FEM-ABLE
Political networks
Christiana Xenofontos,
Cyprus
Melanie Steliou,
Cyprus
Maria Kola ,
Cyprus
Lola López,
Spain
Antigoni Andreadaki,
Greece
Christiana Xenofontos,
Cyprus
Christiana holds a BA in Political Sciences from the University of Cyprus, with expertise in International Relations. She worked as a Youth Policy Officer and Youth Worker at the Cyprus Youth Council (CYC). For four years she was the chair-person of the National Working Group in Cyprus, collaborating closely with the Ministry of Education, the National Agency for E+ and the Youth Board. Christiana was the Youth Delegate for Cyprus at the Commonwealth Youth Council for 2 years. She collaborated with the National Youth Board of Cyprus for the first National Youth Strategy in Cyprus and for the on-going recognition process of Youth Work. She was one of the leading persons in the team that worked for the candidacy of Nicosia as European Youth Capital back in 2018 (Greater Nicosia 2021). y. She was elected as a Vice President A’ for Cyprus Youth Council. For two years, she was an elected member of the Consultative Body on Membership Applications (CBMA) of the European Youth Forum, the largest youth platform on Earth, representing over 6000 youth organisations. Christiana was an elected Board Member for the European Youth Forum, having as a portfolio the Youth Participation, emphasising on the Conference on the Future of Europe, the 25% project and the EU Youth Dialogue, whist being the coordinator of the European Steering Group on behalf of the European Youth Forum. Christiana has also been the Vice President of the European Youth Forum.
She has her own series of Podcast called #YOUth_Inspire powered by the Netcast Zone and in October 2022 she published her first Poetry Book.
From 2022 up until recently she was working as a Parliamentary Research Associate for an MP at the House of the Representatives in Cyprus. In May 2023 she was elected as a Member of the Political Office of the Democratic Rally (DISY) in Cyprus. In June 2024, she ran as an MEP candidate with the Democratic Rally (DISY) in the European Elections.
Christiana was one of the main inspirational guest speakers on the ‘Women in Politics & European Elections 2024’ podcast, one of the events organised by CSI.
Melanie Steliou,
Cyprus
Melanie studied at the Drama School of Karolos Koun Art Theatre and participated in important performances at the Epidaurus Theatre. On her return to Cyprus she worked with THOK, ETHAL, Skala Theatre, Theatre Ena, Versus Theatre and ONE/OFF Group. She attended a series of seminars at the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in London on presentation and media issues Professionally, she has been involved in presenting, editing, and overseeing the artistic production of various documentaries, shows, festivals, and concerts in Cyprus and abroad. She was Director of Production Development at Sigma TV Station and was responsible for coordinating the team for the production of the station’s activities and television programmes on behalf of the United Nations to promote reconciliation between the two communities in Cyprus.
Melanie is known for her outspoken stance on political, environmental, and social issues. In July 2017, she faced criticism for posting a photo on Instagram and Facebook of herself breastfeeding her son at Larnaca Airport. Though Facebook initially blocked the post after several reports, it was later reinstated as non-violative of their policies. This incident led Members of Parliament to draft two bills by November 2017: one extending the period for breastfeeding breaks at work and another protecting the right to breastfeed in public, making interference with public breastfeeding a criminal offense with fines up to €3,000.
She is an advocate for environmental issues. She is a member and ambassador of the Mothers Rise Up movement. In June 2024, she ran as an MEP candidate with the Progressive Melanie was one of the main inspirational guest speakers on the ‘Women in Politics & European Elections 2024’ podcast, one of the events organised by CSI.Party of Working People (AKEL) in the European Elections.
Maria Kola ,
Cyprus
Maria is a graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing of the University of Cyprus and she has a Masters in Data Analysis of the UCLAN Cyprus University. From a very young age, she started her voluntary activity through the Cyprus Scouts Association, where she remains active until today as the Leader of a Scout Group.
