Ana Sofia Fernandes

Since April 2025, she has also been President of WoPAI – Women’s Platform for Action International and, since June 2025, a Member of the Board of the International Council of Women.

She previously served as President of the PpDM (2019–2024) and as Vice-President of the European Women’s Lobby (2019–2021). Until 2022, she was a member of the EU/UN Civil Society Global Reference Group for the “Spotlight” Initiative.

Ana Sofia holds a degree in International Relations and postgraduate qualifications in Development and International Cooperation.

She has authored and co-authored several publications and given talks on women’s human rights and gender equality, contributing to feminist research and advocacy at national and international levels.

Her professional experience spans European and governmental institutions, including the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), a Ministerial Cabinet during Portugal’s EU Council Presidency in 2007, the High Commission for Migration, and the Institute for the Management of the European Social Fund. She has also worked as a technical consultant on gender mainstreaming in public policies and budgets.

In civil society, Ana Sofia co-founded the REDE – Youth Network for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men and EOS – Association for Studies, Cooperation and Development. At PpDM, she continues to work passionately for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, in line with the CEDAW Convention, adopted by the UN in 1979 and ratified by Portugal in 1980 — considered the Women’s Human Rights Charter.

Through her leadership and commitment, she has helped strengthen feminist movements in Portugal and Europe, promoting gender equality and women’s rights as core human rights.