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Women’s Platform for Action International vs. transgender people

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Women’s Platform for Action International (WoPAI) is an anti-trans organization based in Sweden. WoPAI’s goal is to create a global network of anti-trans “gender critical” activists from various countries.

Background

WoPAI emerged within the broader context of the transnational anti-gender movement, which developed during the 2010s and early 2020s as trans-exclusionary feminism (TERF ideology) increasingly aligned with conservative and right-wing activists.

WoPAI was formally launched in 2025, with leadership and infrastructure closely tied to the Swedish Women’s Lobby (SWL). Its affiliated groups include anti-trans organizations such as Women’s Declaration International, For Women Scotland, and FiLiA. At its inception, WoPAI and SWL shared personnel, including secretary-general Susannah Sjöberg, as well as an address in Stockholm. In June 2025, observers noted that references to overlapping leadership between WoPAI and associated organizations were removed from public materials.

Anti-trans activism

Throughout 2025, WoPAI engaged in international advocacy campaigns focused on promoting “sex-based rights” and opposing the legal and social recognition of gender identity. Its activities included public statements, lobbying efforts, and coordination with aligned groups across multiple countries.

In July 2025, WoPAI sent a letter to UN Women concerning a feminist forum held alongside a United Nations conference, objecting to the inclusion of transgender participants and requesting intervention regarding participation criteria.

Signatory groups were (reordered alphabetically): Acandi soy yo, AFEM, Afra Mujeres, Alianza De Mujeres Tejedoras de. Vida, Anti Pornography and Prostitution Research Group (APP), Apomunda, Association for Considering Safe and Secure Facility Use, Association for Women’s and Children’s Health, Association of Women of Southern Europe AFEM, Associazione Dorad, Associazione Iroko Onlus, Autonomous Women’s Center, BådeOch Ef., Bulgarian Platform EWL, Campaña Ni una mujer mas victima de las redes de prostitucion Neuquen, Care For the Future a Foundation, Carolina del Ángel Cruz, CEASE UK, Center Women’s Perspectives, Centro para el Desarrollo de la Mujer AC, Centre for Social and Gender Research “New Life”, Centre for Women War Victims ROSA, Charitable foundation “Unity” for the Future”, Charlotte Deogan, CIAMS – ICASM, Comisión para la Investigación de Malos Tratos a Mujeres, Corporación mujer denuncia y muevete, Democracy Development Center, Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence, End Demand Switzerland, Estonian Women’s Associations Roundtable, Feminist Legal Clinic Incorporated, FiLiA, FiLiA Hague Mothers, Frente Feminista Nacional y Centro Cultural Esperanza Rodríguez , A.C., Frente Nacional Feminista Abolicionista, Föreningen Hjälp till Behövande, FUNDACION COMMUNITAS, Fundación Arco iris Siglo XXI, IKF Malmö, Independiente, International Council of Women, Iroko Charity Organization, Kvinnofronten, Laboratorio Feminista de Derechos Digitales, Lesbian Action Group Inc, Lesbisches Aktionszentrum (LAZ) reloaded e.V., Malta Women’s Lobby, Mariposas Insurgentas, MARTA Centre, Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres de Veracruz y Boca del Río (MAMVBER, Mulher Século XXI, Mujeres por más Mujeres, A.C. “CONECTADAS”, Mujeres Siglo XXI, NGO “FEMINISM UA”, NGO “Women’s Consortium of Ukraine”, NGO WA Sphere, NGO”ÇENTRE of GENDER CULTURE”, Non-profit organization Connectown, Nordic Model Now!, Observatorio Feminista Clara Zetkin ( OFCZ)., Östersjöfred, Persons Against Non-State Torture, Red de mujeres Feminista Unidas por los derechos humanos CMDYM, Red Nacional de Mujeres Afrocolombianas Kambirí, RIMA plataforma, RISE, Resistenza Femminista, Rosa María Díaz Arellano, Save Women’s Space, Séntre for Social and Gender Research “New Life”, Sin organización específica, Society Ključ – centre for fight against trafficking in human beings, SOLWODI Deutschland eV, Sorroras irreverentes, Swedish Women’s Lobby, The Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute, Tokyo Rape Crisis Center, Ukrainian Association for Research in Women’s History, Unizon, VOGOI A-VESTA, Wake Up Brother, Weavers of Hope, Women’s Baltic Peacebuilding Initiative, Women’s Declaration International – Argentina, Women’s Folk High School, Women’s Front, Women’s Network Croatia, Women’s Platform for Action International (WoPAI), Women Worldwide Advancing Freedom & Equality (WWAFE), ХОГО Подільський центр «Ґендерна рада», БО « Волонтери Таїрова»

By August 2025, WoPAI leadership continued international outreach, including correspondence advocating for exclusionary policies in countries such as Australia. That month, a related initiative named MOTERIS Protecting the Civic Space of Women and Girls was launched by overlapping personnel and organizations, sharing the same address and leadership structure as WoPAI.

People

  • Gertrud Åström
  • Susannah Sjöberg
  • Anna Zobnina

Affiliated organizations

Listed on their website:

  • AFRA Mujeres
  • Association of Women of Southern Europe (AFEM)
  • The Beehive
  • Connectown
  • Democracy Development Center
  • End Demand Switzerland
  • European Network of Migrant Women
  • Feminst Legal Clinic
  • Feministes de Catalunya
  • FiLiA UK
  • FiLiA Hague Mothers
  • For Women Scotland
  • French Coordination for the European Women’s Lobby
  • International Coalition for the Abolition of Surrogate Motherhood
  • IROKO Onlus
  • LAZ reloaded e.V.
  • Lithuanian Women’s Lobby
  • Monika-Multicultural Women’s Association Finland
  • Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights
  • SISTERS e.V.
  • Save Ukraine
  • Swedish Women´s Lobby

References

Pogorzelska, Aleksandra (March 20, 2026). Svenska kvinnolobbyn stöttar global transkritisk plattform [The Swedish Women’s Lobby supports global trans-critical platform]. ETC https://www.etc.se/inrikes/svenska-kvinnolobbyn-stoettar-global-transkritisk-plattform

Dahlquist, Anna (January 20, 2026). Svenska feminister bakom global transkritisk allians [Investigation: Swedish feminists behind global trans-critical alliance]. Ottar https://www.ottar.se/svenska-feminister-bakom-global-transkritisk-allians/ English translation

  • “Through the newly formed Women’s Platform for Action International (WoPAI), around 50 Swedish women’s organizations are now linked to a network where several member groups describe trans women as a threat to women.”

Crimaldi, Elena (December 2, 2025). “The fracturing of European feminism: How TERF ideology threatens decades of progress”. Feministeerium https://feministeerium.ee/en/the-fracturing-of-european-feminism-how-terf-ideology-threatens-decades-of-progress/

  • “The Swedish Women’s Lobby (SWL), established in 1997 as an umbrella organisation uniting 57 associations representing over 130,000 women and girls, now actively opposes the ‘pro-gender movement’. The SWL, which participated in the 2010 Krafttag mot våldtäkter campaign, this year launched the Women’s Platform for Action International, a far-right, anti-transgender association promoting ‘sex-based rights.'”

Resources

RationalWiki (rationalwiki.org)

Women’s Platform for Action International (womensplatformforaction.org)

X/Twitter (x.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)