She has been an active member of the Young Cyprus Greens (YCG) and was also elected as the Secretary General. Maria was elected as Vice-President B’ of the Cyprus Youth Council, where during her term she was actively promoting Structured Dialogue, both at national and European level, and the promotion of active citizenship among young people. She was appointed in the Cyprus delegation for the Commonwealth Youth Forum.
She was elected as a board member of the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG1) and she held the position Director of Programme Implementation in the Africa and Europe Committee of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC). Maria was elected and chaired the Advisory Body of the Cyprus Youth Council and she was in the respective Advisory Body of FYEG.
Since 2019 she has been an Ambassador of One Young World together with thousands of young leaders from all over the world. She has been an active member of the Cyprus Greens – Citizen’s Cooperation for the past 12 years and holds the position of Vice President. She served as Secretary of International Relations of the Party and Secretary General of the Women’s Movement for several years. From 2014-2018, she served as Secretary General of the Young Cyprus Greens, and between 2022-2023 she was elected President of the Cyprus Youth Council. In June 2024, she ran as an MEP candidate with the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation in the European Elections.
Maria was one of the main inspirational guest speakers on the ‘Women in Politics & European Elections 2024’ podcast, one of the events organised by CSI.
Lola López,
Spain
Degree in Cultural Anthropology (UB). Postgraduate in African societies and development (UPF). DEA in History of America and Africa (UB). Researcher on racism, discrimination and interculturality. Trainer in the third sector, institutions and universities. Design and realisation of projects that aim to combat inequality and racism, publicize diverse realities and incorporate the intercultural perspective in different areas. Commissioner for Immigration, Interculturality and Diversity in Barcelona City Council from 2015 to 2019.
Lola López participated in the Spanish Focus Group for the Policy Toolkit and National Report (WP2).
Antigoni Andreadaki,
Greece
Antigoni Andreadaki, born in Heraklion, Crete in 1975, is a journalist and TV presenter. She studied journalism and legal services. Currently, she is a psychology student at the University of Crete. Her career began in 1997 at Crete TV, where she hosted a top-rated midday show and contributed to radio and print media. She later hosted an evening news program and, in 2006, was elected Municipal Councilor of Heraklion. During her tenure, she served as Vice President of the Municipal Enterprise, aiding in upgrading municipal services and developing the Heraklion Cultural Center. She also contributed to tourism and international collaboration strategies for Heraklion. In 2016, she returned from Athens to Crete, hosting a TV show, and became known for openly sharing her breast cancer journey in 2022, encouraging preventive health screenings and representing oncology patients in public forums. She has organized health awareness events in collaboration with medical experts and earned recognition for her volunteer work supporting vulnerable populations.
Ana Vitorino,
Portugal
Montse Álvarez Mela,
Spain
Roberta Azukaite,
Lithuania
Reda Adomaitiene,
Lithuania
Rita Grigaliene,
Lithuania
Ana Vitorino,
Portugal
Ana Vitorino, 25 years old, from Setúbal, holds a degree in Political Science from the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP) in Lisbon, where she is currently completing her master’s degree in Social Policy. She is currently an advisor in the Support Office for the City Councilors of the Socialist Party (PS) in the Setúbal City Council.
With an active trajectory in local politics, she was part of the list for the Municipal Assembly of Setúbal in the 2017 local elections and, in 2021, was part of the list of candidates for the Setúbal City Council. She began her involvement with the Socialist Youth (JS) at the age of 16 and is now a member of the Executive of the JS Federation of Setúbal, where she serves as co-responsible for the Equality portfolio, as well as being a member of the National Political Commission of the organization.
As a feminist activist, she contributed to the HeForShe Lisbon project in 2020/2021 and is currently a co-founder and general co-coordinator of HeForShe Setúbal, dedicated to promoting gender equality and mobilizing youth for social causes.
Key speaker at Universidade Lusófona’s hybrid event “Conversations for Equality”.
Key speaker at FEM-ABLE’s Final Conference in Porto.
Montse Álvarez Mela,
Spain
Montse Álvarez Mel, born in Talavera de la Reina (Toleado), moved with her family to Mataró, Catalonia, at age 10, where she noticed a more open educational environment. At 12, she began working in a butcher shop against her parents’ wishes and, by 16, was actively involved in political activism, joining unions and participating in anti-Francoist protests.
