International Women’s Day: Promoting gender equality through the CERV programme

On 8 March, we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality while underscoring the work that still needs to be done. 2025 also marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document is the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide that transformed the women’s rights agenda in terms of legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and change in social norms, stereotypes and ideas stuck in the past.

This year’s theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a future where no one is left behind. 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 empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

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 gender mainstreaming.

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

• Women participation for the future of Europe
• EPF Europa Plural Feminine
• Empowering Migrant Women: Promoting Civic Engagement and Participation
• Strengthening gender mainstreaming in EU climate policies
• Empowering Mobile EU Women Citizenship
• Mothers of Europe
• Safeguarding democracy through demography and inclusion