Congress Vice-President Liisa ANSALA (Finland, ILDG) spoke on 13 September 2018 at the annual Helsinki Municipal Fair organised by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities.
The Vice-President underlined the importance of women's political participation and the need for a European policy to promote gender equality. "A democracy that respects human rights and the rule of law promotes the participation in political life of all population groups, including under-represented groups such as women and youth," she said.
Ms. ANSALA highlighted tools such as gender budgeting to facilitate women's participation in political decision-making. She encouraged local and regional authorities to be bolder in this regard, including in its own country Finland, and denounced the persistence of gender stereotypes and wage inequalities.
The Vice-President also highlighted the role of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities in promoting gender equality. "The Council of European Municipalities and Regions' (CEMR) Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, which the Finnish Association recommends to local and regional authorities, is a strategic tool" she concluded.
The Helsinki Municipal Fair, organised by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, is the largest annual event for the local authority sector in Finland, bringing together some 7,500 public sector decision-makers, municipal employees, companies and associations. Organized for the 25th time, this two-day event offered visitors 300 free seminars and information sessions. Among the exhibitors, about 200 companies and actors from government and the tertiary sector were present.
