On 16 March, the Delegation of the European Union to China hosted the event “Her Vision, Our Future: Women Pioneering Change” in Beijing, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, academics, civil society representatives and members of the international community to reflect on women’s leadership in climate action and political decision-making.
Held in the context of International Women’s Day, the event gathered around one hundred participants and featured two thematic sessions exploring how women’s leadership is shaping responses to some of today’s most pressing global challenges — from the green transition to democratic governance.
Opening the event, Ambassador Jorge Toledo, Head of the European Union Delegation to China, emphasised that gender equality remains both a democratic imperative and a practical necessity for effective policymaking. “Gender equality is not a secondary issue,” he said. “It is a question of how societies organise power, participation and opportunity. When women are present where decisions are made, policies become more responsive, institutions gain legitimacy, and societies become stronger.” Ambassador Toledo also welcomed the strong Chinese presence among the participants, noting that it reflected growing interest in these questions within China itself. “Your presence here today tells us that this topic resonates,” he said. “It tells us that the conversation about women’s leadership — about participation, voice and opportunity — matters.”
The Head of the Beijing UN Women Office, Chuqiao Wang, also offered a plenary framing intervention.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) convened the WYDE Women’s Leadership Young Women’s Empowerment Academy in ECOWAS which brought together 25 young women aspiring or emerging political/community leaders, interested in standing for elective positions and elected young women officials pursuing political and leadership skills strengthening.
The Academy was convened within the framework of the European Union (EU)-funded Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) Women’s Leadership Initiative, implemented in partnership with UN Women, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), under the overall coordination and leadership of UN Women.
Over three days, participants expressed the enhancement of their understanding of democratic processes, gender norms and social norms intersectionality with young women’s participation and representation in politics, leadership and decision making at all levels, transformative leadership, violence against women manifests in political spaces, highlighting both the personal and structural dimensions of the problem, the critical role of digital media in shaping women’s leadership, visibility, and influence in politics, emphasizing that in today’s world, digital presence is inseparable from political presence and personal development. The Academy created a space where participants felt safe to reassess their political experiences and journeys in politics, countering stereotypes and practices and redefining their place and positioning in political and public life. As one participant expressed:
“The Academy has been a real space for awareness and progress. It allowed me to understand how my own social patterns influence my decisions and to identify concrete levers to evolve in my leadership.” - Amy Top, President of ASC Entente and Leader of the Cap sur l’Avenir Movement, Senegal.
A key outcome of the Academy was a shift in how participants understood gender social norms.
"Gender social norms are not just attitudes or traditions; they are powerful unwritten rules that shape opportunities, access and participation for women and men. Meaningful change requires shifting mindsets, engaging communities, and creating environments where women can exercise their rights.” - Rhoda Daniels Sanda, founder Guardian of Hope initiative, State Coordinator Researved Seat for Women Bill, Nigeria.
They recognized norms as transformable through personal agency: “As a young female leader, the Academy has helped me understand that social gender norms are much more than cultural habits: they are silent mechanisms that determine who has the right to exist, decide and influence. I realized that changing these norms does not start with speeches, but with example.” - Diaretou Mangane, National President of the Young Women's Wing, Liberal Democratic Reformers, Senegal.
Overall, participants moved from seeing gender norms as abstract societal rules to recognizing them as systemic societal prescriptions, actionable constructs they can challenge individually, collectively, and institutionally. By the end of the Academy, the most significant transformations were visible not only in what participants learned, but in how they saw themselves — as political actors, as norm-shapers, and as leaders capable of influencing institutions and communities.
Picture 1: This “leadership cloud” captured the strength and diversity of the group of participants, creating an immediate sense of community and grounding the Academy in a shared belief: leadership begins with identity and self-definition, not with a title.
The illustrative/evident indicator of transformation lies in the precision and ambition of participants’ final commitments. These commitments demonstrate how the Academy translated new awareness, confidence, and technical knowledge into concrete leadership trajectories at the individual, community, and political levels.
