Gender Equality
is a fundamental value of the European Union
and one of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Gender equality in research and learning ensures that Research & Innovation (R&I) systems support democratic and equal societies. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the innovation capacity of a country and the gender equality index in that country has also been observed. Whilst the reasons for this correlation may be multifactorial, gender equality benefits research and innovation in several ways. Gender Equality:
- Helps to improve the quality and impact of research and innovation by helping to ensure it is reflective of and relevant to the whole of society;
- Creates better working environments that enable good quality research and learning and help maximise the potential and talents of all staff and students;
- Helps to attracts and retain talent by ensuring that all staff can be confident that their abilities will be valued and recognised fairly and appropriately.
The introduction of the Gender Equality Plan – GEP eligibility criterion derives from the legal basis for Horizon Europe which establishes gender equality as a cross-cutting priority. This approach is linked to the European Commission’s European Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025 which announced the ambition for a GEP requirement for participating organisations. The Council of the European Union in its conclusions on the New European Research Area (ERA) in December 2020 also called on the Commission and Member States to adopt a renewed focus on gender equality and mainstreaming, including through GEPs and the integration of the gender dimension into R&I.
EPAYPS, recognizes the importance of adopting a Gender Equality Plan .
Our commitment to promoting equality, ensuring equal opportunities, and creating an inclusive environment is unwavering.
We are integrating gender equality into all our activities, and the GEP marks another step towards a more just and sustainable society, enhancing participation without exclusions.
Together, we are building the Future with Values, Innovation, and Justice!
