Democracy and Gender Equality Rise and Fall Together: Why EIGID Exists

 

Across the world, democratic institutions are under pressure.
Authoritarian tendencies, shrinking civic space, and political polarization are eroding the foundations of participation and representation. This global trend of democratic backsliding does not only undermine political systems, it directly affects the lives and rights of millions of people.
 

Research consistently shows that when democracy weakens, gender equality is among the first areas to regress. Women’s rights are rolled back, protections dismantled, and opportunities to participate in civic and political life diminished.
This connection is not accidental. Democracy and gender equality rise and fall together.
 

The European Initiative for Gender Inclusive Democracy (EIGID) was born from this recognition. Our work starts from a simple yet urgent premise: advancing democracy requires advancing gender equality. Without the full participation of women and girls, democracy remains incomplete and fragile.
 

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The Evidence: When Democracy Weakens, Gender Equality Declines​

In recent years, a growing body of research has highlighted the deep link between democratic health and gender equality.

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Studies demonstrate that women’s status and democratic resilience are strongly correlated. Countries where women enjoy higher levels of rights and participation are consistently more democratic, less corrupt, and more stable. Conversely, when democratic standards erode, restrictions on women’s rights soon follow.

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Evidence from across Europe and beyond confirms this trend. Democratic backsliding is often accompanied by the rise of anti-gender politics: attacks on reproductive rights, restrictions on civic freedoms, and policies that silence women’s voices in decision-making. Gender equality becomes one of the first casualties of authoritarianism.

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This pattern is visible not only in national politics but also in everyday life. As democratic norms weaken, women face increased barriers in the workplace, in access to public services, and in exercising their basic rights as citizens. The rollback of gender equality is both a symptom and an accelerant of democratic decline.

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These findings point to a crucial insight: women’s rights are not secondary to democracy, they are a measure of democracy itself. If gender equality is undermined, democracy itself is at risk.
 

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Our Response: The Birth of EIGID​

It was in this context that the European Initiative for Gender Inclusive Democracy was created. The idea emerged from academic research that revealed the consistent link between democratic backsliding and the restriction of women’s rights. What began as an academic work quickly became a call to action: research alone was not enough, change needed to be driven in practice.

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EIGID was founded to fill a critical gap. While many organizations focus on democracy, and others on gender equality, few explicitly work at the intersection of the two. Yet this intersection is precisely where some of the most urgent challenges (and opportunities) lie.

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Our founding principle is clear: democracy cannot be reinforced without addressing gender equality, and gender equality cannot advance without democratic systems that safeguard rights and participation.
 

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Our Approach​

EIGID’s approach is rooted in practice. We bring a gender perspective to every level of society because each is a pillar of democratic life.
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• Civic Empowerment
  We design civic education programs and toolkits that equip communities with the knowledge and skills to participate fully in democratic life. Our methods ensure that knowledge is transferred, adapted, and sustained locally, creating resilience and ownership from the ground up.
   

• Institutional Engagement
  We strengthen the capacity of governments and public institutions to integrate gender perspectives into policy and service delivery. By working with institutional actors, we help make governance more inclusive, transparent, and representative of all citizens.
   

• Workplace Culture
  We support companies in transforming their organizational cultures through gender-responsive audits, training, and leadership engagement. We see workplaces not only as economic spaces but also as democratic arenas where voice, trust, and belonging must be guaranteed.
   

• Awareness and Advocacy
  We participate in international forums, such as United Nations meetings, OECD summits, and global democracy platforms, to influence how gender equality is embedded in governance agendas. At the same time, we foster public dialogue through campaigns, publications, and events, shaping narratives that connect gender equality to the health of democracy.
   

Across all these areas, EIGID’s approach is participatory, evidence-based, and scalable. We do not only deliver projects; we test models that can be replicated and adapted by partners worldwide.
 

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Our Vision and Ultimate Goal​

EIGID’s vision is both ambitious and practical: democracies that do not just promise equality, but practice it.

We imagine societies where everyone participate fully in shaping public life. Where gender equality is not an afterthought but a foundation of institutions, workplaces, and communities. Where measuring the strength of a democracy means asking: whose voices are included?

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Our ultimate goal is to contribute to a global shift in how democracy is understood and practiced. We want to make gender equality a standard measure of democratic health, embedded in civic education, policy frameworks, and corporate culture.

By doing so, we help build democracies that are more resilient, more inclusive, and better equipped to meet the challenges of our time.
 

 

Call to Action​

The future of democracy depends on gender equality. Without it, rights will continue to erode, and participation will remain incomplete. With it, democracies can thrive, adapt, and deliver on their promises.

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We invite governments, institutions, civil society, and companies to join us in this mission. Together, we can ensure that gender equality becomes the driver of stronger, fairer, and more inclusive democracies.

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EIGID is ready to lead this effort. We call on you to walk with us.

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