Advancing gender equality in rural areas in the EU
A workshop on advancing gender equality in EU rural areas organised in November by the EU CAP Network and French partners confirmed key messages that women play central roles in rural Europe’s economic growth, environmental protection and community development.
A workshop on advancing gender equality in EU rural areas was organised in November by the EU CAP Network along with the French National Rural Network, the Grand Est Region, the Rural Network of Grand Est Region and France’s National Association for the Cohesion of Territories.
The EU CAP Network workshop attracted interest from 65 participants from 17 European countries. A wide-reaching agenda allowed researchers, institutions and practitioners to share data and exchange experiences on three key areas: entrepreneurship, participation in decision-making, and provision of services in rural areas.
Political will and engagement are key success factors and the sessions about the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-25 and the EU Rural Action Plan confirmed the EU's engagement. Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) contributions to these gender equality goals were examined by the workshop, which paid particular attention to the CAP’s Specific Objective 8: promoting employment, growth, representation in decision-making processes, participation in farming businesses, social inclusion and local development. Funding options during 2023 to 2027 from the new CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) hold potential for advancing gender equality in rural areas and workshop participants explored possible solutions that could be supported by the CSPs together with other EU funding tools and policies.
Women play central roles in rural Europe’s economic growth, environmental protection and community development, yet their contributions are not clearly recognised. Key messages from the event highlighted the importance of tailored support to women's entrepreneurship, the importance of networking and peer support, as well as the need to combat gender-based violence.
Field trips highlighted successful practices aimed at supporting rural women and outcomes from the well-received workshop aim to help enhance the understanding of current challenges faced by women in rural areas. All the presentations and a portfolio of background documents can be found on the event’s webpage.