HeForShe National Chapters: Growing the Movement, Expanding Local Action

HeForShe has gone glocal! Alongside HeForShe global, we are now present in 6 countries with the opening of 6 new national chapters in Brazil, Italy, Spain, Central Asia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mexico.

In 2026, HeForShe strengthened and expanded its network of National Chapters, creating new spaces for local leadership, dialogue and action for gender equality. The movement is connecting global ambition with locally driven solutions, bringing together governments, civil society, businesses, cultural leaders and communities to advance gender equality. 

The growth of the Chapter network comes at a critical moment. Across the world, progress on gender equality is facing growing resistance. Violence against women and girls, online misogyny and harmful gender norms continue to limit opportunities and rights. In this context, local leadership matters. National Chapters provide a platform for people to turn global commitments into action in their own communities, while creating new entry points for men and boys to become active allies for gender equality. Across the Chapter network, HeForShe initiatives reached more than 4.6 million people through campaigns, cultural events and digital engagement, while more than 1,000 people participated in in-person launches, festivals and public dialogues. 

In Spain, the National Chapter formally launched in June 2026, bringing together institutional, private sector, cultural and civil society partners. Early resource mobilisation and engagement with national and regional authorities are helping establish the foundations for future programming across the country.

The network continued to grow in 2026 with the establishment of HeForShe Bosnia and Herzegovina, the movement’s newest National Chapter. Its April pre-launch event brought together government, UN agencies, civil society, academia, media, the private sector and public figures, laying the foundations for a cross-sector coalition for gender equality and violence prevention. Olympic athlete Amel Tuka joined as the country’s first HeForShe supporter, bringing the message of equality into the world of sport.

Existing Chapters are also building momentum. HeForShe Italy strengthened its advocacy and public engagement through its second annual Gala in Naples and participation in international and cultural platforms, while Brazil expanded partnerships across government, business and civil society, including reaching approximately 25,000 people through the Porão do Rock festival. In Central Asia, regional coordination and public engagement continued through campaigns, digital content and the #EndViolence International Film Festival, which reached more than 123,600 people through outreach and media visibility.

Together, these efforts demonstrate the value of the National Chapter model: creating locally rooted platforms where men and boys can be engaged as allies, partnerships can be built across sectors, and global commitments can be translated into action that responds to national and regional realities.

As HeForShe grows its National Chapter network, it is creating more spaces for people to lead, connect and act for gender equality, wherever they are.

Read more about these new National chapters in the 2026 HeForShe IMPACT Report.