Women's rights • Table.Briefings

April 7th, 2026

Thelma Ekiyor – “Poverty robs women of their agency”

For 27 years, Thelma Ekiyor has advocated for women’s rights in regions affected by war and crisis. She now serves as International CEO of the NGO Women for Women International.

By Lena Jüngel

Opinion | BMZ

March 6th, 2026

An incomplete reform: Girls’ rights are sidelined in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) strategy

Girls’ rights have become a blind spot in the current Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) reform, warns Petra Berner, head of Plan International Germany. In her view, it is essential to keep girls at the center of development policy.

By Petra Berner

EU-Kommissarinnen Roxana Mînzatu und Hadja Lahbib bei der Vorstellung der neuen Strategie.

News

March 6th, 2026

International Women's Day: Commission presents plan for gender equality

In its new gender equality strategy for the next five years, the Commission focuses on forms of violence on the internet. It also addresses the controversial issue of a Europe-wide definition of rape.

By Marion Bergermann

News | Human rights

March 3rd, 2026

German Development Ministry: Criticism of the US “global gag rule”

Together with international partners, German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan has criticized the US government’s decision to slash financial support for gender equality organizations.

By Arne Schütte

Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Roberta Metsola Nov 2025

News | European Parliament

November 14th, 2025

Maternity rights: EU Parliament wants to give MEPs more visibility

During the time around the birth of their children, female parliamentarians should be given the right to continue to participate in the plenary session through a proxy. Parliament President Roberta Metsola emphasized that Europe needs more women in politics.

By Marion Bergermann

French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen and European Parliament Chairman Roberta Metsola (right) great with a mother and her baby, that was born on May 9th 2021 at the official start of the Conference on the Future of Europe, at the end of the closing ceremony of the conference in European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on May 9, 2022.

Feature | European Parliament

October 1st, 2025

Parental leave for MEPs: Why implementing Metsola's plans will take time

The President of the EU Parliament wants to strengthen the rights of MEPs who are expectant parents. However, several agreements are still needed before proxy voting for MEPs can happen.

By Marion Bergermann