1/ Why CSOs call on EU Member States to support increased funding to the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme in the next #MFF

A thread :

2/ Equality between men and women is a founding value of the #EU. Yet, gender inequality and gender-based violence are still widespread within the EU. In recent years, an increasingly organised, visible and well-funded opposition to women’s rights and gender equality has risen

3/ This backlash, combined with an overall undermining of EU fundamental values, a shrinking civic space and lack of funding for civil society, are threatening the progress achieved towards gender equality and hindering the work done by women’s rights organisations and defenders

4/ The #MFF is the main instrument that funds #CSOs promoting EU Values in the EU, including #genderequality and combating GBV. @vonderleyen committed to prioritise #genderequality but such commitments would remain empty rhetoric if not properly resourced

5/ We call on the Governments of EU member states to support increased funding to the Rights & Values Programme, particularly for #CSOs, and sufficient and earmarked funding for gender equality and combating gender-based violence within this Programme.

6/ EU Member States SHOULD ensure :
an increase of the total amount allocated to the Programme to €1.834 billion, as requested by @Europarl_EN.
sufficient and earmarked funds for civil society organisations

7/ sufficient and earmarked budget for #genderequality and combating GBV within the respective strands. This should be done either through:
independent budget lines,
OR, through allocated percentages

8/ GBV is ABSOLUTELY an #EUissue
and thousands of organisations are working hard to ensure the EU is a place where everyone can equally thrive, free from coercion, violence and discrimination. Read and share our letter with your national Government here: https://bit.ly/2XIIKTp 

@ippfen, @EuropeanWomen, @InclusionEurope, @PICUM_post, @wwp_en, @ReproRights, @COFACE_EU, @BPW_Europe, @WAVE_europe, @social_platform, @VictimSupportEU