Defending democracy, empowering women (5)

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), in collaboration with the Táncsics Mihály Foundation, launched a dedicated initiative to strengthen women’s political participation and counter exclusionary trends, with the overarching goal of building a gender-transformative and more resilient democracy. Since March 2025, the series has travelled across Hungary—from Budapest to Szeged, Kóny, and Nyírbátor—bringing people, especially also in rural areas, together to reflect on equality, care, and democratic renewal.

The journey concluded in Kazincbarcika, where the closing conference focused on defending democracy, protecting workers’ rights, and amplifying the role of women in Europe, with special attention to Hungary’s challenges and opportunities. The discussions highlighted how women’s contributions—whether in paid work or unpaid care—are indispensable to both the economy and society, in line with the EU’s commitments under the Gender Equality Strategy and the European Care Strategy.

The programme opened with an exploration of how democracy and social rights are under increasing pressure across Europe, and how protecting workers’ rights and advancing gender equality can reinforce one another in the fight against inequality, exploitation, and regressive forces. Building on this, the second discussion turned to the ways women’s leadership and participation strengthen democratic resilience, examining how unpaid care, labour rights, and equal representation intersect with European policy priorities and what this means for Hungary and the EU as a whole.

More than a conference, this event was the culmination of a broader effort to foster long-term societal and institutional change—by promoting inclusion, amplifying women’s voices, and defending democratic values. It was a call to action for a more equal, caring, and democratic European future.

For more information regarding the project and this event, please do not hesitate to contact Laeticia Thissen, Senior FEPS Policy Analyst on Gender Equality (laeticia.thissen@feps-europe.eu) or Julia Wild, FEPS Project Officer (julia.wild@feps-europe.eu).