On 30 May, the Gender Equality Commission (GEC) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) co-organised the launch of the new Gender Equality Strategy for 2024-2029 at its annual conference: united around gender equality: making space for women and girls. The CCJ ensured existing challenges to gender equality were also considered from a youth perspective, as well as possible measures to overcome them.
Nina Grmuša, Chair of the CCJ, Anna Knobbout, member of the CCJ Bureau, and Stanislava Stefanova Gender Equality Rapporteur to the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ), together with the active contribution of six representatives of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), presented and discussed a youth perspective on gender-equality implications of crises linked to conflict, migration, public health and climate change, as well as on the impact of new technologies, including AI systems, on gender equality and women’s rights. The importance of addressing these issues through an intersectional and non-binary lens was underlined.
The GEC Chair, Ralph Kass (Luxembourg), stressed that “young people know exactly what needs to be done” and made reference to the elements for a reference framework prepared by the Youth Department:
- Think with Youth
- Learn from and with Youth
- Participate with Youth
- Act with and for Youth.
He added that the GEC will intensify its alliances with young people and their networks to initiate targeted and meaningful measures to address youth perspectives following the launching Conference.
The Rapporteur, Anja Jokić, member of the CCJ Bureau, is preparing a report with recommendations to the Council of Europe and the GEC for specific actions. These should be discussed imminently with the GEC as well as with Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity.
