International Women's Day: building a more equal world

On International Women’s Day, we want to highlight five projects from around the world that showcase the EU’s ongoing commitment to sustainable peace and progress that includes the active political and social participation of all genders. On this day, we are reminded that this participation is not a given, but a process that must be actively maintained and critically assessed. 

Mine action workers scour the ground in Ukraine

As part of a jointly implemented initiative between APOPO and Mines Advisory Group (MAG), four teams of highly trained dogs and their handlers are about to be deployed to Ukraine for the first time to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance. Their work will contribute to making the Mykolaiv region safer for Ukrainian civilians. 

Each team consists of eight dogs and four handlers.12 out of the 14 handlers are women. This is a step towards a more inclusive approach to humanitarian efforts, wherein women are integral contributors to solving security challenges. In addition to being leading experts in their field, women in anti-mine action can also act as a valuable bridge between clearance teams and the local population by engaging with other women living in the affected areas. 

Counterterrorism efforts in Western Africa rely on the role of women experts

CT-JUST is an EU-funded program designed to enhance criminal justice and counter-terrorism capacities in partner countries. One of its priorities is to explore and understand the dynamics of women’s involvement in terrorism. Building on the foundations of two previous initiatives, CT-JUST organised a three-day event on the role of women in law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts in Dakar, Senegal. The event brought together 30 women security experts and practitioners from Benin, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal, Togo, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire, alongside representatives from EUROPOL, Spanish National Police, and leading academic institutions such as Rabat’s International University. The aim was to strengthen investigative capacities, regional cooperation, and gender-sensitive approaches in counterterrorism operations. 

The event underscored the political and institutional commitment to integrating gender perspectives in counterterrorism strategies, and strongly emphasized the critical role of women in both violent extremism and counterterrorism strategies. Consequently, the speakers emphasized that gender-sensitive policies are key to countering radicalization and that women must be included in security, intelligence, and counterterrorism frameworks. 

By fostering a strong network of women in law enforcement, CT-JUST continues their work towards a more equal and sustainable security framework in Africa. The outcomes of this event will feed into the development of a regional working group, ensuring that shared experiences and lessons learned will translate into concrete action plans for future counterterrorism efforts. This process will culminate in a working paper that will provide strategic guidance for female law enforcement officers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and West Africa.

Strengthening creative entrepreneurship, sustainability and market access in Amman, Jordan

In October 2024, the Cultural Relations Platform organised Jordan Stitch, a capacity building and skills development programme for women fashion designers in the heart of Amman, Jordan. The programme brought together 20 Jordanian women fashion designers to provide them with essential tools and expertise to succeed in the competitive fashion market and to turn their creative visions into sustainable businesses. 

The programme provided comprehensive training that covered key aspects of fashion business development. From brand identity-building to sustainable practices, the curriculum was designed to address the specific challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the fashion industry. The Cultural Relations Platform also facilitated links between European fashion industry experts and Jordanian designers, creating valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and potential business connections. This cross-cultural exchange is an example of the EU's commitment to strengthening international creative partnerships. 

Looking ahead, the Jordan-Stitch programme represents a significant step in the EU's ongoing efforts to empower women in creative industries across the Middle East. By providing targeted support to women fashion designers, the Cultural Relations Platform contributes to the development of a more inclusive and sustainable creative sector in Jordan, setting a model for similar initiatives across the region.

Empowering young change-makers in Central Asia

The Young Women 4 Peace Initiative seeks to enhance the influence of women in development, mediation and other processes at local, national and regional levels of comprehensive security. The initiative, funded by the EU and implemented by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), includes women from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the Afghan diaspora in Central Asia. 

The main objective of the initiative is two-fold: firstly, it aims to expand existing and supporting new networks of young women in the participating countries. Secondly, the objective is to increase visibility and highlight the critical role of young women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. To achieve these goals, the participants have been trained in peace and security, leadership, personal development and networking with high-level officials. As a result of the programme, the participants now form a pool of expert young women to promote change in the region. 

One of the participants, Shohista Kayumova, also participated in the Youth Policy Dialogue hosted by High Representative and Vice-President of the Commission Kaja Kallas on 6 March 2025. She has worked as a project manager at Sharoit+, an NGO that advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, as well as working on creating accessible media platforms. 

“The initiative empowered us to speak up about peace and security. Democracy is not just about free speech or elections, and we are now working to be united on shared regional problems”, Kayumova describes. 

Sri Lanka: from struggle to purpose 

Funded by the EU and implemented by World Vision Germany, the Grassroots Conflict Prevention Project (GRACE) provides support to over 200 000 people across Sri Lanka, including women and youth. By providing training on conflict resolution and improving income opportunities, the project aims to bridge peacebuilding and development initiatives and foster stability and economic resilience in vulnerable households. GRACE also focuses on teaching community members, teachers, and government officials how to listen with empathy when interacting with the public and children and engages faith leaders through training and facilitating community dialogues.

Surangi, a GRACE project volunteer from Janasavipura, describes how her involvement with the programme has changed her outlook. By gaining invaluable skills in empathetic listening through family enrichment programmes, she has been able to make a difference in the lives of many young girls, including her own daughters. 

“This life is harsh. That’s why this training is my most precious tool. I can be my daughter’s friend, a confidante for her worries, and for other vulnerable girls at the dangerous edge of womanhood too. Now, I feel like more than just a village woman – I have a purpose,” she remarks.