EUROPEAN UNION AND GENDER EQUALITY: NORMATIVE-LEGAL REGULATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT MECHANISMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2312-1815/2025-20-29Keywords:
European Union, normative-legal regulation, gender equality, discrimination, gender policy, gender mainstreaming, intersectional approach, gender budgeting, quota policy, European valuesAbstract
The article examines the legal regulation of gender equality in the European Union and the main institutional mechanisms for ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all. Gender equality is a core component of European values, and its achievement is one of the main goals of the European Union, aimed at protecting human rights, supporting democracy, respecting human dignity, and upholding the rule of law. The analysis covers the development of EU gender equality policy, its normative foundations, and the main implementation mechanisms. Special attention is given to the foundational treaties, directives, resolutions, and strategies of the EU that define the content of gender policy and regulate the practical implementation of gender equality in various areas. A central role in shaping and implementing gender policy belongs to EU institutions, which ensure the legal regulation, monitoring, and control of its implementation, as well as financing/finance relevant programs and projects. The main mechanisms for developing and implementing gender policy include gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting, and the quota system. An intersectional approach allows for a deeper analysis of gender issues and the development of more effective strategies to address gender inequality. The current Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 is based on the principle of intersectionality, aimed at integrating these mechanisms across all EU policy areas, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to achieving gender equality. However, the EU faces a number of challenges in this area, including gender gaps in the labor market, gender imbalance in decision-making processes, the stereotyping of professions, and issues related to gender-based violence, which still persists. These issues require constant attention and policy adaptation to effectively combat inequality, as well as the need for appropriate solutions while developing the new strategy. The article provides a comprehensive view of the gender equality issue in the context of Ukraine’s European integration course. Benchmarking EU gender practices is an important tool for harmonizing legal norms and developing effective strategies to address gender inequalities in Ukraine.
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