From December 9-12, members of parliament and staff from Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, BiH, Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Germany, and the U.S. gathered in Brussels for a seminar titled "Empowering Parliamentarians to Champion the WPS Agenda." Hosted by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and the House Democracy Partnership, the event focused on democratic backsliding and outdated policies threatening peace, security, and gender equality.

"Including Women, Peace, and Security in NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept was a huge step forward. Parliamentarians have a unique and vital role in advancing the WPS agenda. Through legislation, advocacy, and oversight, they can ensure WPS principles are integrated into national and international policies, while promoting accountability for implementation," said Irene Fellin, NATO’s Special Representative for Women, Peace, and Security.

The seminar emphasized that empowering women is essential for stability, governance, and countering authoritarian threats. Participants proposed actionable ideas such as creating cross-party WPS groups and integrating WPS principles into all legislation. Ukraine stressed the importance of gender-sensitive military equipment, like combat uniforms designed for women, and early education to normalize gender equality.

Marshall Center Director Barre Seguin reinforced the importance of leadership, saying, "WPS isn’t just a ‘nice to have’—it’s a leadership necessity in today’s strategic environment. Parliamentarians can lead the charge against regressive trends, building inclusion and resilience to protect peace and democracy."

Eliza Hoxha, a Member of Parliament from Kosovo, shared her country’s progress and challenges, including the creation of a women’s caucus in 2005, inspired by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. While Kosovo has been at the forefront of advancing the WPS agenda, gaps remain, particularly in supporting victims of sexual violence, who often lack adequate services due to stigma and limited resources. 

“Kosovo is very well positioned legislatively to address domestic violence, gender-based violence, and that of survivors of sexual violence post-conflict. However, some implementation tools are still lacking. We are working on an amendment on lifting time limits as to when these victims can apply to receive support. The two female presidents of Kosovo have played key roles in these efforts through executive decisions and also by supporting the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Kosovo. These initiatives have made Kosovo a leader in the region on this issue,” said Hoxha.

Kathleen McInnis, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies discussed the strategic importance of WPS in countering adversaries like China and Russia, who exploit societal divisions. "Women are not passive actors," she said, and WPS is a toolkit that offers many solutions we often do not think about. Creating opportunities for women in defense and security enhances strategic and operational advantages.

Participants focused on disinformation as well and on its unique impact on women, particularly in politics. They examined ways to counter harmful narratives while protecting free speech, citing Taiwan’s innovative model for combating disinformation. The importance of digital literacy, trusted narratives, and building trust through real-world interactions was a recurring theme.

Among the topics addressed were broader societal challenges like family-friendly policies, demographic pressures, and education, which are seen as critical areas for change. Policies promoting critical thinking, digital literacy, and media education emerged as essential for fostering a resilient and informed society.

A significant part of the seminar took place at the European Parliament, where participants had the opportunity to discuss women’s empowerment and the EU enlargement process. Moderated by Sandra Oudkirk, Associate Director of the Marshall Center, and Monika Wohlfeld, faculty member at the Marshall Center’s Department of Strategic Security Studies, the panelists focused on the European Parliament’s role in promoting women’s participation in politics and addressing systemic challenges, such as a lack of family-friendly workplace policies, insufficient childcare, and gender-based violence. Panelists Hannah Neumann, member of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Marta Temido, Vice-President of the Human Rights Subcommittee, emphasized coalition-building and strategic communication to combat societal pushback against gender equality.

Further discussions focused on the EU’s role in supporting candidate countries through political and economic reforms. Panelists addressed relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, discussing how parliamentary diplomacy and democracy-building can support governance reforms in these regions.

The seminar concluded with a call to action where participants emphasized the importance of parliamentary oversight, storytelling, and collaboration to advance the WPS agenda in governance and legislation. The key takeaways were summed up in building trust, championing inclusive policies, and positioning gender equality as a cornerstone of peace and security.