The 16th Women's Congress began in Gdańsk. “Of many demands, few have been fulfilled”

The congress started on Saturday in Ergo Arena, a hall on the border of Gdańsk and Sopot. Its co-organizers are prof. Magdalena Środa and Henryk Bochniarz, who recalled the main demands and history of the initiative during the inauguration.

– Sixteen years ago, we met mainly to emphasize the contributions of women during the transformation. We were aware that the time of decommunization and democratization of Poland was also a time of deemancipation – said prof. Magdalena Środa.

She recalled that one of the slogans of those times was: “Women, go home.” – The fact that we live in a democratic country is a great achievement of us – women. We made many demands, but very few of them were met, said the co-organizer of the Congress.

She emphasized that women had quotas on the electoral rolls, thanks to which they entered politics. – This year we achieved something absolutely unique – namely, changing the definition of rape in parliament. It didn't come lightly, she said.

The co-organizer of the Congress, Henryka Bochniarz, said that we should stop talking about how important women are and what needs to be done. However, it is necessary to prepare draft laws that will guarantee women's demands – i.e. equality and diversity. – We will want the congress to adopt these laws and try to implement them through the government – she added.

She emphasized that the Congress is returning to the original law on parity on electoral lists, which is to be additionally strengthened with a slider that will enable the alternation of the names of women and men.

The second project concerns pay equality. Bochniarz said that it was prepared together with the Lewiatan Confederation and is now ready.

The third project concerns quotas in management and supervisory boards, prepared in accordance with the EU directive. – It is scheduled to be launched in mid-2026. However, the Minister of State Assets declared that this would happen in State Treasury companies next year, said Bochniarz.

Prof. Wednesday emphasized that Congress does not forget about reproductive rights. – This is a lens that shows the state's attitude towards women – she said, adding that Poland is “the only country in Europe where women are treated as people incapable of deciding about their own fertility.”

The Women's Congress started on Saturday in the Ergo Arena hall on the border of Gdańsk and Sopot and will last until Sunday. Several hundred participants take part in it, including: presidents of Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia, marshal of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska or Danuta Wałęsa.

According to the organizers, nearly 300 people accepted the invitation to the Congress as panelists. 60 panels, 70 stands, five exhibitions and 30 workshops are planned.

This year's slogan of the Congress is “The World According to Women”.