At 19, Montse married a controlling, abusive man and became a mother at 20. Seeking financial independence, she took a job at a newly legalized bingo hall, defying social norms and gaining economic autonomy. Although she passed university entrance exams in 1983, she abandoned her studies due to pressure from her husband. After separating in 1987, she embraced Mataró’s cultural and social life.
During the 1990s, Montse became more involved with local organisations, the neighbourhood association, and its women’s committee. Meanwhile, she dedicated herself to community projects, such as Totes Plegades, where she taught literacy and Catalan culture to newly arrived-women. She used social theatre as an empowerment tool, helping immigrant women integrate through language and creativity.
Politically unaffiliated, Montse focused on feminism, sharing her story of resilience as a survivor of abuse. She joined Teixit de dones en Mataró, promoting feminist and LGBTQ+ rights, and advocated against male violence. Her activism extended to organizing health-related initiatives and cultural events. In 2020, she founded the theatre company Amb D de dones, focusing on feminist themes and performing her own monologues.
In 2022, Montse joined the electoral list of En Comú Podem Mataró, working on feminist projects, and partnered with Xixa Teatre, becoming deeply involved in the Theatre of the Oppressed. Today, Montse remains active in Mataró’s cultural, social, and political spheres, championing integration, equality, and artistic expression.
WP2 _ National report Spain Focus group
WP3_ Piloting Focus Groups/Interviews_ Merienda Feminista
Roberta Azukaite,
Lithuania
Organisation represented, position: Deputy Chairperson of the Kaunas City Branch of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, Chairperson of the Šilainiai Group.
Roberta Azukaite is a social activist, organiser of different social initiatives. She is a management expert who, despite her work and family commitments, always finds time for meaningful activities for the benefit of society and devotes time to political activities.
Roberta Azukaite is successful and active in wide field: the active woman was one of the pioneers of the DAROM campaign, an annual global action to collect rubbish throughout Lithuania. Darom is based on the initiative of volunteers to clean up the environment, but both utility companies and private businesses contribute to the campaign. Roberta Azukaite later headed the organisation itself and was a member of its board.
Azukaite and her associates founded the organization “NELIECIAMA” (UNTOUCHABLE), whose goal is to protect women from violence.
Currently, R. Azukaite works as the director of the Women’s Employment Information Center and is also a board member of the Lithuanian Women’s Lobby Organization.
Azukaite worked in the central headquarters of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and participated in the election campaigns of various party candidates.
Roberta is an active initiator and leader of the continuity of the political club “MILDA” in Kaunas.
Roberta Azukaite contributed to the FEM-ABLE project by bringing women politicians together to participate in the project’s events, actively encouraging them to contribute to increasing women’s representation in political decision-making.
Reda Adomaitiene,
Lithuania
Organisation represented, position: Vilnius University, Lecturer, Research Fellow.
Reda Adomaitiene is a doctor of sociology. She received the scientific degree in 2019 at Vytautas Magnus University, where Reda Adomaitiene defended her scientific dissertation “Professional socialisation of men and women in technological sciences”. Since 2019 she has been working at Vilnius University. Reda Adomaitiene teaches Gender Studies, Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination, and Gender Discourses in Media.
The research interests of Reda Adomaitiene include gender studies and research, the links between the sociology of gender and the sociology of science, and the links between the sociology of gender and the sociology of culture.
As a researcher, she participates in various scientific projects, the majority of which are specifically related to gender issues (“Municipal success code – gender equality” (LGKT), “Equal career start” (MLO), “Career trajectories: combining academic career and family (VU), “Through an Intersectional and Gendered Lens to Equality in Academia – TInGLEAcademia” (ERASMUS).).
Reda Adomaitiene started to be interested in gender issues even before my doctoral studies, when she was helping to carry out various studies as a researcher. Later, it became her field of scientific interests, realized not only by teaching lectures to male and female students, participating in project activities, but also by conducting various trainings. While working at VU, Reda Adomaitiene participated in the working group of the development of gender equality plans.
