On March 5, 2026, H.E. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand and current Chair of the ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC), organised an event to mark the International Women’s Day 2026 under the theme “Moving the World Forward: Women as Peacemakers and Change Drivers”. The event was cohosted by the ABC, the UN Women Brussels Office and the Belgian agency for international cooperation (Enabel).

 

The event brought together around 100 participants from the European Union, Belgian government, international organisations, the private sector, academia, media, and the diplomatic corps, reflecting a strong commitment to strengthening partnerships to advance gender equality and empower women as powerful agents of change.

 

During the opening session, the Ambassador of Thailand affirmed that ASEAN and Thailand have consistently prioritised gender equality and women’s rights through both national and regional frameworks. Ms. Florence Raes, Director of the UN Women Brussels Office, emphasised that all parties must remain committed to promoting gender equality despite current global challenges and crises. Additionally, Ms. Aude Maio-Coliche, EU Ambassador for Equality at the European External Action Service, highlighted the integration of gender equality into EU foreign policy to sustain and advance this mission alongside global partners.

 

The panel discussions brought together speakers from diplomacy, international organisations, the private sector and civil society to share perspectives on advancing gender equality and women’s leadership.

 

The first panel focused on women’s roles as peacemakers and mediators under the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. H.E. Ms. Maria de Lurdes Martins de Sousa Bessa, Ambassador of Timor-Leste, shared her country’s experience in promoting women’s inclusion in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Ms. Diana De Vivo, NATO Team Leader/WPS Advisor, discussed efforts to integrate gender perspectives into both the military and civilian structures of the organisation, while Ms. Cristal Downing of the International Crisis Group highlighted the role of civil society organisations in supporting the implementation of the WPS agenda.

 

The second panel explored women’s leadership as a driver of economic and social change. Ms. Caroline Craenhals, CEO of Belgian Scrap Terminal, shared her perspective as a woman leader in the green economy. Mr. Sven Huyssen of Enabel highlighted the role of international cooperation in advancing women’s empowerment. Ms. Grace Zhu, founder of Fablette, spoke about her innovation combining artificial intelligence with storytelling to support maternal and child well-being. Ms. Jutatip Talumassawat of Oasis Belgium emphasised the role of women-led organisations in providing assistance and protection to migrant women in Belgium.

 

The discussions highlighted a wide range of issues underscoring the importance of sustaining momentum on the women’s agenda. Amid growing global uncertainty, continued commitment and partnership remain essential to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

At the closing, Ms. Azra Safiya, a Malaysian youth, reflected her thoughts and inspirations drawn from the panels and urged all parties to continue pushing forward for women's rights.

 

Happy International Women’s Day!