Why a gender dimension needs integrating from the very start for the European Commission's new initiative
To respond to mounting challenges, including destructive disinformation, public distrust and democratic disengagement, the European Commission is working on a new initiative to safeguard our values and protect our future: the European Democracy Shield.
It aims to make our democracies better prepared and more strategically responsive to increasing pressures with the goal of becoming more resilient.
“As the only EU agency dedicated to gender equality, we have recently contributed to this important work, providing our expert insights and evidence to help shape the European Democracy Shield in a recent call for evidence,” says EIGE Director Carlien Scheele.
What is the European Democracy Shield?
The European Democracy Shield is an initiative by the European Commission to protect democracy across the EU. It focuses on four key areas:
- Tackling disinformation and foreign interference;
- Safeguarding the fairness and transparency of elections;
- Building a more resilient and informed society;
- Encouraging citizens to take an active role in democratic life.
To ensure that these areas are addressed in an inclusive way, it is essential to strengthen the links between each of these areas and gender equality.
Gendered disinformation: much more than misinformation
Disinformation campaigns don’t affect everyone in the same way. In fact, many deliberately target women, especially those who are visible in public life. Women politicians, journalists, and activists often face online gender-based hate speech, harassment and smear campaigns that aim to silence their voices and push them out of the conversation, and by extension, important democratic processes.
“When half the population is made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in public and political spaces, democracy suffers. We are calling for a stronger enforcement of digital legislation, more accountability from online platforms, and better protection for women in public roles,” adds Carlien.
Why equal political representation really matters
Democracy gives way to fairer societies, but the decision-making power is still not fairly shared.
Women remain underrepresented in political decision-making across the EU, from national parliaments to the European Parliament. In the 2024 EU elections, the share of women MEPs actually declined for the first time as our research shows.
“It has sounded an alarm which we can’t afford to ignore.
When women are missing from leadership positions, policies end up not reflecting the full spectrum of everyone’s needs,” says Carlien.
That’s why we support gender quotas for political candidates, better funding for women’s election campaigns, and stronger efforts to make politics more accessible for those with caregiving responsibilities – which is still mostly an issue faced by women.
Building resilience with a push for gender equality
Democratic resilience isn’t just about institutions - it’s fundamentally about people who are empowered and safe enough to actively participate in shaping our societies.
Gender equality plays a critical role in this. When everyone has an equal opportunity to engage in public life – from voting to standing for election and contributing to developing policies for change, then our democracies become stronger.
But across Europe, gender-based violence remains one of the main barriers to participation. Nearly one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.
This kind of violence, both online and offline, prevents women from fully taking part in public life. EIGE is urging the EU to strengthen laws against cyber violence, invest in prevention, and ensure that all democratic spaces, whether it’s in parliaments or social media, are safe and inclusive.
Educating and engaging the next generation
We also need to look ahead.
Research shows growing divisions in how young people – especially young men – view gender equality. Misogynistic ideas, sexist remarks and victim-blaming attitudes are on the rise, rolling back much of the hard-fought progress.
That’s why we are calling for stronger media literacy, public awareness campaigns, and education that promotes respectful relationships and civic engagement. If we want young people to participate in democracy, we must equip them with the tools to do so responsibly.
Promoting gender equality = protecting democracy
Our evidence consistently proves that a gender-equal society is a stronger, fairer, and more democratic one. Our institutions, policies and laws must reflect that.
“The European Democracy Shield can be a bold step in ensuring gender equality has a natural place in the solutions to overcoming threats to our democracies. And we stand by the EU and its Member States to deliver evidence and insights on why gender equality should remain at the forefront of this initiative,” adds Carlien.