PES Women

Join us this Sunday in Brussels for the March for Women’s Rights! ✊
📍 Meeting point: Place de l’Albertine 5, in front of „By Lefty” at 2 pm 🕑💜

PES Women will be hosting an event with the Progressive alliance as part of #CSW70 in NY - focusing on why legal protections are not enough and how to turn rights on paper into rights in practice.
📲 Scan the QR code for event info & registration - and share!

Congratulations to my fellow colleague Petra Bayr on her election as President of #PACE. Together with former President Liliane Maury Pasquier, I wish her every success. A challenging role for the right woman at the right time.

At the Munich Security Conference side event with Women Political Leaders I made one thing clear: women’s leadership in security is a necessity. Real security is built through inclusion, and cooperation.That’s how societies become stronger and more resilient.✊🌍 #MSC #WomenInSec

Too many girls still grow up without seeing themselves represented in science, technology, or innovation.
Talent is everywhere - opportunity is not.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we reaffirm our commitment to equality and inclusion in STEM.

The prolonged prosecution of our President, Zita Gurmai, Hungarian MP, and other opposition members is a clear attempt to intimidate the opposition in Hungary ahead of elections. We are deeply concerned and stand firmly by her and all those concerned.

Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation, yet 4M girls are subjected to it each year.
Without sustained investment, millions of girls risk losing protection.
#EndFGM #ZeroToleranceFGM #Invest2EndFGM

Women in Iran are at the forefront of resistance, risking everything for freedom and dignity.
We stand in full solidarity with them and with all those bravely protesting repression in Iran.
#WomenLifeFreedom #Iranprotests #IranRevolution2026

Amid rising backlash, PES Women reaffirmed that women’s rights are human rights at our Executive Meeting 🇪🇺✊. We discussed key political developments, growing backlash against gender equality, and our 2026 working priorities.
🔗 Check the details: shorturl.at/tjlr5

PES Gender Equality ministers met yesterday under the Danish Presidency to address the growing and worrying backlash on women’s rights, fight gender-based violence, and involve men & boys in advancing equality. ✊

🎉 The Annual Autumn Academy is back! #FEPSAAA
bit.ly/FEPSAAA2025

The 6th FEPS AAA kicked off with the panel “Never for granted! #Europe then now & tomorrow”

👉 @linagalvez.eu
👉 Zita Gurmai @pes-women.bsky.social
👉Tomáš Petříček
👉Irja Vaateri @yesocialists.bsky.social
👉@aniaskrzypek.bsky.social

Today is the International day for the elimination of violence against women.
In 2025, consent education is still missing across Europe - and harmful stereotypes are still shaping justice.
S&D pushes for an EU-wide, consent-based definition of rape to change this.
#NoYesNoExcuse

The EU can’t ignore this any longer:
– unequal laws
– low convictions
– impunity
– victim-blaming
The draft report led by @joannasw.bsky.social & Evin Incir in the European Parliament sends a clear message to the Commission and Member States: the EU needs a consent-based definition of rape.

Today, together with @psbelgique.bsky.social, @pes.eu and PES CoR, we marched in Brussels to demand an end to gender-based violence. Equality begins with safety for all women. 💪 #SafePlace4Women #WomenLifeFreedom #25November

Rape laws still vary across Europe. In many countries, rape is not defined on the basis of consent - leaving survivors without justice.

With the leadership of @joannasw.bsky.social
& Evin Incir, the S&D
fights in the European Parliament for an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape.

This is a woman’s euro. The gender pay gap is real, with women in the EU earning on average 12% less per hour than men. The pension gap is even wider.
Equal work should mean equal pay.
#equalpaycampaign #EUEqualPayDay

Fred Matić’s legacy shall live on.

We are honoured to name one of our S&D traineeship funds after him 🇪🇺🇭🇷

Today, on #SafeAbortionDay, with @pes.eu we reaffirm: safe abortion is life-saving healthcare and a human right.
We call for EU-wide access to SRHR, safe & legal abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and a Women’s Health Strategy.
It’s simple: My body, my rights. ✊

🚨 We are delighted to announce two more speakers to join our 🇬🇧🇪🇺 event at #LAB25 on Sunday:

Calvin Bailey, MP for Leyton & Wanstead; member of the Defence Committee

Zita Gurmai, Deputy Leader of the Socialist Party in the Hungarian National Assembly; President of
@pes-women.bsky.social

🌍 How is your country performing on access to abortion?

The #Abortion Atlas reveals where progress is being made—and where barriers remain.

👉 Explore the Atlas: www.epfweb.org/node/1156

Equal work deserves equal pay, regardless of gender.

Yet, women earn on average 20% less than men for the same work.

⏰ End inequality. End the gender pay gap. #EqualPayDay

@zitagurmai.bsky.social
spoke on EU political developments affecting women’s rights, regretting their absence in the recent #SOTEU, the annual address by #UVDL. She also looked ahead to the PES Congress, incl. our annual conference, elections, & female leaders meeting (2/2)

Today, PES Women Executive discussed with Mary Collins, Secretary General at the European Women’s Lobby & Laeticia Thissen, Gender Equality senior Analyst at @feps-europe.eu, who shared their priorities for the post-2025 EU Gender Equality Strategy. (1/2)

Today we remember Anna Lindh, former Swedish Foreign Minister, who was murdered on this day in 2003. She stood for a principled foreign policy rooted in human rights and championed a united European voice. Her legacy will endure.

On this #WorldSexualHealthDay, we reaffirm that sexual justice is key to bodily autonomy, gender equality & well-being. It means rights, reproductive choice, access to info, affirming LGBTQ+ rights. #WSHD2025 #SexualJustice #SRHR

“Women want equal pay, safety, work-life balance & real representation. Parties must reflect these values through women’s leadership & by putting gender equality at the core of daily politics.” - Elke Ferner, PES Women Vice-President. #KorčulaSchool2025 (4/4)

“Our politics must deliver on promises & tackle inequalities people face every day,  from healthcare to housing. We need stronger community action & to listen to young people.” - Jackie Jones, PES Women Executive member  #KorčulaSchool2025 (3/4)

PES Women President
Zita Gurmai moderated the opening panel on mapping the #GenderBacklash at #KorčulaSchool, addressing anti-gender movements, populism’s cultural power & how progressives can respond more effectively. (2/4)

As every year, PES Women joined the #KorčulaSchool, a key SEE forum on progressive & social democratic policies for #GenderEquality. This year’s focus: resisting the gender backlash & advancing women’s rights in times of democratic backsliding. (1/4)

Yesterday, the PES Women President attended the PES Presidency & Pre-Council meetings with PES leaders. One thing is confirmed: the next Congress, including our Annual Conference, will take place on 16–18 October in Amsterdam -to stand up against the backlash on women’s rights👊