Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg's Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity;
Credit: © SIP / Claude Piscitelli
On Friday 10 July 2026, Luxembourg's Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity reported that Minister Yuriko Backes had participated in the 2026 OECD Gender Equality Forum, held in Paris on Thursday 9 July 2026 and co-chaired by Luxembourg alongside France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
Held under the theme "Harnessing Digital Transformation for All", the second edition of the Forum focused on leveraging digital transformation to advance gender equality and ensure that its benefits are shared by everyone.
According to the ministry, discussions explored how digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence are transforming economies and societies, highlighting both the opportunities they offer to empower women and the risks of reinforcing existing inequalities.
Minister Backes delivered the opening address on the second day of the Forum alongside European Commissioner for Equality Hadja Lahbib.
In her speech, Minister Backes stressed the need for a human-centred digital transformation that incorporates a gender-sensitive approach. She stated: "The gender digital divide remains a major challenge that must be addressed.”
On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Backes took part in a ministerial meeting hosted by Aurore Bergé, France's Minister for Equality between Women and Men and the Fight against Discrimination, where she exchanged views with several counterparts on shared priorities relating to gender equality and international cooperation.
The ministry also noted that she held a bilateral meeting with Rechie Valdez, Canada's Minister for Women and Gender Equality, during which they discussed the shared priorities of Luxembourg and Canada in the field of gender equality, as well as opportunities for international cooperation.
