FEDERACIÓN EUROPEA ONE OF US
ONE OF US
The mission of One of Us is to work at the national and European levels for the protection of the dignity of every human life.
ID: 073252247105-13
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Paolo Inselvini (Member of the European Parliament)
15 Oct 2025 · conference by the OneOfUs
Meeting with Bert-Jan Ruissen (Member of the European Parliament)
15 Oct 2025 · Presentation One of Us
Meeting with Marco La Marca (Cabinet of Commissioner Dubravka Šuica), Tena Misetic (Cabinet of Commissioner Dubravka Šuica)
3 Sept 2025 · Demography
Response to Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030
11 Aug 2025
The One of Us European Federation welcomes the European Commissions commitment to strengthening womens rights and gender equality across the EU. As an organisation dedicated to defending the dignity of every human being, we believe that true gender equality must go hand in hand with the protection of womens physical, emotional, and social wellbeing in all spheres of life at work, at home, and in society. 1. Prioritising womens wellbeing in all settings: Policies must not focus solely on womens role in the labour market but must also recognise and value womens contributions in the family, the community, and caregiving roles. Work-life balance measures must respect womens freedom to choose their life path without economic, cultural, or ideological pressures. 2. The right to become and remain a mother: The EU should explicitly affirm and protect every womans right to become a mother without facing discrimination in hiring, promotion, or access to education. Many women today postpone or forgo motherhood because of economic hardship, lack of social support, and cultural pressures that undervalue motherhood. Real, tangible support financial, social, and workplace-based must be guaranteed so that women are not forced to choose against becoming mothers due to economic insecurity or societal expectations. Pregnant women, mothers, and those returning from maternity leave must be safeguarded from all forms of violence, harassment, or marginalisation, both in the workplace and in society. 3. Protection from all forms of violence including online We urge the Commission to strengthen efforts to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, workplace harassment, and cyber violence. Special attention should be given to protecting pregnant women, mothers, and women with disabilities from abuse, intimidation, or discrimination. Online platforms must be held accountable for the spread of threats, harassment, and harmful content targeting women. 4. Protecting women with disabilities: Women with disabilities face heightened risks of violence, discrimination, and exclusion, both offline and online. Gender equality policies must incorporate targeted measures to safeguard their safety, guarantee their access to education, healthcare, employment, and protect them from forced sterilisation and forced contraception. 5. Limiting the spread of gender ideology: We call on the Commission to ensure that gender equality policies are rooted in biological reality and the recognition of womens sex-based rights. The promotion of ideologies that erase or redefine the meaning of woman risks undermining the protection frameworks designed to support women and girls. Gender equality measures must always prioritise the specific needs and realities of women. 6. Safeguarding womens dignity and freedom: Gender equality should not be reduced to economic indicators alone. It must aim to protect womens dignity, their right to family life, and their freedom to contribute to society in the ways they choose. This includes ensuring that social, health, and education policies do not pressure women into choices that conflict with their values or wellbeing. In conclusion, the upcoming Gender Equality Strategy 20262030 must be an opportunity to reaffirm the EUs commitment to protecting women in all aspects of life as workers, mothers, daughters, citizens, and as women with disabilities. A society that truly values women must defend their rights, safeguard their safety, respect their identity, and enable them to flourish in all areas of life.
Read full responseResponse to European Democracy Shield
26 May 2025
One of Us is a European Federation of civil society organisations active in 19 Member States of the European Union. Our work is rooted in the defense and promotion of the most fundamental human rights: the right to life and the dignity of every human being, from conception to natural death. We believe that genuine democracy is inseparable from the respect for all human lives and all citizens' voices including those who defend the most vulnerable and speak out for human dignity. We welcome the Commissions initiative to enhance the protection and resilience of democracy in the EU. However, we would like to stress that any meaningful and lasting protection of democracy must begin with the respect of the EU Treaties, the rule of law, the principle of subsidiarity, and the sovereignty of Member States. A true European democracy must not be ideological. Increasingly, we witness civil society actors and citizens being sidelined or silenced simply because they do not align with certain dominant ideologies in European institutions. The pluralism that the EU claims to protect cannot be reduced to a narrow set of approved beliefs. Democracy flourishes only when all voices including those advocating for the protection of life, and for a vision of society grounded in human dignity are equally heard and respected. We urge the Commission to remain vigilant against ideological manipulation and to guarantee that the European Democracy Shield does not become an instrument to label legitimate and peaceful civil society actors as "threats" simply for defending values rooted in the EUs founding principles. This includes organisations like ours, which support the rights of women, children (including unborn children), and people with disabilities, and which advocate for the family as a key pillar of social cohesion and democratic participation. The principle of conferral and the principle of subsidiarity must guide all future initiatives. It is logical that decisions with a major moral or cultural sensitivity remain the competence of the Member States. Furthermore, the rule of law must be respected not only in Member States but also by the EU institutions themselves. This means ensuring that EU funding, consultation processes, and access to democratic participation are not biased or conditional on alignment with a particular worldview. It also means protecting freedom of expression for all, not just for those who echo prevailing narratives. It means to welcome, respect and defend the freedom of those who have different opinions. Considering increasing social and economic vulnerabilities, especially among women and families, we stress that a democracy that respects human dignity must work to support motherhood, fight all forms of violence including social and economic exclusion and uphold the rights of those who care for others. No democracy can be called just if it marginalises or penalises those who choose to welcome life, support the family, or protect the vulnerable. In conclusion, One of Us calls for a truly inclusive and respectful European democracy one that remains faithful to its founding values and Treaties, protects all citizens rights, and upholds the sovereignty of its Member States and the diversity of its peoples.
Read full responseMeeting with Cristian Terheş (Member of the European Parliament)
16 Jul 2024 · Human rights
Meeting with Toma Šutić (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica)
26 Jun 2024 · Meeting on the work of this initiative and presentation of their efforts in promotion of family values
Meeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)
27 Mar 2023 · Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence