Across Europe, women continue to face persistent inequalities: a 13% gender pay gap for equal work and a staggering 26% pension gap. On International Women’s Day 2026, liberals refused to accept the status quo.
Liberals took to the streets in Brussels and across Europe to champion women’s rights. Protesters stood in solidarity with women living in conflict zones, including Ukraine, Iran and Gaza, sending a powerful message that women’s rights are human rights.
Inequality is visible across parliaments in Europe, as women held only 33.6% of seats in national parliaments in 2025. This comes after June 2024’s European Parliament elections saw the first decline in women MEPs elected since 1979.
This reminds us that progress is never guaranteed and must be actively defended.
Investing in gender equality is not optional. From pay transparency laws and closing legal loopholes to combatting online gender-based violence, liberal policies seek to ensure that all women can thrive equally in society.
With a rising tide of intolerance and hostility spreading across Europe targeting women’s rights, liberals are committed to confronting the hatred head-on. We must continue to fight for social change and equality for all women.
Read our liberal reactions below to hear their views on Women’s Day 2026, marked annually on 8 March!