The European Parliament has adopted a resolution declaring that trans women are women, as part of a broader package of recommendations ahead of next month’s UN Commission on the Status of Women.
The resolution was passed on 11 February in a 340–141 vote, with 68 abstentions.
Among its key recommendations is a proclamation stressing the “importance of the full recognition of trans women as women, noting that their inclusion is essential for the effectiveness of any gender-equality and anti-violence policies”.
Recommendations Ahead of UN Summit
The motion outlines priorities for the European Union at the 70th annual UN Commission on the Status of Women, which will convene in New York next month.
In addition to affirming the recognition of trans women, the resolution calls for:
While European Parliament resolutions are not legally binding, they carry political weight and can influence policymaking within EU member states.
Political Context
Journalist Erin Reed suggested the vote places the EU on a potential “direct collision course” with the United States at the upcoming UN gathering.
The US has faced criticism over its LGBTQ+ rights record following the return of Donald Trump, who has signed multiple executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ protections, particularly affecting trans communities.
The resolution also stands in contrast to debates in the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously stated that he did not believe trans women are women, sparking ongoing national discussion around gender recognition and equality law.
Divisions Within Europe
Despite the resolution’s passage, LGBTQ+ rights remain uneven across Europe.
EU member state Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, enacted a ban on Pride marches last year. Tens of thousands protested the measure, with near-daily demonstrations taking place across June and April.
Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony now faces criminal charges after allowing organisers to proceed with a Pride march in defiance of the ban in June 2025.
Responding to the charges, Karácsony wrote on social media that he had “gone from being a proud suspect to a proud defendant”.
“It seems that this is the price we pay in this country when we stand up for our own freedom and that of others,” he added.
The resolution underscores the European Parliament’s stated commitment to inclusive gender equality policies — even as political tensions around LGBTQ+ rights continue both within Europe and globally.
European Parliament Passes Resolution Affirming Trans Women Are Women
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution declaring that trans women are women, as part of a broader package of recommendations ahead of next month’s UN Commission on the Status of Women.
The resolution was passed on 11 February in a 340–141 vote, with 68 abstentions.
Among its key recommendations is a proclamation stressing the “importance of the full recognition of trans women as women, noting that their inclusion is essential for the effectiveness of any gender-equality and anti-violence policies”.
Recommendations Ahead of UN Summit
The motion outlines priorities for the European Union at the 70th annual UN Commission on the Status of Women, which will convene in New York next month.
In addition to affirming the recognition of trans women, the resolution calls for:
A “comprehensive tool to monitor and counter democratic backsliding and backsliding in women’s rights”
Recognition of a rise in attacks against LGBTQ+ and women’s rights activists
While European Parliament resolutions are not legally binding, they carry political weight and can influence policymaking within EU member states.
Political Context
Journalist Erin Reed suggested the vote places the EU on a potential “direct collision course” with the United States at the upcoming UN gathering.
The US has faced criticism over its LGBTQ+ rights record following the return of Donald Trump, who has signed multiple executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ protections, particularly affecting trans communities.
The resolution also stands in contrast to debates in the United Kingdom, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously stated that he did not believe trans women are women, sparking ongoing national discussion around gender recognition and equality law.
Divisions Within Europe
Despite the resolution’s passage, LGBTQ+ rights remain uneven across Europe.
EU member state Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, enacted a ban on Pride marches last year. Tens of thousands protested the measure, with near-daily demonstrations taking place across June and April.
Budapest mayor Gergely Karácsony now faces criminal charges after allowing organisers to proceed with a Pride march in defiance of the ban in June 2025.
Responding to the charges, Karácsony wrote on social media that he had “gone from being a proud suspect to a proud defendant”.
“It seems that this is the price we pay in this country when we stand up for our own freedom and that of others,” he added.
The resolution underscores the European Parliament’s stated commitment to inclusive gender equality policies — even as political tensions around LGBTQ+ rights continue both within Europe and globally.
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