Individual Leadership Commitments: Many participants committed to deepening their personal leadership, strengthening their technical expertise, and increasing their visibility as a foundation for broader influence.
Building technical and strategic capacity: “At the end of this training, I intend to transform my commitment into an operational political force by radically strengthening my leadership. I will specialize in education-sector budget management, curriculum reform, and school law to become a recognised reference. My goal is clear: to build the credibility needed to join Parliament or the Department of Education so I can influence laws and funding for lasting change.” — Adjaratou Seydou, Coordinator of Mon Choix Ma Carrière, Country Head for Young Women of Africa, Togo.
Developing inclusive and reflective leadership styles: “This Academy helped me better understand how certain social norms influenced my expectations, my choices, and sometimes my ways of collaborating. I want to adopt a more conscious and intentional posture: asking more questions, listening before deciding, and making sure my practices do not unconsciously reproduce inequalities.” — Amy Top, President of ASC Entente and Leader of the Cap sur l’Avenir Movement, Senegal.
Personal growth and self-positioning: “Instead of being just a woman engaged in politics, I want to become a force that paves the way for others.” — Aysat Aguda, Woman Leader of the Social Democratic Party, Nigeria.
“After this Academy, I plan to make a major shift in my leadership journey: moving from intuitive engagement to a more structured, strategic, and impact-driven approach. I want to strengthen my presence in decision-making spaces, use my voice more effectively, and mobilize more women around civic action and transformative leadership.” — Aïssata Dieng, Community leader, Ivory Coast
Community-Level Commitments Participants increasingly viewed leadership as service and committed to extending the Academy’s impact through mentorship, advocacy, and community empowerment.
Mentorship and the multiplier effect: “I want to shift from individual leadership to multiplier leadership. Instead of being the only woman engaged in politics, I want to open the way for others. I will mentor, coach, and mobilize more young women around me to take part in public decision-making.” — Boye Baby, Member of Parliament, Senegal.
Advocacy, education, and youth empowerment “I will advocate for the monthly inclusion of senior high schools in sanitary pad distribution programmes and renovate a community school in my hometown.” — Mabel Obeng, Young Women of Africa Country Leader, Ghana.
“I want to strengthen my leadership to influence public policies in energy, infrastructure, and STEM education. I will create training hubs for young women, expand STEM clubs across West Africa, and build a network of mentors.” — Winner Fandoumi, National President, AIP-JEUNES, Togo.
Inclusive decision-making and participatory governance “I want to launch awareness campaigns and training to encourage women to take leadership positions within political parties and public institutions, challenging the idea that leadership is reserved for men.” — Gertrude Nadia Sena Dossa, Deputy Mayor, Benin.
“My goal is to create participatory mechanisms where the less privileged — especially women and girls — have a voice in decision-making. I will organize and guide communities to inspire collective action.” — Aisha Kabir, Peace builder and community development officer, Nigeria.
Political and Institutional Commitments Several participants left the Academy with renewed determination to enter or advance within formal political structures and influence policy directly.
Running for office and leadership positions “I will run for the secretary position of my political party at ward level.” — Nerat Yakubu Gyang, Welfare director faculty of social sciences students’ union, University of Jos, Nigeria.
“I will write an official letter to the party chairman to express my interest in serving on the executive committee of the women’s wing.” — Laura Targbeh Korvah, President - National Young Women Political Council of Liberia (NYWPCL). Regional Coordinator -Board of the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), Liberia.
“I will contest the National Students Union presidency in Ghana again — and this time win. There has never been a female president.” — Mabel Obeng, Young Women of Africa Country Leader, Ghana.
Transitioning from activism to political influence “I will advocate within my political party for more inclusive structures — including women’s reserved seats and gender-balanced committees — to ensure women are not only present but actively contributing.” — Rhoda Daniels Sanda, founder Guardian of Hope initiative, State Coordinator Researved Seat for Women Bill, Nigeria.
“Having had no previous political involvement, I have decided to join the youth league of a political party to gain a platform for concrete action.” — Monica Van Gabriella Boulanga-Moughola, Legal Officer and Youth Leadership Advocate, Gabon.