Reda Adomaitienė contributed to the FEM-ABLE project by participating as an expert in the testing of the National Gender Equality Strategy.
Rita Grigaliene,
Lithuania
Organisation represented, position: Taurage Women’s Employment and Information Center (TMUIC), Lawyer.
Rita Grigaliene has more than 7 years of experience working in a non-governmental organisation – Taurage Women’s Employment and Information Centre, where special attention is paid to the protection of human rights, gender equality, and assistance and prevention of domestic violence. The Taurage Women’s Employment and Information Centre operates as a specialised complex assistance centre providing help to persons who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence not only in Taurage county, but also in the whole Lithuania. Rita Grigaliene is actively involved in legislative processes related to amendments to the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as in working groups of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, in the development of policy on assistance to persons who have experienced domestic violence. Rita Grigaliene also contributes to the development of assistance algorithms for persons with disabilities and persons experiencing domestic violence.
Rita Grigaliene is a board member of the Associations for the consolidation of women’s rights in Lithuania and a board member of the National Network for the Reduction of Poverty and Exclusion. Since 2015, Rita Grigaliene has been involved in political activities as a member of the Taurage District Municipal Council, currently serving as Leader of the Opposition.
Rita Grigaliene contributed to the FEM-ABLE project by actively participating in the project’s events.
Giovanna Fiume,
Italy
Mariangela Di Gangi,
Italy
Milena Gentile,
Italy
Carla Semedo,
Portugal
Rena Papadaki Skalidi,
Greece
Giovanna Fiume,
Italy
Giovanna Fiume is a historian of the Early Modern Age and taught at the University of Palermo until 2018. A founding member of the Italian Society of Historians (Società Italiana delle Storiche) in 1989, she is also part of the Scientific Committee of the Sicilian Gramsci Institute, the Italian Society for the History of Medicine, and the Fundación Archivo de la Frontera. From 2002 to 2005, she directed the journal Genesis (Rome, Viella), the official publication of the Italian Society of Historians, and later co-directed Mezzocielo (Palermo). Fiume has also led the Gender Studies collection at XLedizioni in Rome until 2015.
In addition to her academic work, she has published extensively on gender, politics, and history, including notable works such as Donne, diritti, democrazia (Rome, 2007), Schiavitù mediterranee (Milan, 2009), and La cacciata dei moriscos (Brescia, 2014). Fiume’s scholarly interests extend to the study of graffiti in Palermo’s prisons under the Inquisition, co-editing the book Parole prigioniere (2018).
She has been actively involved in the feminist movement and has contributed significantly to advancing gender equality through her research, teaching, and activism.
Fiume participated in the research phase of the project and was a speaker at one of the events organized at the University of Palermo.
Mariangela Di Gangi,
Italy
Organisation represented: Laboratorio Zen Insieme, Progetto Palermo and Democratic Party (PD).
Mariangela Di Gangi is a social activist and community worker. From 2012 to 2022, she served as the president of Laboratorio Zen Insieme, the oldest volunteer organization in the ZEN 2 neighborhood of Palermo. Under her leadership, the organization pursued innovative initiatives aimed at combating mafia mentality and fostering democratic inclusion, particularly by involving residents in environmental recovery projects within the neighborhood. Her work has focused on addressing material and educational poverty through concrete actions to break cycles of exclusion.
Di Gangi’s political journey began in 2006, alongside Rita Borsellino, co-founding the movement Un’Altra Storia. She has held various leadership roles, including being a spokesperson for the Palermo Pride coordination and a representative of the third sector for children’s and adolescent’s rights in Palermo’s Piano Infanzia.
In 2021, she launched the movement Facciamo Palermo, uniting various virtuous paths across the city to reshape its political landscape. Currently, she is a City Councillor and a member of the Budget Commission of Palermo.
Di Gangi was involved in the research phase of the project, participating in the focus groups.
Milena Gentile,
Italy
Organisation represented: Emily Palermo Association and Democratic Party (PD).
