National and European parliamentarians are set to meet on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to discuss the challenges facing women’s rights and democracy in the digital age. The meeting will focus on issues such as stereotypes, disinformation, and online gender-based violence.
The event will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels and will also be available via streaming. It is organized by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM), chaired by Lina Gálvez. The theme for this year’s interparliamentary meeting is “Women’s rights and democracy: combating stereotypes, disinformation and violence in the digital age.”
Lina Gálvez will open the event, followed by a video message from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. Opening remarks will be delivered by Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, and Florence Raes, Director of the UN Women Brussels Liaison Office.
The debate will include input from journalists, policymakers, and specialists in digital safety. A Q&A session with members of national parliaments and of the European Parliament is scheduled.
Guest speakers include Natalia Waloch (journalist at Gazeta Wyborcza and Wysokie Obcasy), Ana Natsvlishvili (member of the 10th convocation of the Parliament of Georgia), Dr. Silvia Semenzin (Adjunct Professor at the Open University of Catalonia), Julie Guichard (Digital Safety and Government Affairs Manager at Microsoft), and Carlien Scheele (Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality).
Josie Christodoulou, Commissioner for Gender Equality of the Cyprus Presidency, will provide concluding remarks.
A seminar specifically for journalists on digital violence against women is also scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Journalists interested in attending or participating remotely are encouraged to contact [email protected].
According to recent developments, a new EU gender equality strategy is expected to be adopted by the European Commission this week. The European Parliament contributed its input through a resolution passed in November 2025.
Further details about the programme are available online. The event can also be followed via streaming.
