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TONHAUSER Boris
In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Latest, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Publications

Study on SDGs localisation

Energy Behaviour Forum - image 1

Discover our new study on progress made by local governments in promoting the Global Goals

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The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and PLATFORMA are releasing today (12 July) their annual study on the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a United Nations special event in New York. The study is presented by CEMR President Gunn Marit Helgesen at the 6th Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda, organised in the framework of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the United Nations annual event on the SDGs.

The report collects data from 41 associations of local and regional governments from greater Europe and makes seven recommendations. As estimates show, 65% of the 169 targets underpinning the 17 SDGs cannot be achieved without the involvement of local and regional governments.

One more time, this report resonates as a strong call to national and European institutions to further recognise and include in their reports progress made by municipalities and regions in achieving the SDGs. More than ever, decentralised cooperation and partnerships are crucial instruments to achieve the 2030 Agenda at the local and regional levels.

“We are fast approaching the halfway point on the road to the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), meaning there are only six summers left!” warns Gunn Marit Helgesen, CEMR President, in the foreword of the study.

The 6th Local and Regional Governments Forum on the 2030 Agenda is organised by UN DESA, the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF), UN-Habitat, UNDP and Local 2030.

Mayors have a say

This year, the European delegation of local and regional governments is composed of several mayors and councillors:

  • Gunn Marit Helgesen, CEMR President and Councillor of Vestfold and Telemark, President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)
  • Magda Kostava, Member of Kutaisi Municipal Council, Georgia (NALAG), member of the CEMR Young elected officials committee
  • Wim Dries, VVSG President and Mayor of the City of Genk
  • Luisa Salgueiro, President of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP) and Mayor of Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Manueal Alvares, Councillor in the Municipality of Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Stephan Neher, Mayor, City of Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany
  • Anne-Marie Jean, Vice-President of Eurométropole de Strasbourg (CUF)
  • André Viola, Councillor, Department of Aude (AFCCRE)

Fabrizio Rossi, CEMR Secretary General, Emilia Saiz, UCLG Secretary General, Lucy Slack, CLGF Secretary General, Unai Tellería, Delegate of the Basque Government (Spain) in the United States, Leen Verbeek and Mathieu Mori, respectively President and Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Congress of Europe are also attending HLPF and parallel dedicated to local and regional governments.

More information:

For more information, contact:

GURI Durmish
In Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Inclucities [closed project], IncluCities [closed project], Latest, Migration and inclusion, Migration and inclusion, Projects and programmes, Projects and Programmes, Publications

Inclusion starts locally

Inclusive Migration - News 2023

Key lessons from IncluCities to improve migrant integration through multilevel cooperation 

Read full position paper

The IncluCities project, led by CEMR and funded by the EU’s AMIF programme, has shown how local and regional governments (LRGs) can lead inclusive migration policies when equipped with the right tools and support. Over three years, eight cities and six national associations worked together in a mentoring scheme to improve local integration strategies for third-country nationals. 

From needs assessments to action plans and training academies, IncluCities focused on real collaboration between cities and their associations, guided by CEMR. The project clearly demonstrated that peer exchange and coordinated support lead to more effective and sustainable policies. 

Turning Practice into Policy 

Based on the project experience, CEMR outlines seven key recommendations: 

  1. Adopt a Whole Community approach – Integration policies should benefit all residents, not just newcomers, and promote active local citizenship. 
  1. Promote inclusion over adaptation – Inclusion must be a two-way process involving the whole community, not just the integration of migrants. 
  1. Train entire ecosystems – Sustainable action requires collaboration across municipal services, civil society, and migrant communities. 
  1. Guarantee meaningful participation – Participation must be recognised as a basic right and embedded in local governance structures. 
  1. Support migrant women – Women play a key role in communities and should be at the centre of local inclusion efforts. 
  1. Improve multilevel governance – Stronger cooperation between EU, national, and local governments is vital, along with direct access to funding. 
  1. Create local support networks – Clustered partnerships help cities share knowledge and raise their voice in national discussions. 

Conclusion 

Local and regional governments are essential in managing integration, yet they remain underrepresented in EU policymaking. As the New Pact on Migration and Asylum moves forward, CEMR calls for the full inclusion of local voices in shaping migration policy, especially those of small and medium-sized cities, which are closest to the ground. 

Read the position paper here 

For more information, contact:  

THOMAS Carol
In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Workshop

Workship in Israel - News 2023

A workshop for better community resilience in Israel

The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel will be hosting an international resilience workshop in May 2023. During three days, participants will learn about Israeli concepts and models of emergency preparedness and community resilience.
 
Individuals, families, businesses, and institutions that are prepared for tackling disasters are more likely to cope efficiently – and to recover faster. Such training reduces the risks of damage to critical infrastructure, lessens economic losses and softens the emotional impact of the catastrophe on the population.
 