Milena Gentile is an architect and holds a Ph.D. in the History of Architecture and Conservation of Architectural Heritage. Over the years, she has worked in various fields, including historical research, restoration, landscape planning, and museography. Gentile has published several scientific articles focused on Sicily’s architectural, urban, and artistic heritage. She has collaborated with cultural sections of newspapers such as L’Ora and Il Mediterraneo, and has written about political issues for the women’s magazine Mezzocielo.
Gentile’s political career began in 2007 when she was elected as a Councillor for Palermo’s Historic Center. Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for the enhancement of cultural heritage, urban renewal, and social equity. In 2020, she was elected President of the Emily Palermo Association, an organization dedicated to the political empowerment of women. Her leadership was pivotal in campaigns for introducing the “double preference” gender law, ensuring women’s increased representation in Sicilian municipal councils.
In 2017, she was elected as a City Councillor of Palermo, and in 2023, she was appointed as the Trusted Advisor for the Regional Department of Cultural Heritage, a role she still holds.
Additionally, she is part of the Regional Directorate of the Democratic Party, where she serves as Head of the Department for Equal Opportunities and Gender Policies.
Gentile participated in the project’s implementation phase, contributing as both a participant in workshops and a speaker at events held at the University of Palermo.
Carla Semedo,
Portugal
For over 20 years, Carla Semedo has collaborated with various associations and civic and social sector institutions as a manager, leader, or simply as a volunteer.
She has held roles in the management of Private Institutions of Social Solidarity, focusing her work in the areas of health and social solidarity.
In March 2014, she assumed a position on the Board of the Champagnat Foundation as a member, responsible for social projects and institutional relations, and later took on roles in Project Management and Consultancy, as well as Network Management and Local Governance. This allowed her to integrate into the Marist International Network in the field of social solidarity. In this role, she worked on developing a collaborative intervention model that fosters synergies and social impact, focusing on people, processes, and organizations, always aligned with the pillar of Human Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.
In February 2021, she was invited to join the President’s Office of Cascais City Hall as an advisor to the President, overseeing the implementation and promotion of the “Vida Cascais” project. This innovative and pioneering network facilitates the enjoyment of social rights through access to a Local Health and Social Solidarity Service (SL3S), a joint effort involving the central government, local government, social partners, and civil society to promote greater social equity and cohesion.
In October 2021, she was elected Councilwoman of Cascais City Hall.
Key speaker at Universidade Lusófona’s hybrid event “Conversations for Equality”.
Rena Papadaki Skalidi,
Greece
From 2019 to 2023 she was Deputy Mayor of Social Services of the Municipality of Heraklion, President of the Municipal Public Benefit Enterprise for Culture, Environment and Social Welfare (DIKEI) and President of the Municipal Equality Committee.
She started her career in the mass media from the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation in 1989, taking over the management of the Heraklion Radio and Television Association. She continued at CRETA television, giving a platform to leading personalities of literature, art and culture and science, several of them of international renown. Editor for many years in magazines, keynote speaker and responsible for the organization and coordination of a large number of cultural, scientific and social events in and around the city of Heraklion. She has taught in schools and conservatories and is a member of associations with a social and cultural contribution.
She is a graduate of the Department of Biology, the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Crete and the Greek Conservatory of Athens.
Maria Kanavaki,
Greece
Maria Kanavaki,
Greece
Maria Kanavaki is an economist and a member of the Economic Chamber of Greece (Eastern Crete Section). She has worked in secondary education and at the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH) in Crete. She served as Deputy Mayor of Heraklion from 2014 to 2023, and currently leads the municipal party “Heraklion for You.” She is also a member of PASOK-KINAL’s Political Council and Central Political Committee and formerly chaired the local chapter of the Union of Greek Women. Her municipal service includes terms as Deputy Mayor of Social Policy, Education, and Administrative Services. She has chaired various city committees, including those for education, equality, and housing, and held numerous board positions across local government organizations.
