Impressions from Day 1 of the Gender Equality Conference in Lucerne

Day 1 opened in Lucerne with a shared sense of responsibility and resolve. Participants arrived with the understanding that feminist leadership is not simply about presence, but about the power to reshape political agendas and institutions. The opening session reaffirmed that equality must be actively defended, and that democracy can only be renewed when freedom, representation, and solidarity are upheld together.

The first panel examined how feminist leadership responds to uncertainty, democratic erosion, and the rise of anti-rights movements. Across regions, participants emphasized the need for safety, resources, and agency so that women can not only take part in institutions, but transform them. The discussion connected past mobilizations to present struggles for care justice, decent work, and genuine political participation.

In the evening, the gathering at Lucerne’s city hall created space for fellowship, reflection, and exchange. Conversations centered on sustaining hope and organization in contexts marked by backlash and polarization. The day closed with a strengthened conviction: feminist leadership grows through shared learning, international solidarity, and the continued work of building alliances that hold.