Esteemed colleagues, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Dear friends,

This Saturday we mark the Women’s International Day. Every year on this occasion, the Member States and institutions of the European Union join global efforts raising awareness to gender issues and echo a call to guarantee key principles and rights for all women and girls around the world. In China, we will once more carry out the campaign Empower Her March. 

It is a privilege to stand before you today, as this year we also mark 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In 1995, the world came together in this very city to make a promise—a promise to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in all areas of life. Among the twelve critical areas of concern, one was clear: the media must be a force for change, not a barrier.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Representation is power. The voices we hear shape the societies we build, and when the voices of women are absent, the world hears only half the story. 

Today, women are journalists, editors, filmmakers, digital creators, and media executives. They break stories, challenge power, and hold governments accountable. Yet, despite these advances, gender equality in the media remains far from achieved. 

In press, film industry, digital creation, and media management boards, women are under-represented and the gender pay gap persists. 

And perhaps most disturbingly, 73% of women journalists have experienced online harassment, threats, or attacks, forcing some to leave the profession altogether.

These numbers are not just statistics. They represent voices silenced, careers derailed, and a public discourse that remains dominated by a single perspective.

The absence of women’s voices in media does not just affect the industry—it shapes how societies see, understand, and respond to the world. Public understanding is shaped by the plurality (or lack thereof) of voices and views. When we exclude female voices and female stories from global crisis such the pandemic, conflicts, cases of violence, and other reported situations, we miss a share of the reality. Our understanding is incomplete. 

This is why the Beijing Platform for Action made “Women and media” a strategic priority. Because media does not simply reflect reality—it shapes it. And if we want to change the world, we must change the stories we tell.

The European Union and its Member States are committed to fostering a media landscape that is free, fair, and representative of all voices. Our work focuses on:

Increasing women’s leadership in media – because the decisions about coverage, representation, and editorial choices must include women at the table.

Combatting online abuse and harassment against female journalists – because no woman should have to choose between her safety and her career.

Promoting gender-sensitive reporting – so that newsrooms across the world adopt ethical, responsible language that avoids gender bias.

But policies alone will not solve the problem. Change requires all of us—journalists, media executives, policymakers, educators, and audiences—to ask difficult questions:

Who decides which voices get heard?

Who is given a platform, and who is silenced?

These are not rhetorical questions. They demand answers. They demand action.

To the journalists in the room—use your platform to elevate women’s voices. Give space to female experts, cover issues that matter, and hold power to account.

To media executives—invest in female leadership. Ensure that newsrooms and production teams reflect the diversity of the world we live in.

To policymakers—push for stronger protections against online abuse and harassment, so that no woman is forced into silence.

And to all of us as media consumers—question the narratives we absorb. Challenge bias. Demand better representation.

The stories we tell shape the world we live in. The choices we make today will determine whether the next generation inherits a media landscape that reflects everyone—or continues to silence half the population. The time to act is now.

As we commemorate Beijing+30, we must recognise that this is not just a moment for reflection—but for renewed action. The promises made in 1995 remain unfinished business, and the road ahead demands urgency, courage, and collective commitment.

I invite all of you to be part of this change. Let us ensure that the next generation of women journalists, filmmakers, and media leaders do not face the same obstacles as those who came before them. Let us challenge outdated narratives, amplify diverse voices, and push for a media landscape where women are not just seen, but heard, empowered, and leading.

This is the promise of the Beijing Declaration—and it is up to us to fulfill it.

Thank you.

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