Created in response to the prevalence of 'manels' in policy debates and conferences in the EU capital, the Brussels Binder is now a trusted directory for conference organisers in search of women speakers. Their free database now lists 2000 women experts (and counting) across all sorts of policy areas. Although the initiative has already begun to shift habits in Brussels, the Brussels Binder - one of the winners of the 2019 Civil Society Prize for Gender Equality – tell us the job is far from done: the EU will not close its gender gaps if women remain underrepresented in policy debates. 

Could you tell us a little bit more about your story and purpose? How was Brussels Binder created and what prompted you to launch it?

Back in 2015, a small group of women working in Brussels think tanks began meeting informally to exchange ideas about the policy debates happening around us. In those conversations, we kept coming back to the same observation: women were still underrepresented on conference panels in Brussels.

That was clearly wrong in a city where experts from across Europe gather to inform and shape major policy discussions. Further research confirmed what we were seeing ─ panels were often overwhelmingly male.

So we created a practical solution: a database of women policy experts that event organisers, journalists and institutions could easily turn to. The database remains at the centre of our work, but today our activities are broader. We organise events, advocate for more diverse panels, monitor 'manels' and encourage panel organisers to make sure theirs has gender balance.

Your organisation was founded nine years ago in Brussels. How much has your database with female experts grown since? Do you feel you have made a difference with your initiative – are women experts invited to take part in EU policy debates more frequently thanks to your initiative? Do you have any figures on the current situation with regard to manels and the proportion of women speakers on panels?

Today, the Brussels Binder database includes an impressive 2000 women experts across a wide range of policy fields, and it continues to grow.

We believe we have made a difference. Panel organisers in Brussels are much more conscious today of the need to ensure their discussions are diverse. There is also a growing understanding that simply adding a female moderator is not the solution ─ something we have highlighted in our own campaigns.

We also run a reporting system where people can flag 'manels'. When that happens, we contact organisers in a constructive way, offering support and directing them to our database. We are increasingly seeing positive responses and commitments to do better.

For our tenth anniversary next year, we plan to analyse the available data more systematically and present a clearer picture of progress in panel diversity in Brussels.

The Commission has just unveiled its new Gender Equality Strategy. What are your views on the strategy?

It’s encouraging to see the Strategy highlight the importance of women’s participation in public and political life, and to recognise the role civil society can play in advancing gender equality.

At the same time, one pillar of a healthy democracy still needs stronger ambition: women’s fair representation in public debate and policymaking. Equality is not only about protection and opportunity; it is also about visibility and a seat at the tables where decisions are shaped.

The EU cannot close its gender gaps if women remain underrepresented in expert panels, media debates and key policy discussions. Continued efforts to ensure more balanced representation in public debate will be essential.

You have recently launched FORGE – Forum for Gender Equality in Europe. Could you tell us a few words about its set up and goals?

FORGE is a new coalition bringing together nine civil society organisations working on gender equality at European level. The Brussels Binder is a founding member, together with HerVoicEU and HerEU.

The idea is to create a stronger, collective civil society voice on gender equality in European policymaking. Each organisation brings its own expertise, networks and perspective, but we share the same goal: ensuring that women’s participation, leadership and visibility remain central to decision-making across Europe.

With the new EU Gender Equality Strategy for 2026–2030, FORGE aims to contribute policy expertise and practical recommendations to support its implementation and help turn commitments into real progress.

In 2019, you were one of the winners of the EESC Civil Society Prize for gender equality. What did the prize mean to you at the time?

Winning the European Economic and Social Committee Civil Society Prize in 2019 was a very meaningful recognition of our work. For a small, largely volunteer-driven initiative, it was encouraging to see the importance of women’s representation in public debate acknowledged at European level. We were, and remain, grateful to the EESC for recognising and shining a spotlight on our work.

The prize helped increase our visibility and also supported practical improvements to the project, including strengthening our database and expanding our outreach, training and community activities.

How can people support the work of the Brussels Binder?

First, use our database. If you are organising panels or events, it will help you find women experts.

Second, women experts can sign up to the database, making their expertise visible and helping ensure their voices are heard.

Third, organisations can become official partners of the Binder, where we work on initiatives together, or support us in other ways ─ for example by hosting events or inviting Brussels Binder speakers.

Finally, individuals ─ women and men ─ can join us as volunteer members and become part of our dynamic, committed community. We have a serious goal, but we promise fun along the way.

