Committee Members
Ada Chukwudozie – Nigeria
Bridget Bernal – Dominica
Cynthia Marcotte – Canada
Géraldine Antier Fabre – France
Isabelle Santenac – France
Juliana Loposso – Brazil
Lilian Uche – Nigeria
Margaux Duquesne – France
Selda Bagana – Turkey
Violence Against Women
Interview with Ms. Leticia Bonifaz, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Mediterranean Symposium
The 6th BPW Mediterranean Symposium took place in Valletta, Malta, in October 2025, hosted by BPW Malta under the High Patronage of H.E. the President of the Republic of Malta.
The event convened approximately 80 participants from 16 countries across the Mediterranean region and beyond. This year’s symposium theme, “Gender Equality in the Mediterranean Region: Policies, Practices, and Emerging Challenges”, guided three thematic panels addressing key issues affecting women’s lives and leadership.
Panel 1 – Legislation, Equality, and Gender-Based Violence examined legal frameworks and the role of legislation in promoting gender equality. Panelists discussed judicial reform, the use of AI in legal contexts, and challenges in addressing gender-based violence, including psychological and institutional abuse. A short documentary, Brave Enough, was screened during this session to highlight survivor perspectives.
Panel 2 – Environment, Agriculture, and Sustainability focused on women’s contributions to environmental resilience, regenerative agriculture, and food security. Panelists shared examples from Italy, Malta, and Bahrain, illustrating how women lead change in sustainable development, water management, and community-level food systems.
Panel 3 – Leadership, Health, and Empowerment addressed mental health, women’s healthcare access, and personal empowerment through leadership development. The panel highlighted the importance of mentoring, coaching, and cultural change in enabling women to advance in professional and public life.
In addition, BPW Malta organized an artistic and cultural programme celebrating female creativity, a networking dinner at the historic Palazzo Parisio, and a visit to the award-winning Phoenicia Hotel featuring a sustainability tour.
Citizenship Meeting
In December 2024, BPW International’s Standing Committee on Public Relations participated in the annual Citizenship Meeting held at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.
This event brings together representatives of international NGOs with participatory status at the Council of Europe. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss current challenges related to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law — key pillars of the Council of Europe’s mission.
BPW International’s participation reinforces our organization’s commitment to advocating for women’s rights and gender equality at the European level, and to strengthening cooperation between civil society and intergovernmental bodies.