european leaders mark international women’s day with calls for equality and strength
European leaders emphasised strength, equality, and responsibility, calling for continued action against oppression and promoting women’s roles in society and military.
António Costa emphasised that investments in women and girls are crucial for global improvement, reinforcing the collective responsibility underscored during International Women’s Day discussions.
European leaders continue to advocate for women’s rights and equality in light of ongoing global conflicts and will monitor progress towards these goals throughout 2023.
Briefing summary
On International Women’s Day, European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Vlodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasised the importance of women’s empowerment and their role in society and military service.
Pedro Sánchez condemned gender-based violence and reiterated Spain’s commitment to advancing feminism, while Giorgia Meloni highlighted the ongoing responsibility to ensure women’s rights are upheld daily.
Notable figures, like António Costa and António Guterres, echoed that promoting equality not only benefits women but enhances global welfare, urging investment in women’s futures.
Read in Full
European leaders react to International Women’s Day
Strength, equality and responsibility. These were the three concepts that resonated between European leaders on the 8 March, also known as International Women’s Day.
As world conflicts try to steal the headlines, heads of state took to social media to celebrate this day, and remind us of the importance it holds.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, tribute to girls and women everywhere who continue to fight oppression, calling on them to find the power within themselves and never back down.
Another call to action was made by Ukrainian president Vlodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on women to defend their country and thanked them for the strength they bring to the battlefield and day to day life.
Although they still face obstacles, more than 70,000 women served in Ukraine’s military in 2025, a 20% increase compared with 2022, including over 5,500 deployed directly on the front line, according to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry.
Spain’s leader Pedro Sánchez posted a video saying his government will “not let hate substitute rights,” and that the feminism movement must keep moving forward despite the banalisation of gender-based violence and online harassment.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni took to the web to tell that the “8 March reminds us all of a responsibility that applies not just to one day, but every day: to continue building an Italy in which no woman has to choose between freedom, work, family, and personal fulfilment.”
Other high profile European figures, such as the president of the European Council, António costa, and the general-secretary of the UN, António Guterres, reminded the world that “equality benefits everyone” and that “investing in women and girls is one of the surest ways to make the world a better place.”