EXPRESS<sp>2</sp> at the EU-VALUES Conference

Sabancı University (SU) and the Istanbul Policy Center hosted the EU-VALUES conference “The European Union's External Action: EU-Values in Policy Making”, which took place from 30 June to 2 July 2025. The conference centred on the EU’s role as a global advocate for human rights and how this commitment is embedded within its external action policies as part of EU values.

On the second day of the conference, Zeynep Gülru Göker and Oya Yeğen, delivered a presentation entitled “Gender Equality and the European Social Contract: Challenges, Divergences and Prospects”. Based on document and policy analysis conducted under Work Package 6 (Gender Inequality), their presentation investigated the legal achievements and practical gaps with respect to gender equality and non-discrimination as core EU values, at both the EU and Member State levels, as well as in Turkey. 

Described by its promoters as an opportunity to “address critical questions and challenges in the EU’s promotion and protection of human rights beyond its borders”, the conference aimed to facilitate rigorous academic dialogue, critical debate, and knowledge exchange on the role of the EU as a global human rights actor. It was organised to foster rigorous academic dialogue, critical debate and knowledge exchange on the EU's role as a global human rights actor.