Organisations
Feministes de l’Esquerra Eixample,
Spain
SIKESO-Advisory Center for the Support of the Family [NGO],
Cyprus
Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality,
Cyprus
Lithuanian Women‘s Lobby Organisation,
Lithuania
Feministes de l’Esquerra Eixample,
Spain
Feministes de l’Esquerra Eixample is a collective of women and non-binary individuals from the neighbourhood Esquerra de l’Eixample in Barcelona, diverse in both age and background. Founded in 2021, it offers a space for sharing insights, questions, experiences, and emotions related to gender issues. Meeting monthly, the group alternates between practical sessions—planning events like International Women’s Day (8M), neighbourhood festivals, and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25N)—and reflective sessions focused on self-awareness and continuous learning. These include book discussions and talks with guest speakers on topics such as gender-based violence, gender diversity, patriarchy and capitalism, and intersectional feminism.
How the group operates is as important as what they do: they intentionally avoid imposing a single perspective and instead cultivate a space grounded in mutual respect, care, support, attentive listening, and empowerment. Through sharing and contrasting ideas, they build bonds of solidarity, connection, and ultimately, sisterhood.
SIKESO-Advisory Center for the Support of the Family [NGO],
Cyprus
The Advisory Center for the Support of the Family (SIKESO), founded in 2007, provides counselling and guidance to individuals, groups and families in need. Through a broad network and expert Board, SIKESO monitors and contributes to social policy while building a support network for those facing social and economic challenges.
Its Counselling Center offers support via phone and in-person sessions, with referrals to government departments as needed. SIKESO also partners with NGOs, local authorities, and government bodies on projects related to children’s rights, gender equality, anti-violence and youth empowerment.
SIKESO participated in the piloting sessions of the National Strategy, under WP3, organised by CSI.
Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality,
Cyprus
The Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality in Cyprus is a government body dedicated to promoting and safeguarding gender equality across the country. It operates under the mandate of the Commissioner for Gender Equality, who is appointed by the President of the Republic. The office is responsible for monitoring the implementation of policies and measures that support gender equality, addressing discrimination, and advancing women’s rights in all sectors of society. It works closely with government ministries, local authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international bodies to ensure the formulation and execution of gender-equal policies and practices. The office also conducts research, organises awareness campaigns, and facilitates training programs aimed at raising public awareness about gender equality and related issues. Its ultimate goal is to create a more inclusive society where men and women have equal opportunities and rights.
Representatives from the Office of the Commissioner for Gender Equality participated in the piloting sessions of the National Strategy, under WP3, organised by CSI.
Lithuanian Women‘s Lobby Organisation,
Lithuania
ithuanian Women‘s Lobby Organisation (LWLO) as association started its non-formal activities in 2004 after the agreement of its establishment has been signed between eleven Lithuanian Women organizations. October the same year LWLO joined the European Women’s Lobby Organisation (EWLO) which is the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the European Union, gathering over 2000 women’s associations in 31 country. Lithuanian Women’s Lobby Organisation became an official member of EWLO in 2013 after being joined by six new women’s organizations. Currently LWLO unites 36 Lithuanian women’s NGO’s working in the sphere of gender equality.
The LWLO aims to promote active involvement of women’s NGOs into the preparation processes of policies and legislation with regard to gender equality and decision-making in Lithuania and Europe.
The scope of LWLO activities comprises information, education and training, project development, cooperation, publishing, seminars and conferences.
The members of LWLO participated in the FEM-ABLE project research phase. As well one of the events of the implementation of the Gender equality Strategy nationally was attended by the members of LWLO.
The Women's Union of Greece ,
Greece
The Women's Union of Greece ,
Greece
The Women’s Union of Greece is a massive women’s Non-Governmental Organization of national scope. It fights for the abolition of social inequalities and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
It aims to safeguard women’s acquired rights, but also to extend them, to combat domestic violence and to harmonise their family and professional life, by adopting specific measures and creating infrastructure by the state.
The Women’s Union of Greece is a member of the European Women’s Lobby, which is based in Brussels and represents more than 2,000 women’s organisations from all Member States of the European Union. The ELG is the main “interlocutor” of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe on issues relating to women’s human rights. It also participates in the consultations of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.