The European Union and Colombia, defending gender equality together

Jolita Butkeviciene, director of EuropeAid for Latin America and the Caribbean; Gheidy Gallo, high presidential counsellor for women’s equity in Colombia and the European Union ambassador in Colombia, Patricia Llombart, chaired a meeting, in Bogotá, to promote gender equality in Colombia.

This bilateral dialogue between European cooperation agencies and the Government of Colombia is based on the importance equality policies have within the lines of action for European cooperation in the country. To this end, they are supported by actions in the EUROsociAL+ cooperation programme, which is financed by the European Union and managed by FIIAPP, that supports processes to improve social cohesion.

In addition to the participation by Jolita Butkeviciene, Patricia Llombart and Gheidy Gallo, representatives from EUROsociAL+, the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture’s Rural Women Directorate, the National Land Agency, and the National Rural Women’s Platform, also attended the event, in addition to international specialists.

During her presentation, Jolita Butkeviciene highlighted the interest of European cooperation in boosting the support for gender actions in the country; Gheidy Gallo, on the other hand, stressed the importance of presidential support in the field of gender equality and Patricia Llombart emphasised the special importance that should be given to the problem faced by migrant girls and women.

Two thirds of Colombia’s gender equality policies are supported by actions carried out under the EUROsociAL+ programme. This programme acts in line with the actions of the Colombian National Development Plan. This programme plans and coordinates with the institutions related to the subject in the country. Specifically, with the National Planning Department, supporting public investment planning with a gender focus; with the Ministry of Labour to promote the operability of the Equal Salary Act; with the Ministries of Justice and Agriculture focused on improving access to justice for rural women; with the National Attorney General’s Office, encouraging the investigation of cases of violence against women; with the National Administrative Department for Statistics, structuring information systems related to gender violence; and with the Ministry of Health, trying to mainstream the gender equality approach throughout the country’s health system.