On July 18, the RE-WIRING project held a High-Level Expert Meeting at Utrecht University, bringing together leading gender equality scholars, policymakers, and practitioners for an in-depth discussion on the project’s Transformative Equality Approach (TEA) and its forthcoming Handbook.
The full-day event served as a key moment for expert consultation and collaborative reflection on how to translate RE-WIRING’s academic research into actionable tools for real-world impact. The morning plenary session focused on providing general feedback on the TEA approach and the structure of the Handbook, with experts offering insights from their diverse institutional, legal, and cultural perspectives.
The agenda also included break-out sessions dedicated to reviewing specific chapters of the Handbook, allowing for detailed comments on content, tone, and relevance to different target audiences. Discussions emphasized the need to make the material accessible and applicable across a variety of contexts, including EU and non-EU jurisdictions and the Global South.
A special highlight of the day was the presentation by the participants of the RE-WIRING Summer School, who offered thoughtful critiques and fresh perspectives based on their week-long immersion in the project’s core concepts. Their contributions sparked meaningful dialogue and underlined the importance of including emerging voices in the development of practical equality tools.
In the afternoon, plenary sessions explored cross-cutting challenges related to the implementation of transformative equality approaches, such as societal resistance, inclusive engagement with men and boys, intersectional data gaps, and effective stakeholder collaboration. Participants also considered how to ensure that RE-WIRING’s work has long-term relevance and impact, both within Europe and in global contexts.
The meeting concluded with a summary of next steps and a collective commitment to refining and promoting the Handbook as a cornerstone of RE-WIRING’s legacy. As Virginija Langbakk, former Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), noted, “When highly competent gender researchers and practitioners meet, magic things start happening!”.
By bringing together experienced experts and emerging scholars, the event reflected the project’s core values: collaboration, inclusivity, and a shared determination to drive meaningful institutional change.
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