The Congress is undertaking work on women participation to public life, equality between men and women, as well as on women’s rights, for example by introducing quotas in its national delegations, adopting resolutions and recommandations on gender equality, and contributing to actions fighting violence against women.
Quotas within Congress national delegations

Introduced in 2008, in accordance with the Congress Charter, the participation of a minimum of 30% of the under-represented sex in national delegations has been ensured since 2011 as a precondition for the approval of the credentials of a delegation.

  • Between 1994 and 2014, 73% (132) of the posts of President and Vice-President were held by men and 27% (49) were held by elected women;
  • For the first time in 2010, the Vice-presidents of the Congress were in equal numbers. Today (mandate 2021-2026), women constitute 50% (8 out of 16 members) of the executive of the Congress (Bureau);
  • For the first time in 2016, a woman was elected President of the Congress.
Actions to fight violence against women
  • During 2006-2008, the Congress was actively involved in the “Stop domestic violence against women” campaign, and launched in particular a poster campaign in streets and subways of many European cities with the slogan “Cities and regions take a stand”.
  • In co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress organised a photo exhibition entitled “Break the silence on domestic violence“, inaugurated in 2008 and conducted in several cities.
  • In 2009, the Congress adopted Resolution 279 and Recommendation 260 on combating domestic violence against women and called for the development of strategies and measures at local level, to prevent and combat violence against women.
  • In 2020, the Congress adopted Resolution 459 and Recommendation 449 on fighting sexist violence against women in politics called on local and regional elected representatives to position themselves as political leaders against sexist discourse and violence.
Adopted texts
News

Back Ukrainian municipalities engage further for gender equality

Ukrainian municipalities engage further for gender equality

“Equal opportunities for women and men are of utmost importance at the local level and an essential component of democratic societies” voiced Ukrainian elected representatives from Irpin, Kharkiv, Lviv, Mariupol, Slavuta, Zhytomyr, and other regions of Ukraine unanimously during the World Forum for Democracy 2018 on “Gender equality: Whose Battle?,” held in Strasbourg on 19-21 November 2018.

Drawing on the Forum discussions, laboratories and round tables, Ukrainian representatives committed to translate democratic innovations into strategic, yet practical approaches in their communities. Jointly with the Association of Ukrainian Cities, they set forth next steps to advocate for gender quotas and gender mainstreaming in legislation and relevant local policies. Ukrainian participants also shared the view that inclusiveness and equal opportunities is a joint venture for men and women, in which a stronger engagement of men is of utmost importance to achieve greater sustainability and meet the needs of all citizens.”

During the study visit to Strasbourg, Ukrainian participants discussed with the Ambassador Dmytro KULEBA, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, the implementation of the Congress recommendations and resolutions on gender equality, on human rights, on voting rights of Internally displaced persons, as well as the prospects for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by Ukraine.

In the margins of the Forum, Ukrainian participants also exchanged views with representatives of Georgian local authorities on 22 November during a specific one-day workshop entitled "Gender equality at the local level: promoting participation and equal opportunities".

This study visit, which included the participation in the World Forum for Democracy and in the above-mentioned workshop on gender equality at local level, was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe's project "Strengthening democracy and building trust at local level in Ukraine". Implemented as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine for 2018-2021, this project aims to improve the quality of local democracy in Ukraine by strengthening institutional frameworks and by supporting local authorities and their national associations in their efforts to promote ethical decision-making and more citizen-oriented, inclusive, responsive and transparent local governance.

Contact:

- Marité MORAS, Head of Unit, Co-operation and External Relations Department, Congress of

Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 33

- Svitlana GRYSHCHENKO, Project Manager, Council of Europe Office in Kyiv, Tel: +380 96 340 13 83

World Forum for Democracy Strasbourg, France 28 November 2018
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Document reference
see also

In the Resolution 404 (2016), the Congress stresses the importance of adopting and implementing the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, launched by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) in 2006, as a sound step towards gender equality, gender mainstreaming and the promotion of equal opportunities for women and men in local political and public life.