Athena Forum
Budget
Not declared
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
7
2 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
Athena Forum is a European initiative for sex-based rights, democratic values and political courage. We work to safeguard women‘s rights, children’s rights and the rights of lesbians and gay men, and to ensure democracy and pluralism remain central to policy and legal frameworks. We recognise sex-based rights as foundational to legal and societal protections. We insist that public policy reflect material reality and be guided by robust evidence and transparency. We affirm the right of minors to bodily integrity and protection from premature or ideologically driven medical interventions. We defend open debate and the freedom to discuss complex issues, even when uncomfortable or controversial. We interact with European institutions and advocate for clarity, accountability and respect for sex-based rights in policy and decision-making. We provide cross-sector analysis and engage media and the public. We convene public forums across Europe, supporting democratic processes.
EU Legislative Interests
Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence Directive (EU) 2024/1500 on Standards for Equality Bodies EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 EU LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030 Proposal for a Regulation on Private International Law Rules Relating to Parenthood (2023) Digital Services Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065) Directive (EU) 2024/1712 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings — including the exploitation of surrogacy European Democracy Action Plan (2020) EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020–2025 EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child (2021–2024) EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action (GAP III, 2021–2025) Proposal for EU-wide ban on “conversion practices” Proposal to extend the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crime
Communication Activities
Publication (report): Beneath the surface: How gender identity is reshaping Europe https://athena-forum.eu/report Publication (policy brief): On the EU LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030 https://athena-forum.eu/publications/policy-brief-the-eu-lgbtiq-strategy/
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
We are not members of any organisation or network. We have an expert network composed of individuals (https://athena-forum.eu/about/expert-network/) and an advisory group (https://athena-forum.eu/about/advisory-group/) whose members also take part in their individual capacities, not representing an organisation.
Organisation Members
We are not an organisational membership association. We have individual members who support the work of the association.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.