Empowering Change: Unlocking Transformative Gender Impact in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe

The high-level event is jointly organized by the EU accession countries, EU Member States and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), and UN Women.

📅 11 March 2025

⏰ 11:00 - 13:00 NY, USA / 17:00 - 19:00 CET

In the context of rising challenges to gender equality and backsliding, this event will examine how gender mainstreaming and GEWE policies within the EU enlargement process could support transformative change in the region.

The event will review the contribution of the EU enlargement process to implementing the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) across all 12 critical areas of concern, assessing progress and successes. It will also explore opportunities for fostering commitments to achieve greater impact, particularly by building stronger coalitions between EU institutions, the international gender equality community, and candidate countries. The focus will be on increasing funding for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) within the EU accession process, strengthening women’s participation and addressing gender backsliding to boost the adoption and implementation of GEWE policies, human rights and anti-discrimination laws in line with the EU Acquis and the OSCE commitments.

The event will focus on the following key themes: 

• Gender mainstreaming: Exploring the procedures and resources in place to leverage EU accession and maximize its impact on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPFA), while showcasing good practices between the EU and UN and effective strategies in achieving gender equality. 
• Women’s movement and countering gender backsliding: Underlining the importance of transnational, regional and national networks, the participation of women’s CSOs and strengthening their role within the EU enlargement process. These are pivotal for effectively countering gender backsliding and addressing the challenges posed by anti-gender equality narratives and disinformation, leveraging the enlargement process to build stronger, broader coalitions for gender equality. 
• Celebrate progress and identify opportunities: Acknowledge the achievements of the EU and candidate countries in promoting gender equality while exploring ways to further strengthen these efforts and their impact. 

Event Objectives:

• Increase the visibility and framing of EU integration as a powerful process for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPFA).
• Provide a forum for exchange between EU Member States, accession countries, women's groups, civil society organizations and international organizations to discuss success factors, lessons learned and opportunities for advancing gender equality.
• Present emerging challenges and good practices in preventing, addressing and reversing gender backsliding. 

Anticipated Outcomes: The event aims to share insights, showcase best practices, and outline a trajectory for stronger cooperation between EU member states, accession countries, women's CSOs, and international partners, while supporting countries in the EU integration process.

Find the concept note and agenda of the event here. Register here for in person and online participation.