The last few months of 2025 have been packed with milestones, bold ideas, and powerful connections. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to…
This year marked a major shift for the Gender Equality Index. For the first time since 2013, the Index underwent a major upgrade, with a refreshed methodology. Work patterns, caring roles and digitalisation have transformed – and continue to evolve. That’s why our Index methodology has been adjusted to reflect today’s realities. Read the full Index results here.
In November, we joined Orange the World 2025, turning the spotlight onto the growing threat of online violence.
Through the ‘Safe Spaces’ artwork series by Lithuanian illustrator Eglė Narbutaitė, we revealed the reality faced by too many women and girls online: the fear hidden behind a sinister notification, and how this can move from the screen to the streets – among other fast-growing ways to incite violence against women.
As EIGE’s Director, Carlien Scheele, put it:
“No woman or girl should feel a knot in her stomach when her phone lights up. As each of the powerful artworks shows, online abuse follows women and girls into their homes, their classrooms, their workplaces and their streets.”
This year also brought powerful moments of shared learning through our Communications Lab. Two workshops - one with youth activists, another with national experts - explored how to communicate effectively to help end violence against women. In a fast-changing information landscape where dis/misinformation are rife, careful and considered conversations matter more than ever.
Beyond campaigns, we published significant research across migration, gender stereotypes, legal protection, foresight and cyber violence - evidence that strengthens the EU’s ability to advance gender equality where it’s most needed.
And we’re not slowing down. In 2026, we launch new projects to improve Europe’s response to gender-based violence: from asylum reception centres to frontline support services, to updated methods for assessing the risk of Female Genital Mutilation in the EU.
Looking ahead we continue to ride the momentum of progress made but also taking stock of the challenges to keep us moving forward.