The Brussels Binder is the go-to resource for improving gender balance in policy debates. The Brussels Binder is a common good – a free database consisting of profiles of female experts based in Europe. It covers a multitude of sectors and it is constantly growing. It is a place where women experts connect and exchange.

To mark International Women’s Day 2026 (IWD2026), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) rolled out a programme of events and communications focusing on women’s roles in media, their experiences of harassment and invisibility, and the critical but often undervalued work they perform across Europe. The Committee’s activities underscored a common message: women’s safety, dignity and recognition are essential pillars of a fair and democratic society.

Through its IWD2026 programme, the EESC delivered a clear and consistent message: women’s contributions – whether in newsrooms, care roles or civic spaces - must be visible, valued and protected.

Strengthening women’s voices and safety in media

The EESC Equality Group hosted a high‑level conference entitled Challenges for Women in Media – supporting and hindering factors, examining the obstacles faced by women journalists and creators, especially those navigating online spaces.

In her opening remarks, Christa Schweng, President of the Equality Group, stressed the significance of the issue: 'Women in media continue to face structural barriers, targeted harassment, and persistent stereotypes… Gender equality in media is not only a matter of fairness: it is a matter of democracy, safety, and societal integrity.'

Speakers highlighted the persistence of gender stereotypes and the impact of online harassment, including technology‑facilitated gender‑based violence. They described how digital platforms, while offering visibility, have also become major sources of intimidation, threats and exploitation for women.

Participants also stressed that despite representing over 40% of journalists worldwide, women remain significantly underrepresented in senior editorial roles, weakening their influence on public narratives and newsroom culture

EESC Vice‑President for Communication Marija Hanževački drew attention to the need for robust implementation of EU legal instruments: 'Regulation is needed so that women’s safety and agency in offline and online media can be ensured.'

Experts called for full and effective use of the European Media Freedom Act, the Digital Services Act and the Directive on combating violence against women, emphasising the need for strong national transposition and civil‑society oversight.

Belarusian independent journalist in exile Hanna Liubakova illustrated the risks faced by women in exile and under authoritarian regimes, pointing to travel restrictions, limited access to basic rights, and the psychological toll of state repression..

"When the authorities put me on the terrorist watch list, some people from Belarus started to ask me what I had done. It's painful to see how the regime influences people's minds," Ms Liubakova said. She underscored the transnational nature of this repression, which makes it difficult for journalists to travel safely without risking arrest in countries cooperating with the Belarusian regime.

A short wrap-up video of the conference can be found here.

Invisible Work, Visible Impact: Recognising essential contributions

During Civil Society Week, the EESC also hosted a discussion on the largely unrecognised work performed by women in Europe – from care and domestic work to essential services carried out by both EU and migrant women. This event entitled Invisible Work, Visible Impac" placed a spotlight on how unpaid and informal work sustains households, communities and economies, yet frequently remains unprotected and undervalued.

Opening the panel, EESC President Séamus Boland highlighted the systemic neglect of women’s labour: 'The absence of respect and the absence of dignity afforded to women – often migrant women – whose work is taken for granted, ignored and undervalued in our societies.'

The three key themes dominated the debate:

Unpaid care work, performed predominantly by women, is indispensable to European societies but often results in financial insecurity, isolation and reduced career opportunities.

Migrant women frequently work in undervalued sectors such as domestic work and long‑term care. Many arrive with formal qualifications that remain unrecognised, limiting their employment opportunities despite acute labour shortages in essential services.

Long‑term care systems depend heavily on both unpaid carers and migrant workers, yet policy frameworks still overlook their needs and protections.

Panellists called for better recognition of qualifications, fair pay, stronger labour protections, gender‑responsive migration policies and long‑term investment in care as essential social infrastructure.

EESC delegation at UNCSW70

The EESC marked International Women’s Day 2026 not only in Brussels but also on the global stage, sending a delegation to the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW70) in New York. The delegation contributed to discussions on the year’s priority theme – ensuring access to justice for all women and girls – and highlighted the Committee’s work on equality, civil society participation and women’s rights. The EESC also adopted a resolution on UNCSW70 in the run-up to the event. 

To accompany the EESC’s presence at UNCSW70, EESC Vice‑President for Budget Alena Mastantuono recorded a dedicated video message underlining the importance of strong institutions, inclusive justice systems and continued international cooperation in advancing gender equality. (lm)