From 3 to 8 June, YEPP travelled to Madrid for the Women, Leadership, Politics Camp, bringing together 30 delegates from Europe and beyond for a week dedicated to women’s leadership, democratic participation, and political engagement.
Throughout the programme, participants had the opportunity to exchange with institutional representatives, policymakers, experts, and inspiring women leaders, deepening their understanding of the challenges and opportunities women face in politics and public life today.
To kick off the week, we had the honour of being hosted by Member of Parliament Marta González Vázquez during our visit to the Congreso de los Diputados, the Spanish Parliament. After a guided tour of the Palace, Senator Elena Castillo joined us for an exchange with the participants on the state of gender equality in Spain. Both speakers took the time to answer participants’ questions, offering valuable insights that helped spark the conversations that continued throughout the week.
Sonia Cea, Madrid’s Delegated Councillor for Sport, opened the doors of Casa de la Villa, Madrid’s former City Hall, for our second institutional visit. In its historic plenary room, she walked us through the city’s strategy to use major sporting events as a tool to strengthen Madrid’s international profile, attract visitors, and create experiences that bring people back. She also reflected on the ways in which sport improves the daily lives of residents, with a special focus on gender equality and integration. Her hands-on experience and insights were truly inspiring for our participants.
Marta Becerra, Co-Secretary of the Steering Committee on Democracy at the Council of Europe, took the floor to deliver an inspiring keynote speech. Speaking from her position at the Council of Europe, she brought a broader European perspective that reminded our participants of the wider democratic framework within which discussions on women, leadership, and politics take place. Her reflections on democracy and the role women play in strengthening it gave the programme a meaningful anchor and a strong sense of purpose.
The panels and workshops were equally inspiring. The first panel focused on women in leadership and entrepreneurship and brought together three remarkable examples of leadership: Elisa Vigil, Member of the Assembly of Madrid; María Molina, EPP Director of Political Affairs & Stakeholder Outreach; and Laura Encinas, entrepreneur and financial expert. Their insights, experiences, and advice sparked meaningful conversations, reminding us of the importance of empowering more women to step into leadership roles and drive change.
The programme also included a session on the evolution of feminism in Europe. Walburga Lerchenfeld, EPP Women Vice-President, walked participants through the different stages feminism has gone through, how history continues to shape the reality of thousands of women across the world, and the challenges that still lie ahead.
From history to today’s most pressing challenges, the programme then turned to the current state of artificial intelligence in political campaigns. Charlotte Gilmartin, Secretary of the Gender Equality Commission at the Council of Europe, shed light on the Council of Europe’s recommendations to prevent artificial intelligence from deepening existing inequalities and undermining democratic processes. María Gabriela Ortega Jarrín, Ph.D. in Communication and Education Strategist, brought a refreshingly practical dimension to the discussion. Drawing from her expertise in communication strategy and political consultancy, she walked our participants through the very real ways in which AI is already reshaping how campaigns are built, messages are crafted, and audiences are reached.
Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about the extensive work of the Council of Europe, which funded the event, not only in the field of gender equality, but also in its broader efforts to safeguard human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across Europe.
After the energising sessions, our participants took part in a workshop on resolution drafting, followed by an amendments debate and a voting session. This gave the event a strong policy-oriented conclusion and allowed participants to better understand how YEPP contributes to shaping politics at European level.
A huge thank you to the Council of Europe and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) for making this event possible, and to all our wonderful speakers for taking the time to join us, exchange with the participants, and, of course, for their meaningful contributions.
