Call of the 2nd funding period of CA23149
June 1, 2026
Programme for the Workshop EXPLORING SYNERGIES (Date: June 29, 2026; TIME: 9:30–11:30 a.m. (London) | 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (Brussels) | 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. (Istanbul)
June 25, 2026Venue: COST Association | Avenue du Boulevard - Bolwerklaan 21, 1210 Brussels | Belgium
Tuesday, June 9
High-Level Forum Anti-Gender Politics, Democratic Resilience, and Policy Responses
10:00–10:20 – Registration and Coffee
10:20–10:30 – Welcome Remarks
10:30–11:15 - Opening Keynote - Why Anti-Gender Politics Matters for Democracy?
Marianna Muravyeva, Professor of Law, University of Helsinki, CA23149 Vice-Chair
Democratization at Stake: Why Research Matters for Resilient Gender Equality Futures
Chair: Radzhana Buyantueva, ULB
11:15-12:45 - Panel 1: Comparative Evidence from CEE Countries
Chair: Marie Ruiz, Université de Picardie Jules Verne
Laura Luciani, Ghent University. Anti-genderism in the South Caucasus between geopolitics and grassroots resistance
Radzhana Buyantueva, ULB. Digital activism, backlash, and democratic resilience in Eastern Europe
Maja Gergorić, University of Zagreb. Austerity and the Interchangeability of Institutional Allies in Anti-Gender Mobilisation
Blagoj Conev, University of Skopje. Anti-gender mobilization and the instrumentalization of gender equality in the context of democratic backsliding in the Western Balkans
12:45–14:00 – Lunch Break
14:00–14:45 – Policy Keynote. Norm Diffusion, Backlash Politics, and European Policy Responses
Vincent Reilion, PhD, Forbidden Colours
Chair: Yuliya Brin, University of Helsinki
14:45–16:15 Panel 2: Policy and Civil Society Response Mechanisms
Chair: Maryna Shevtsova, KU Leuven
Amélie Waters, IGLYO. Countering Anti-Gender Politics: LGBTQI Youth Resistance, Advocacy, and Resilience
Maya Doneva, the Women's Lobby. If We Weren't Winning, They Wouldn't Push Back
16:15 – 17:00 – Afternoon coffee, Closing Discussion and Networking Introduction
Wednesday, June 10
09.30-10:00 – Registration and Coffee
10:00–10:15 – Introduction to the Policy Lab, Yuliya Brin, University of Helsinki
10:15–11:45 - Breakout Working Groups
Group 1. Norm Diffusion and Transnational Networks
Lead: Yuliya Brin
Participants: Karolin Rippich, Ajsela Toci, Zuzana Michalková
Group 2. Media, Discourse, Digital Mobilization and Grassroots Resistance
Lead: Haley Norriss
Participants: Draga Gajić, Martina Hartwig, Klára Kaničárová
11:45–12:20 - Reporting Session. Group presentations and discussion
12:20–12:30 - Concluding Remarks. Future collaboration opportunities and next steps
The programme can be downloaded here.