Regional Platform on Women Empowerment
12 May 2026, Online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) will convene an online meeting of its Regional Platform on Women Empowerment, bringing together key stakeholders from across the Euro-Mediterranean region to advance gender equality policies and cooperation.
As recalled by the recently Agreed conclusions of the CWS70, all countries are called to put in place inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers to ensure meaningful participation of women and girls in society, women’s economic empowerment, and ending violence against women and girls .
This call is fully aligned with the priorities of the 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society, adopted in 2022 in Madrid. The UfM Regional Platform on Women Empowerment serves as a cornerstone for structured policy dialogue, supporting the Roadmap for its Implementation
This upcoming session will play a key preparatory role ahead of the next in-person Regional Platform meeting planned for October 2026 (TBC). Discussions will help define priorities, including the presentation of an updated UfM gender data report – following the first Regional Progress Report on Gender Equality in the Euro-Mediterranean region, published in 2022 – and reflections on a potential new Ministerial Declaration in 2027.
A “setting the scene” session will provide an overview of the current state of gender equality in the region, with contributions from regional and international expert organizations. Discussions will then focus on progress in implementing the 2022 Ministerial Declaration, including updates on the Roadmap, country-level experiences, and an open exchange among participants. The final session will look ahead to October 2026, with a presentation of the forthcoming Gender Equality Monitoring Mechanism Report and initial discussions on the agenda of the next Regional Platform meeting.
Key Objectives of the Meeting
Participants will work together to:
- Advance the implementation of the 5th Ministerial Declaration’s Roadmap, ensuring commitments are translated into concrete actions.
- Exchange national updates and share good practices among UfM National Focal Points on Gender Equality and regional stakeholders.
- Review findings from the 2021 monitoring exercise, feeding into the second UfM Gender Equality Monitoring Mechanism Report.
- Prepare the agenda and key themes for the upcoming in-person Regional Platform meeting in October 2026.
By fostering dialogue, knowledge sharing, and coordinated action, the UfM Regional Platform on Women Empowerment continues to play an essential role in promoting gender equality and strengthening the role of women in society across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
