On the eve of International Women’s Day, the European Parliament became a space of solidarity and resistance as the Left Feminist Forum: Lives Free from Patriarchal Violence brought together Left MEPs, activists, and feminist advocates from across Europe.
The event served as a powerful platform to spotlight the urgent need to dismantle patriarchy and reaffirm the collective fight for gender equality. At a time when women’s rights are increasingly under threat, the Left sent a clear message: the struggle to end patriarchal violence must be at the heart of the political agenda.
“There is an attack on feminists. The Left stands in unwavering solidarity with all women fighting back.”
With voices from both institutional and grassroots movements, the gathering underscored that gender-based violence is not a private issue, but a systemic problem deeply rooted in unequal power structures. As the 8th of March approaches, the Left Feminist Forum called for transformative policies to end all forms of violence against women and LGBTQIA+ people, advocating for a Europe where everyone can live free from oppression and fear.
The Left would like to sincerely thank our speakers for sharing their valuable experiences and knowledge:
Victoria Rosell, former Government Delegate against Gender-Based Violence. Maria Viadero Acha, Social worker, sociologist and feminist researcher. Member of Mugarik Gabe. Françoise De Smedt, Leader of the PTB group in the Brussels Parliament. Kathleen Chada, after the murder of her 2 children by her husband, she has been a tireless advocate for families facing similar situations. María Naredo, feminist jurist expert in children’s rights. Nikoleta Bournova, Expert in prevention and protection of gender-based violence and support to victims. Cristina Fallaras, Spanish feminist writer and journalist. Luisa Rizzitelli, expert on protecting women in the world of sports, President of Assist. Estelle Ndjandjo, journalist, co-writer of the #metoo for racialized women study. Lana Cop, member of My Voice My Choice. Dr. Gef Jon Off, academic expert on anti feminist tendencies.