The Academy is already supporting these ambitions by enabling participants to build mutual accountability systems and peer networks. As Nerat Yakubu Gyang explained, “I have reached out to some co-participants from the Academy to become my accountability partners so I can implement my plan.” This spirit of solidarity and the concrete commitments above capture the Academy’s long-term impact. As Boye Baby, Parliamentarian from Senegal, reflected: “Eventually, they realise: ‘she is not going anywhere’ — and then they start to support you.”
Booth-level campaign by the DMK women’s wing at Ramachandra Nagar in Tiruchi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY
On a humid afternoon in Ramachandra Nagar in Tiruchi West constituency, a small group of women knock on doors carrying cloth bags filled with booklets — part campaign material, part household diary. But this is not a routine political visit.
When residents scan a QR code inside the booklet, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin appears on their phone screens through augmented reality, seemingly addressing them from their living room.
DMK women’s grassroots push blends politics with AR outreach
‘Vellum Tamil Pengal’ campaign deploys booth-level women cadres armed with booklets, QR codes and augmented reality to deepen voter connect — while opening new space for women in party politics.
In an election triggered by a Gen Z–led uprising in Bangladesh, a youth-driven party secured only six seats in the 300-member parliament, showing the challenge of turning street momentum into votes.
When it came to it, results showed on Friday that voters overwhelmingly chose the long-established Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which has already ruled the country three times, most recently from 2001-2006.
They largely stayed away from The National Citizen Party which emerged from the 2024 protests that toppled former premier Sheikh Hasina, but fared poorly as part of a rival coalition.
In recent years, young men and women in Generation Z have moved in opposite political directions, producing a gender gap unlike any other generation before. Young men have increasingly leaned towards the conservative, Republican party while women have moved towards the liberal, Democratic party. While gender gaps are a feature in every generation, none have been as stark as Gen Z.
Who is the main driver? Women. They are now the force pushing Gen Z towards the left politically and socially, and becoming increasingly more civically active compared to any other generation. There are divides not just about how they feel about political candidates, but cultural issues which could deeply affect America.
International Women’s Day 2026 | Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
This International Women’s Day, we’re inviting people across the Pacific to share, through poetry, spoken word, or song, what fairness, dignity, safety, freedom and opportunity for women and girls really looks like in their lives.
Submit one original creative piece and be part of a Pacific-wide call for voices, truth, and action for gender equality.
The Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) has cited violence as a leading factor discouraging young women from actively participating in politics.
Zimbabwe will hold general elections next year, and women participation is pivotal as they constitute 52% of the population.
In a recent report titled “Do middle class women defend democracy?” RAU noted that young women shied away from politics mainly because of violence, polarization, corruption and nepotism.
“The general consensus was that political participation is risky and violence is too frequently a part of the contest; and politics are strongly associated with corruption and nepotism,” read part of the report.
Other reasons given for poor participation of young women in politics were difficulties encountered in registering to vote.
“The young women want to participate but are failing to find spaces they are comfortable in to express themselves politically, and it is important for them to see that sitting out is also a political statement.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW, is an international legal instrument that requires countries to eliminate discrimination against women in all areas and promotes women’s equal rights. CEDAW is often described as the international bill of rights for women.
Engaging young people in politics is an important pillar to strengthening democracies. With an estimated 1.2 billion people aged from 15 to 24 worldwide, justice and democratic legitimacy demand more than a token youth presence in parliament. People between the ages of 20 and 44 represent 57 per cent of the world’s voting age population but only 26 per cent of the world’s MPs.
Nearly a third of single or lower houses of parliament and nearly 80 per cent of upper houses surveyed do not have a single Member of Parliament (MP) below the age of 30. Only four countries - Sweden, Ecuador, Finland and Norway – have 10 per cent or more MPs under 30. The overall figures for young MPs rise to 14.2 per cent for those under 40, and 26 per cent for those under 45. In all age groups, the figures fall far short of the corresponding numbers for their share of the population. People aged 20-44 make up 57 per cent of the world’s voters, according to UN figures.
