International

Gender Equality Policy and Inclusion (GEPI)EU/International Gender and Diversity Work

The EU/International Gender and Diversity Team helps to coordinate, negotiate and present UK positions on gender equality issues within the European Union, United Nations, Commonwealth and Council of Europe. As part of the UK’s National Women’s Machinery the EU/International Team works to the UK’s international and regional commitments and promotes best practices and statutory compliance on gender equality issues across a range of international and regional institutions.

United Nations

The UK actively participates in international inter-governmental mechanisms for the advancement of women and gender equality, and has signed up to relevant international commitments, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol, and the non-binding Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for Women . The EU/International Team liaises across UK Government departments on these commitments, follows up on their implementation, and coordinates cross-Ministerial reporting to the UN. 

European Union

The UK actively engages with the European Union and related EU initiatives on gender equality, including through its membership on the European Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for women and men. The EU/International Team works to promote the implementation of the European Commission’s Roadmap for Equality between Women and Men (2006-2010) within the UK and provides input into negotiations on gender-related Directives and Treaties through the Social Questions Working Group and the related Council on Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO). 

Council of Europe

The UK is a member of the Council of Europe and participates in its Steering Committee for Equality Between Women and Men (CDEG). The EU/International Team works to co-ordinate, negotiate and present UK positions within the CDEG in areas such as violence against women, political representation and tackling the pay gap. These negotiations in turn inform the Council of Europe’s Council of Ministers. 

Commonwealth

As a member of the Commonwealth, the UK supports the strategy of gender mainstreaming and the related Commonwealth Gender Plan of Action (2005-2015). The EU/International Team works across UK Government to implement its commitments on the Gender Plan of Action. It also liaises across government to co-ordinate, negotiate and present the UK positions on gender equality, including through the Commonwealth Working Group on Gender, Peace and Security. 

EU Directive

The GEO is responsible for representing the UK's policies on equality to the European Union, United Nations, Commonwealth and Council of Europe.  Click here to find out about the EU Directive.