March 7, 2025, Seoul, South Korea – The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Korea is set to host a special event in honor of the International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 7, 2025, in Seoul.
Under the theme "Towards More Resilient and Secure Democracies: Women in Security and Defence," this event will bring together key policymakers, experts and leaders from across the world, emphasising their role in shaping more stable and resilient democratic societies.
This event builds on the EU-RoK Security and Defence partnership signed in November 2024 and provides a platform to discuss ways to strengthen women's leadership in these sectors. Aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the EU is committed to integrating gender equality into its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), with 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of the resolution’s adoption. The EU’s Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Action Plan provides a framework to advance gender-responsive security policies and promote women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention, crisis management, and peacebuilding efforts. This event also builds synergies with the EU project ‘Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific’ (ESIWA+) by exploring challenges, successes and opportunities in advancing women’s participation in these fields.
Ahead of the event, H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez, EU Ambassador to Republic of Korea, highlighted the necessity of gender-responsive policies in security and defense, stating:
"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 to be taken into consideration."
She added, "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 aim 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 EU and Republic of Korea share a common interest in strengthening the role of women in security and defence to achieve more resilient and inclusive societies. This event reaffirms the EU’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment in security and defense, strengthening the shared values and cooperation between the EU and South Korea.
The activity features high-profile speakers, policymakers, academics and professionals from the Republic of Korea, EU institutions, and EU Member States. The full list of speakers and panelists is available here.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ahee Kim, Press & Information Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Korea,
Ahee.KIM@ext.eeas.europa.eu
Soomee Moon, Communication and Outreach Expert
moonsoomee@eudiplomacykorea.eu