report on The European Womens Lobby (2026)
The European Women's Lobby (EWL) brings together members from across the continent, united by a shared vision: a Feminist Europe where every woman and girl enjoys equal rights and full participation at every level of society. Notably, despite Brexit, EWL members voted for the UK to remain part of the organisation — a strong signal of solidarity that transcends political boundaries.
The EWL maintains close links with the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, the body responsible for overseeing the Istanbul Convention (a treaty the UK remains party to). On the UK side, NAWO represents England on the UK Joint Committee of Women (UKJCW), which also includes representatives from the four devolved nations. These representatives, in turn, feed into EWL meetings, ensuring the UK's voice remains part of the European conversation.
The network's reach extends globally too, with links to UN Women and representation at key events like the annual Commission on the Status of Women. This gives members across Europe a valuable opportunity: the chance to compare notes, share strategies, and learn from one another's progress in tackling the structural roots of gender inequality — from economic justice to ending violence against women, to achieving true parity in political and public life.
A Worrying Backdrop
This work feels more urgent than ever. Across Europe, women's rights are increasingly being treated as negotiable or secondary, rather than as a cornerstone of democratic society. At the same time, violence and abuse against women and girls — including cyber abuse — is on the rise, a troubling trend mirrored here in the UK.
Looking Ahead: The 2027–31 Strategic Framework
At the General Assembly this June, EWL members approved a new Strategic Framework to guide the organisation's work over the next three years. Here's a summary of the seven priorities:
1. Ending male violence against women and girls
Pushing for full transposition of EU directives, a consent-based definition of rape across all Member States, and fair compensation and justice for victims.
2. Building gender parity
Advocating for gender quotas in politics, and for EU budgets, policies, and funding priorities to be shaped equally by women — with monitoring and public reporting to ensure accountability.
3. Advancing feminist economics
Breaking the cycle of feminised poverty by closing the pay and pensions gap through legislation, securing social protection and adequate pensions for women in precarious, part-time, and care-related work, and strengthening national care programmes.
4. Protecting women's health and reproductive rights
Ensuring healthcare is consent-based and comprehensive across every life stage, alongside accessible contraception services and quality sexual and reproductive education.
5. Making digital spaces safe for women
Tackling online violence, harassment, and exploitation — including pornography, targeted cyberviolence, stalking, and sexualised abuse — through stronger reporting and enforcement, while also addressing algorithmic bias and AI-driven discrimination so technology doesn't entrench gender inequality.
6. Putting women at the heart of peace and security
Championing 50% representation of women in peace negotiations, backed by binding targets for participation in EU-supported peace processes and peacekeeping — in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the wider Women, Peace and Security agenda — plus public scorecards to track progress.
7. Strengthening multilateralism
Continuing to engage at the international level, particularly with the UN and UN Women, to keep women's rights high on the global agenda and push back against the growing backlash against them.
Alongside this external-facing work, the EWL also committed to improving its own internal workings — strengthening communication and governance to better support the mission ahead.
The document is available of EWL website at Strategic Framework 2027 – 2031
