Parity in Government

🔶 RoWL campaign for parity in Government

Women make up 51% of the population. What about 0% of the future Government?

In June 2025, the Romanian Women's Lobby (RoWL) launches a national and European advocacy campaign to request the establishment of a threshold of at least 50% women in the Romanian Government.

The campaign reacts to the total absence of women from the proposals publicly circulated for the new Executive – an unacceptable situation, which contradicts not only the demographic reality, but also the national legal framework, international commitments and European democratic values.

What we ask for

In official letters sent on June 11, 2025, RoWL requests:

• the appointment of at least 50% women in the Government;
• the application of transparent and fair criteria for the selection of ministers;
• the establishment of an annual mechanism for public monitoring of gender balance in executive positions.

Who we are addressing

The RoWL Campaign for Parity is addressed to all institutional actors influencing the process of forming the Government and guaranteeing democratic representation:

• His Excellency, the President of Romania, in his capacity as guarantor of constitutional balance;
• The leaders of the pro-European political parties – the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Save Romania Union (USR), the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) – directly involved in the negotiations for the formation of the new Executive;
• Ms. Roxana Mînzatu, European Commissioner for Social Rights, Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparation for the Future, Romania's representative in the European Commission;
• Mr Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Vice-President of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), member of the S&D Group;
• Mr Nicolae Ștefănuță, Vice-President of the European Parliament, member of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), elected as an independent MEP from Romania;
• Members of the Romanian Parliament, responsible for the democratic support of the Government and for legislating public policies;
• Romania's delegation to the European Parliament, whose members have the duty to reflect our country's democratic and European commitments.

RoWL calls on all these institutions and leaders to publicly express their support for the immediate application of the principle of gender parity in the composition of the future Government of Romania.

What the legislation supports

📜 The RoWL campaign is based on the following tools:

• Law no. 202/2002 on equal opportunities between women and men, art. 22 – which provides for balanced representation in decision-making structures;
• National Strategy for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men 2022–2027;
• Directive (EU) 2022/2381 on improving gender balance in the management of institutions;
• CEDAW Committee General Recommendation No 40 (2024) on substantive equality in decision-making.

Why parity?

✅ Because equality is non-negotiable.
✅ Because women must be part of the decision.
✅ Because a functional democracy requires fair representation.

What's Next

RoWL is requesting official responses by June 19, 2025.
We will publish on this page the answers received, the evolution of the campaign and the future steps.

📢 Support the campaign!
Share, get involved, write to decision-makers.
📲 Follow us on Facebook and find out how you can support #50/50.

The letter addressed to the President of Romania can be read HERE

The press release for the campaign launch can be found here. HERE

Letters to politicians can be found HERE