Linda Senden nominated as UN Women's Representative 2026

The Women’s Council Netherlands has nominated Linda Senden, professor of European Law at Utrecht University, as the UN Women's Representative for 2026. Professor Senden is an expert in European gender equality law. The Dutch Women's Council is the umbrella organisation for organisations committed to strengthening the position of women in the Netherlands. With her appointment, Linda Senden will serve on the Kingdom Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in September/October 2026.

Linda Senden has focused on legal protection and enforcement related to gender equality for years. She advocates for a broader approach: not only individual legal protection, but also greater collective responsibility from government and other actors. This vision aligns directly with the priority theme of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (March 9–20, 2026, New York): "Strengthening access to justice for all women and girls."

Message to government leaders

In her statement to the General Assembly, Senden will emphasise that the current legal system insufficiently recognises and addresses patriarchal power dynamics and places too much individual pressure on girls and women facing discrimination, inequality, or violence. She advocates for a fundamental shift toward a system in which governments proactively combat structural discrimination and violence by fulfilling their constitutional and international obligations to achieve equality more effectively.

Conversations with women's and other organisations in the Netherlands

In the lead-up to her UN statement, Senden is speaking with various women's organisations, women's centers, and other relevant organisations. She is gathering practical examples of obstacles to access to justice. These stories form an important basis for her advocacy for change at the United Nations.

About Linda Senden

Prof. Linda Senden (58) is Professor of European Law at Utrecht University and an expert in European gender equality law. She is the research leader of the Horizon Europe RE-WIRING project and co-coordinator of the gender wing of the European Equality Law Network and of the interdisciplinary Gender, Diversity and Global Justice Platform at Utrecht University.

Unique Dutch tradition since 1947

The Netherlands is the only country that has annually sent a Women's Representative since the founding of the United Nations. The Women's Council Netherlands selects and nominates this representative to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.