At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW70), Club de Madrid took a significant step forward in advancing women’s political participation across the Ibero-American region with the launch of the Ibero-American Network of Women in Politics (Red Iberoamericana de Mujeres en Política).
This new bi-regional initiative aims to strengthen cooperation and collective action to advance women’s leadership and gender equality in political life. The Network will serve as a platform to connect leaders, foster exchange, and promote transformative agendas across Ibero-America.
A shared commitment to transformative leadership and equality
The Ibero-American Network of Women in Politics is designed to:
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Strengthen women’s political leadership
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Promote parity democracies free from political gender-based violence
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Advance substantive gender equality and the transition towards a care society
The initiative builds on the momentum generated during the regional meeting “Transformative Leadership and Inclusive Democracy”, held in Montevideo in October 2025, which gathered key actors committed to advancing inclusive governance and gender equality.
A strategic platform for regional cooperation
Developed in partnership with UN Women Latin America and the Caribbean and other regional stakeholders, the Network is conceived as a space for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and joint advocacy.
By bringing together women leaders and institutions across the region, the initiative seeks to address persistent structural barriers to women’s political participation, including political violence, unequal access to power, and the disproportionate burden of care responsibilities.
Addressing urgent challenges
Despite progress in recent decades, women in Ibero-America continue to face significant challenges in accessing and exercising political power. From gender-based political violence to systemic inequalities linked to the care economy, these barriers undermine democratic quality and inclusiveness.
In this context, strengthening alliances, leadership, and regional coordination is more urgent than ever.
No democracy without substantive equality
The launch of the Network reflects Club de Madrid’s continued commitment to advancing inclusive democracy and gender equality worldwide.
Because without substantive equality, there is no democracy.
More information on the Network and upcoming activities will be shared soon.
