On Friday, 6 June 2025 the EWL celebrated its 35th anniversary at the Hôtel de ville. The event started with an opening speech by Hadja Lahbib (Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality).
Among the first panel, the EWL was excited to welcome Zita Gurmai (President of PES Women), Katarzyna Szkuta (Equality Advisor at the EPSCO Polish Presidency team), Oliver Röpke (President of the European Economic and Social Committee) and Josie Christodoulou (Commissioner of Gender Equality of the Republic of Cyprus), before hearing a keynote speech by Barbara Helfferich (first Secretary General of EWL and President of Gender Five Plus).
For its intergenerational dialogues, EWL welcomed Frances Fitzgerald (EP Rapporteur, former MEP), Evin Incir (EP Rapporteur and MEP – Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats), Laura Albu (member of GREVIO), Pirkko Mahlamäki (European Disability Forum), Anna Zobnina (European Network of Migrant Women), Pauline Mukanza (Former EWL Executive Committee member), Marie-Anne Leunis (EWL Secretariat), Maria Ludovica Bottarelli (LEF Italia) and Colette De Troy (former Director, EWL Observatory on Violence against women).
Let’s not forget our two moderators: Viviane Teitelbaum (Vice-President of EWL) and Mary Collins (Secretary General of EWL)
The closing remarks were delivered by Iliana Balabanova, EWL President from 2023 to 2025.
On Saturday, 7 June 2025, the General Assembly started with videos from Nicole Romain (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights), Carlien Scheele (Director, European Institute for Gender Violence), Reem Alsalem (United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls) and Barbara Hendricks (operatic soprano, refugee advocate and feminist activist) who couldn’t attend our celebration but shared wonderful messages filled with encouragement, hope, and powerful wishes for our collective future.
On Sunday, 8 June 2025, among the Assembly’s most powerful moments was the approval of five Statements on the situation of women in Gaza, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. EWL condemns the appalling violations of women’s human rights in these countries, which remain invisible in the face of war, conflict, and systematic oppression; women are leaders of change and must be in the driving seat to rebuild peaceful societies. In addition, four motions were adopted relating to the backlash, the repression of protestors in Serbia, access to abortion rights and the condemnation of the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war.
Our members also had the important task of electing a new President, Executive Committee and Board of Administration, which will together lead the EWL in the following two years.
As we celebrate the outcomes of the General Assembly, we warmly thank all EWL members for their active engagement, steadfast dedication, and enduring commitment to advancing women’s rights.
Take a look at our album photo right here
