United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
Local Governance key to achieving gender equality and social equity,
OWG 8 – February 2014
Prepared by United Cities and Local Governments
Communities where all citizens are empowered to participate in social, economic and
political opportunities are instrumental in the eradication of poverty.
The future SDGs will need to specifically address the needs and the capacities of women
to implement sustainable development.
The role of women in the advancement of communities, which is broadly recognized by
practitioners working in the field, is not sufficiently reflected in international and national
policies. By working on the advancement of women, the whole community will be
impacted, to the benefit of all men women and children.
It is with this in mind that hundred of local elected women and men signed in February
2013 the “Paris Local and Regional Governments’ Global Agenda for Equality of Women
and Men in Local Life” building on the Charter launched in May 2006 by the Council of
European Municipalities and Regions and signed by 1300 of them.
The following issues will need to be addressed if a successful Post 201 agenda is to be
achieved.
I. Increasing participation of women in local decision-making, in order to
guarantee equal representation and to achieve a successful development
agenda Post-2015
The promotion of women’s participation in local decision-making processes must play a
pivotal role in the global development strategy.
The equal representation of women and men in elected posts at all levels of government
is a priority objective, due to the impact this has on other spheres of activity. Increased
participation of women in political life contributes to women friendly services, greater
employment of women and policy development based on the specific needs of women
and girls.
Strong partnerships with grassroots women associations are also essential to increase
participation in politics but also to support elected women while in office.
II. Equality between women and men to be on the top of the agenda of local
public policy making and for adequate service provision that will contribute to
improve the condition of women and their empowerment
Local governments, through the responsibilities they assume as public services provider
have a key role to play in empowering women. The lack of drinking water, electricity or
sanitation infrastructures are expressions of poverty and are areas where local
governments have a direct responsibility.
Specific attention needs to be given to women and girls in cities and urban areas, where
they do generally live in more vulnerable conditions. Urban planning and slum upgrading
2
have direct impact on the living conditions of women, who form the majority of the poor,
and are often the first to be negatively impacted by lack of services.
Water points in slum areas, public toilets and even family hospitals are the responsibility
of local governments. It is therefore essential to ensure that local governments have the
financial, technical and legal capacities to provide universal basic services including
adequate water supply, sewage systems, toilets that are sufficient for the community’s
needs, accessible and safe for women to utilize, garbage disposal and provision of
electricity. Access to universal and quality healthcare and health services including
sexual and reproductive health services should also be a key target of the Post-2015
agenda.
A high number of slum dwellers are women and many of them are the head of their
households. While they are more likely to be employed informally and earn less than
men. The Post-2015 agenda should guarantee socioeconomic equality and
economic justice for women and girls: It requires legislative and social changes to
ensure that women have equal rights and equal access to wealth, services and resources
such as education, technology; women’s human rights to own land and property; and
their access to, and control of economic, productive and natural resources.
Inclusive governance structures can promote respect for human rights and facilitate the
kind of positive social change necessary to support the advancement of women. For
instance, local legal frameworks and municipal policies have provided encouraging
reports of increased employment opportunities and more equal conditions.
III. A safe world in particular for women, who are traditionally the most
vulnerable to all types of violence
As the UN Technical Support Team (TST) expressed in their issue brief “gender
inequality is the most pervasive form of inequality around the world and a pressing
human rights concern.”
Parliament should legislate to prevent and eliminate ending all forms of violence
including sexual and gender based violence
Education programme should be displayed to boys and girls at school, to relevant staff
such as teachers and police forces and to the media to tackle gender violence and
eliminate stereotypical attitudes and behaviour leading to physical, psychological and
sexual violence and abuse
A number of urban specific factors can lead to greater incidence of violence in cities,
including more fragmented social relations that erode support or the most vulnerable
Indeed fear for personal safety is an essential and pervasive element of urban life for
women. Local public policies sensitive, accessible, and effective should ensure safe
mobility. Providing safe public transport and public street lighting are among those
policies.
Local governments have vast experience in developing services for the protection of women
such as municipal centers for women victims of domestic violence. Millions of women around
the world have started a better life, with their children, with the support of these centers,
which offer them refuge until they can support themselves.
The situation of women in countries in times of conflict and post-conflict should be
specifically acknowledged.
