Prof. Esther Barbé discusses the evolution of gender equality within the European Union (EU) and its broader international context. Gender equality is recognised as a fundamental principle under the UN’s human rights norms, particularly emphasised since the 1979 CEDAW convention, which aimed to eliminate discrimination against women. In the 1990s, gender began to be understood as a social construct with inherent power dynamics, moving beyond biological distinctions. The promotion of gender equality is seen as a driver for societal transformation. Within the EU, gender equality became a core value over time. Initially, the Treaty of Rome (1957) focused on equal pay, but in the 1970s and 1990s, the EU progressed toward positive action, integrating gender mainstreaming into internal and external policies. The EU's focus on gender equality has advanced policies on economic growth, labor market participation, and combating gender violence, with a Gender Strategy planned for 2025. However, gender equality faces significant challenges, including growing polarisation and the rise of anti-gender movements. These movements reject the idea of gender as a social construct and oppose the framing of gender equality as a human right. The EU’s Istanbul Convention on gender violence is under threat from these ideologies. In response, the video recommends that the EU adopt a strategic and realistic approach to defending existing norms and form alliances with like-minded countries and institutions like UN Women.