The Intercultural city aims at building its policies and identity on the explicit acknowledgement that diversity can be a resource for the development of the society.The “Conselheira para a Igualdade” (Counsellor for Equality) is a person of reference appointed by the Cascais City Council to defend equality. In 1998, the city adhered to the challenge launched by the then Commission for Equality and Women's Rights (now CIG: Commission for Citizenship and Equality of Gender), that established a protocol that recognizes the importance of promoting Gender Equality as a fundamental factor for local development.
The Counsellor for Equality’s role is to eliminate gender stereotypes while promoting citizenship through the elaboration and development of municipal plans for equality, in line with the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life. The Counsellor's competences are:
- Monitor and streamline the implementation of local policy measures from a gender perspective;
- Monitor and streamline the implementation of measures envisaged in local strategies to promote equality and prevent domestic violence and other forms of discrimination;
- Give advice and suggestions on the policies for equality and non-discrimination, maternity and paternity protection, combating domestic violence and other forms of discrimination;
- Submit proposals for action;
- Raise awareness on gender equality, in particular in the areas of: citizenship education, equality and non-discrimination, maternity and paternity protection, reconciliation of professional, personal and family life for men and women, and combating discrimination. Domestic violence and other forms of discrimination.
