Europe is entering a period of profound transition. As global dynamics shift, the principles that have long anchored our Union — peace, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, equality, social cohesion, and climate justice — demand renewed commitment and shared stewardship.
This is a moment that calls not for hesitation, but for collective leadership. We, the women of Europe, reaffirm our dedication to these principles and to the core values of the European project. Europe’s stability, welfare, and democratic resilience depend on the active participation of all citizens — and women constitute half of that citizenry. Our engagement is not symbolic; it is essential for Europe’s strategic future and to ensure that democracy delivers equality in practice.
We uphold Europe’s foundational values as enshrined in the EU and international human rights instruments, and we insist that they be protected, strengthened, and translated into policy.
At a time of organised backlash against gender equality and democratic values, we recognise that women’s rights are under pressure in many parts of the world. We reaffirm our strong support for the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core — including UN Women and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) — and call for sustained political and financial commitment to their essential work.
We call for inclusive and effective governance, including legally binding measures to achieve gender parity at all levels of decision-making. Women remain underrepresented across political, security, and economic spheres — a gap that weakens our democracies and limits our collective capacity to respond to emerging challenges.
We envision a peaceful and resilient Europe that rejects the normalisation of coercion and conflict, invests in prevention, and leads by example in diplomacy and democratic resilience.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by armed conflicts, including through sexual and gender-based violence, yet they remain underrepresented in the arenas where peace and security are negotiated. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved without their full and equal participation.
Civil society — and especially women’s organisations — plays an indispensable role in strengthening democracy. We call for structured, meaningful engagement between EU institutions, national governments, and civil society actors, including at local and regional levels where democratic trust is built and where women’s leadership often first emerges.
Europe’s future will be shaped by the choices we make today. We are committed to advancing a Europe where dignity, equality, and accountability are realised in practice, and where the social model and natural environment are safeguarded for future generations. This requires policies grounded in an intersectional approach, addressing the multiple and intersecting inequalities women face throughout their lives — including in health, care responsibilities, education, employment, and access to justice — so that no stage of life becomes a source of exclusion or structural disadvantage.
We stand ready to contribute by promoting gender justice as a core element of the rule of law, advocating for gender parity in governance, strengthening women’s roles in diplomacy and peacebuilding, and securing a bold legal and financial framework that places women’s rights at the centre.
We, the Women of Europe, stand united — not in opposition, but in collaboration — to strengthen the European project, uphold its values, and shape a future worthy of its promise.
