on Oct. 16, 2025, bringing together EU institutions and stakeholders in a renewed collective effort to advance equality across Europe.

The Philippines, for its part, has long been recognized as a regional leader on gender equality in Asia. Institutions such as the Philippine Commission on Women have played a vital role in promoting a whole-of-society approach to women’s empowerment. National frameworks, including the Philippine Plan for Gender and Development, demonstrate a sustained commitment to ensuring that women and men have equal access to opportunities, leadership and participation in all spheres of life. These are strong foundations on which further progress can be built.

And yet no society, including the European Union, is free from challenge. Progress requires that we look honestly at the gaps that remain and address them through cooperation, dialogue and shared commitment.

Violence against women remains one of the most pressing challenges faced by societies around the world. Such violence is rooted in gender inequality, discriminatory social norms and entrenched power imbalances. Confronting it requires not only legal frameworks but also cultural change, institutional accountability and sustained political leadership.

The digital age has introduced new dimensions to these challenges. Online spaces, while offering opportunities for participation and expression, have also become environments where women and girls face harassment, intimidation and technology-facilitated abuse. Addressing these threats requires strong legal protections, technological awareness and international cooperation. The European Union’s experience in developing regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms offers practical lessons, and we remain committed to sharing expertise and strengthening cooperation with partners, including the Philippines. And we remain committed to learning from the experiences shared by our partners.

Advancing gender equality also benefits younger generations. Children and young people flourish in societies where rights are respected, where violence is addressed and where girls and boys are equally encouraged to pursue education, leadership and economic opportunity. Empowering girls today means strengthening the resilience and prosperity of societies tomorrow.

Gender equality is not only a social and economic issue. It is also a matter of peace and security. The global Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, anchored in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, recognizes that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation is indispensable to sustainable peace, democratic resilience and long-term security.

For the European Union, this is not merely a declaration of intent but a strategic commitment. In 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU adopted the Strategic Compass, a 10-year framework guiding European security and defense policy. Across its four pillars – Act, Invest, Partner and Secure – gender perspectives and the Women, Peace and Security agenda are systematically integrated. Within EU missions and operations, women are not only beneficiaries of security policies but increasingly serve as leaders, advisors and decision-makers.

Through EU delegations worldwide, including here in the Philippines, the EU works closely with governments and civil society to support the implementation of National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security.

More broadly, the EU’s commitment to gender equality in the Philippines is supported by concrete investments, in coordination with the action of the Philippine government. The EU supports civil society organizations working on gender-based violence prevention, access to justice and women’s empowerment. Our cooperation with the justice sector under the EU GOJUST program also contributes to strengthening institutional responses to gender-based violence through collaboration with the judiciary, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Together with the United Nations, the European Union also co-leads global initiatives such as the Spotlight Initiative and the Act to End Violence Against Women program, supporting grassroots organizations, survivor services and advocacy networks.

The European Union and the Philippines are partners in a shared commitment to human rights, democratic values and the dignity of every individual. Strengthening women’s rights is not simply a matter of fairness. It is essential to building peaceful, resilient and prosperous societies. Equality is a fundamental right. And together, through partnership and sustained commitment, we can build societies where this right is not only proclaimed but truly lived by every woman and every girl.

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Massimo Santoro is Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines.