EU delegation highlights women’s role in defense on International Women’s Day
EU Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez speaks at the Internaiotnal Women's Day 2025 event in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of EU Delegation Office
The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Korea hosted a special event in Seoul on Friday to celebrate International Women's Day.
The event, held under the theme, "Towards More Resilient and Secure Democracies: Women in Security and Defense," brought together key policymakers, experts and leaders from around the world to highlight the critical role women play in shaping more stable and resilient democratic societies.
The event was rooted in the EU-ROK Security and Defense partnership, signed in November 2024, and provided a platform to discuss ways to further integrate women’s leadership into the security and defense sectors.
Aligned with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, the EU has committed to incorporating gender equality into its Common Security and Defence Policy. The year 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of the adoption of this resolution, highlighting the EU’s continued commitment to advancing gender equality in these fields.
The EU’s Women, Peace and Security Action Plan provided a robust framework for promoting gender-responsive security policies and advancing women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding efforts.
The event further aligned with the objectives of the EU project Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific, which addressed challenges and opportunities surrounding women’s participation in security and defense in the region.
Ahead of the event, Maria Castillo Fernandez, the EU ambassador to Korea, emphasized the importance of gender-responsive policies in security and defense.
In a statement, she remarked, “Ensuring women’s full participation in security and defense decision-making is not just a matter of representation — it is a matter of strategic necessity. A truly resilient and stable democracy requires all voices to be listened to and taken into consideration.”
She continued, “Gender-responsive policies enhance operational effectiveness, build trust in institutions, and contribute to more sustainable peace. Women bring unique perspectives and solutions to conflict resolution, peacebuilding and crisis management. Through this new perspective, we aimed to amplify these voices and work together towards policies that are inclusive, equitable and capable of addressing the evolving security challenges of our time.”
The event further strengthened the shared commitment between the European Union and Korea to bolster the role of women in security and defense, thereby contributing to more resilient and inclusive societies. It reaffirmed the EU’s dedication to gender equality and women’s empowerment in these crucial sectors.
The event featured high-profile speakers, policymakers, academics and professionals from both the Korean and EU institutions. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in discussions on advancing women’s leadership in security and defense and explored how gender equality can contribute to more robust and peaceful democracies.