OWG 8 – February 2014
Prepared by United Cities and Local Governments
Communities where all citizens are empowered to participate in social, economic and
political opportunities are instrumental in the eradication of poverty.
The future SDGs will need to specifically address the needs and the capacities of women
to implement sustainable development.
The role of women in the advancement of communities, which is broadly recognized by
practitioners working in the field, is not sufficiently reflected in international and national
policies. By working on the advancement of women, the whole community will be
impacted, to the benefit of all men women and children.
It is with this in mind that hundred of local elected women and men signed in February
2013 the “Paris Local and Regional Governments’ Global Agenda for Equality of Women
and Men in Local Life” building on the Charter launched in May 2006 by the Council of
European Municipalities and Regions and signed by 1300 of them.
The following issues will need to be addressed if a successful Post 201 agenda is to be
achieved.
I. Increasing participation of women in local decision-making, in order to
guarantee equal representation and to achieve a successful development
agenda Post-2015
The promotion of women’s participation in local decision-making processes must play a
pivotal role in the global development strategy.
The equal representation of women and men in elected posts at all levels of government
is a priority objective, due to the impact this has on other spheres of activity. Increased
participation of women in political life contributes to women friendly services, greater
employment of women and policy development based on the specific needs of women
and girls.
Strong partnerships with grassroots women associations are also essential to increase
participation in politics but also to support elected women while in office.
II. Equality between women and men to be on the top of the agenda of local
public policy making and for adequate service provision that will contribute to
improve the condition of women and their empowerment
Local governments, through the responsibilities they assume as public services provider
have a key role to play in empowering women. The lack of drinking water, electricity or
sanitation infrastructures are expressions of poverty and are areas where local
governments have a direct responsibility.
Specific attention needs to be given to women and girls in cities and urban areas, where
they do generally live in more vulnerable conditions. Urban planning and slum upgrading
2
have direct impact on the living conditions of women, who form the majority of the poor,
and are often the first to be negatively impacted by lack of services.
Water points in slum areas, public toilets and even family hospitals are the responsibility
of local governments. It is therefore essential to ensure that local governments have the
financial, technical and legal capacities to provide universal basic services including
adequate water supply, sewage systems, toilets that are sufficient for the community’s
needs, accessible and safe for women to utilize, garbage disposal and provision of
electricity. Access to universal and quality healthcare and health services including
sexual and reproductive health services should also be a key target of the Post-2015
agenda.
A high number of slum dwellers are women and many of them are the head of their
households. While they are more likely to be employed informally and earn less than
men. The Post-2015 agenda should guarantee socioeconomic equality and
economic justice for women and girls: It requires legislative and social changes to
ensure that women have equal rights and equal access to wealth, services and resources
such as education, technology; women’s human rights to own land and property; and
their access to, and control of economic, productive and natural resources.
Inclusive governance structures can promote respect for human rights and facilitate the
kind of positive social change necessary to support the advancement of women. For
instance, local legal frameworks and municipal policies have provided encouraging
reports of increased employment opportunities and more equal conditions.
III. A safe world in particular for women, who are traditionally the most
vulnerable to all types of violence
As the UN Technical Support Team (TST) expressed in their issue brief “gender
inequality is the most pervasive form of inequality around the world and a pressing
human rights concern.”
Parliament should legislate to prevent and eliminate ending all forms of violence
including sexual and gender based violence
Education programme should be displayed to boys and girls at school, to relevant staff
such as teachers and police forces and to the media to tackle gender violence and
eliminate stereotypical attitudes and behaviour leading to physical, psychological and
sexual violence and abuse
A number of urban specific factors can lead to greater incidence of violence in cities,
including more fragmented social relations that erode support or the most vulnerable
Indeed fear for personal safety is an essential and pervasive element of urban life for
women. Local public policies sensitive, accessible, and effective should ensure safe
mobility. Providing safe public transport and public street lighting are among those
policies.
Local governments have vast experience in developing services for the protection of women
such as municipal centers for women victims of domestic violence. Millions of women around
the world have started a better life, with their children, with the support of these centers,
which offer them refuge until they can support themselves.
The situation of women in countries in times of conflict and post-conflict should be
specifically acknowledged.
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