Strasbourg, 9 June 2026 - The Council of Europe will gather leading policymakers, experts, and members of civil society at the Palais de l’Europe for the Gender Equality Commission’s Annual Conference, “Women forging lasting peace: Dismantling barriers to gender-inclusive conflict resolution and peacebuilding,” held under the aegis of the Monegasque Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
The conference will explore concrete solutions to increase women’s meaningful participation in peace processes and to tackle the gender norms and gender-based violence that impede their engagement in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Participants will identify practical ways in which the Council of Europe can contribute to these solutions, moving from diagnosis of the problem to tangible action.
High-level opening addresses will be delivered by Alain Berset, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe; Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Monaco; and Sara Slana, Chair of the Council of Europe Gender Equality Commission (GEC). Pramila Patten, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will deliver a keynote address. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights will deliver his perspective on the role of women in peace processes. The conference will be moderated by Hajar Yagkoubi, former UN Youth Representative for the Netherlands, with Sandra Lengwiler, Vice-Chair of the GEC, as conference rapporteur.
Two thematic sessions will explore the barriers women face and the pathways to inclusive participation. The first will examine how gender norms and gender-based violence restrict women’s roles in peace efforts, featuring Marta Chumalo (Women’s Perspectives, Lviv), Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop (GREVIO), Sabine Freizer Gunes (UN Women Ukraine), and Lida Minaysan (Women’s Agenda Armenia). The second will focus on building social cohesion and enabling women’s leadership, with contributions from Victoria Sandino (Colombia peace process signatory), Mariana Katzarova (UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation), Johanna Poutanen (CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation), and Anastasiia Perepilitsia (IDP Council, Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration).
A reflective segment, “From diagnosis to action: What needs to change using Council of Europe entry points?” will feature interventions by Catherine Turner (Durham University), Kateryna Levchenko (Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, Ukraine; and GEC member), Katrina Lambert (Young Women Christians’ Association; Representative of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth), and Olena Shevchenko (Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community). Key takeaways, developed throughout the conference based on audience interaction, will be presented by the conference rapporteur, Sandra Lengwiler. Closing remarks will be delivered by Hallvard Gorseth, Council of Europe Director of Equal Rights and Dignity.
