Woman-up for urban challenges: Forum of Women Mayors

Women’s empowerment and gender equality have become priorities for sustainable development that lifts up the well-being of all global inhabitants. Achieving such far reaching, sustainable change is contingent upon the establishment of good governance – governance that is accountable, transparent, and which necessarily includes women as stakeholders in decision making processes. The incorporation of women’s voices in policy and planning would contribute to the building of cities that allow all urban inhabitants to thrive equally. Applying a gender lens to the sustainable urban developlement can help mitigate urban vulnerability too. Women’s perspectives and voices are significantly under-represented in urban leadership, as worldwide, women make up less than 5% of mayors, while in the region of South-east Europe in accordance with the NALAS survey, less than 8% of mayors are women. Women around the world have excelled in their role as mayors responding to COVID-19 and addressing other challenges. Many women leaders have demonstrated empathy and compassion and put in place innovative solutions to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women and girls. In the session organized in cooperation with NALAS and UNWOMEN, women leaders will share their experiences on city management.