#FemaleForwardInternational

#FemaleForwardInternational Publication for East and Southeast Europe

I  look at the disrespect into which democracy has fallen the world over, and I can’t help thinking this maybe has something to do with “It’s a man’s world”. Without doubt, democracy is in a dire need of change. It is high time that women step in leadership positions in all walks of life. As women bring change and balance on the decision-making table, they could help improve democracy, diversify the discourse, innovate, address inequalities, speak up for the disadvantaged.

As liberals we strongly believe in the potential of the individual, female empowerment and leadership. We are happy to feature female ambassadors, multipliers, role models and trailblazers from East and Southeast Europe in the global campaign “Female Forward” of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. In our Regional FNF office, we have supported female leadership for years with different programmes such the “Alliance of Her”, in cooperation with ALDE Party and the European Liberal Forum.

In the #FemaleForwardInternational  campaign, we cover 16 countries with divergent levels of democratic development and economic progress, female representation and gender equity: Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

The liberal stories worth sharing span across a wide spectrum – human rights, civil society, media, education, law, academia, art, entrepreneurship, business, economics, politics, public policy, international development, foreign policy, defence, diplomacy, migration, and more. 

The readers are invited to take a more in-depth look in the analytical texts, shedding light into the gender equity in politics, civil society, and journalism. They could further explore the case studies of the Istanbul Convention, triggering waves of discord in the region; and of the pioneers of change from the women’s movement in Turkey. The paper on the competence and confidence as keys to success for female leadership with some research from Romania is also an insightful read.

The underlying thread in all the featured interviews and analyses is the commitment and courage of these leaders to step outside the comfort zone, to put each other out in support of liberal ideas and freedom, to raise and fail, to learn and grow, to continue serving their societies, despite numerous obstacles, social norms, prejudices, inequalities, traditions, clichés. Sometimes regardless of their gender and sometimes because of their gender.

I would like to thank all of the ambassadors for their trust to share their personal journeys, success and failures, lessons learned and guiding principles with FNF. My gratitude goes as well to the excellent team of authors, editors and designer, who crafted the stories so beautifully. Please follow more stories with #FemaleForwardInternational on social media and our website.

As the saying by Thucydides goes “The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage”. I am confident that the prospects of happiness in the region are much higher with so many courageous women. I thank them for being our partners in freedom in East and Southeast Europe.

Martin Kothé

Regional Director for East and Southeast Europe

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Download now the #FemaleForwardInternational Publication for East and Southeast Europe.