Meeting in Warsaw: The On The Right Track initiative held its second European regional meeting in Warsaw.

There are powerful and well-funded right-wing populist movements around the world. Despite their differences, they often pursue a common agenda and finance campaigns across continents. From populist election campaigns and systematic propaganda against abortion to moves against the pillars of democracy, right-wing and authoritarian forces are becoming increasingly well organized. And who would have ever thought we would write something like this: What they can do, we can do too!

And here is how

It’s 11 a.m. on a Wednesday morning in September. After spending the first day getting to know each other, the participants stream into the workshops. Lively debates ensue on topics such as “Queer Arab resistance” and “Links between climate justice and sexual and reproductive rights.” Name tags are stuck onto clothing. Many pull out their notebooks, filled to the brim with thoughts from all over Europe and beyond.

Around twenty activists gather in Jennifer Kamau’s group. And while they discuss which strategies are currently gaining momentum, for example to combat, control, and criminalize migration, a powerful group process also develops in the circle of chairs in Warsaw.

Feminist Resistance in Europe

We can organize ourselves well too—but in a feminist and solidarity-based way. For six years, the On The Right Track initiative has been bringing together activists and foundations from Europe and Latin America. OTRT is represented in more than 30 countries. Its goal? To share experiences of resistance against authoritarianism, anti-gender and right-wing forces and learn from them together. filia has been part of the initiative since its inception.

From September 16 to 19, 2025, the second European meeting brought together 60 activists from more than a dozen countries. From the Women’s Fund to grassroots groups, a variety of organizations are represented and work in thematic working groups on issues such as anti-racism, sexual and reproductive rights, political violence, and LGBTIQANB+ rights.

Organizing means understanding differences

Two hours later in the conference room in Warsaw, the mixed group “Common Ground” has found common ground. One participant describes her experience. Until now, her own experience of fleeing her home country had been exclusively negative and often cast a shadow over her life. But during the exchange at the meeting, she experienced her experience for the first time as something communal that can strengthen the movement.

This is another step toward bringing people together—whether they are activists from Georgia and Italy, Armenia, or Hungary. For many, this is their first face-to-face encounter. The result is a forum where differences can also be discussed constructively. For example, how many different perspectives on colonialism can exist in a single room. For the group, forming strong alliances and strategies means accepting dissent. And although there have already been several online meetings, this gathering shows that bridges are built more quickly and are possibly more stable when done in person.

The last day was devoted to the future. Collective visions were used to develop strategies for the movement’s future path, which should continue to grow closer together. In any case, the second European meeting in Warsaw made one thing clear: On the Right Track in Europe and Latin America is more than a network; it is a reliable source of resilience and feminist cooperation that counters the global shift to the right.