Once the steps of immediate emergency response are implemented, it is up to local leadership and the municipality’s services to provide and facilitate all the necessary recovery measures. By supporting citizens and the community’s institutions, local authorities can help restore and strengthen the community’s cohesion.
 
To help communities face emergency situations better, the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel will organize an international community resilience workshop in the coastal city of Nahariya (Israel) from 17 to 19 May 2023. During the event, participants will learn about concepts and methods from experts in the fields of welfare, social work, psychology and urban security. The initiative aims to provide participants with helpful Israeli models of preparedness and resilience that have been field-tested in real emergency situations.
 
For more information on this initiative, visit the website of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Local Insights

Pink boxes in Poland

Pink boxes - News 2023

Poland initative to help women access menstrual products

Access to menstrual products is still a marker of inequality in the sense that it still remains limited for certain women. This is why the Polish city of Rzeszow, a member of the Association of Polish Cities (ZMP), joined a national project: the “Pink Box” initiative.

These boxes have been used for several years in other Polish municipalities, such as Sopot and Łódź. They are usually found in libraries, parks, public transportation centers or schools; Currently, 43 schools in Rzeszow have implemented them. The pink boxes contain several types and sizes of sanitary products, from wipes to tampons to sanitary napkins. They also contain information on menstrual health and hygiene.

These boxes can be restocked by institutions or private sponsors, in accordance with the project principle: take some if you need it, leave some if you have too much.

Period poverty is a significant problem in Poland. According to a report by the Kulczyk Foundation, almost half a million people in Poland cannot afford sanitary products. In addition, 21% of students are forced to leave school due to lack of products, while 10% of them do not leave their homes during their period.

“That’s why I decided to introduce pink boxes in Rzeszów,” explained Konrad Fijołek, the mayor of Rzeszów. The pink boxes are a positive step in supporting the health and well-being of women in Rzeszów. They show that small community initiatives can have a big impact on people’s lives for minimal cost: the budget for the pink boxes is less than 600 euros.

BORDELOT Federica
In Impact community Society, Local democracy, Local Insights

Inclusive society 

Inclusive society - News 2023

A One-Stop-Shop for newcomers in Mechelen fosters inclusion

Twenty years ago, Mechelen suffered from one of the highest criminality rates in Belgium. Polarisation and deprivation were skyrocketing. Many middle-class families had no choice but to leave. However, little by little, as local authorities implemented inclusion policies, the situation started to evolve. Nowadays, the city is a vibrant symbol of inclusivity, with over 130 nationalities living in harmony. Innovative integration programmes are still being created, implemented and constantly improved. The “Welcome application” is one of them.

When the local authorities of Mechelen reviewed their tools supporting integration processes, they realised that people tend to use their smartphones more often, especially as they are on the move. It was then necessary to display information on a mobile-friendly platform. The Mechelen’s “Welcome App” was born.

With this smartphone app, newcomers can quickly find information about leisure, healthcare, housing, learning and social life in Mechelen. The information is provided in 9 different languages: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, Turkish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish. The app also displays a calendar with activities and a dictionary in which complicated words are explained. The app can easily be downloaded on the official website of the city of Mechelen.

With the support of the IncluCities project, the city identified an important issue that can affect the effectiveness of an app: outdated data. Indeed, as mobile apps can be tricky to manage, they sometimes tend to not be updated at all. Unfortunately, outdated information renders an app useless. Furthermore, adding new information manually is very time-consuming. These issues were resolved by developing an algorithm that simplifies the app updating process. As the city’s employees upload new information on a spreadsheet, it is automatically added to the app. Thus, the information on the mobile App will always be up-to-date, coherent and available in all languages.

To download the app, go to Mechelen’s official website.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest

International Women’s Day

International Women's Day - News 2023

International Women’s Day: Let’s talk about human rights!

Dr. Claudia Schöning-Kalender, Member of the SPD-parliamentary group in Mannheim City Council (Germany) and chair of the CEMR Standing Committee for Equality calls on EU institutions to “effectively translate words into action” on gender equality.

Women feature prominently in Greek mythology as heroines, goddesses, and warriors. The reality for them in ancient Greece was that they had few rights and were largely deprived of political voice and agency. This incongruity doesn’t prevent ancient Athens from being frequently cited as the cradle of democratic societies despite the lack of equal rights and representation for half of its people. Throughout history, women have been considered as second-class citizens and even denied their humanity.

Times have changed since Ancient Greece, but it would be mistaken to think that development for the better is straightforward or linear. Europe has been through terrible wars and progress is frequently punctuated by setbacks in social and political life. This is sadly true for women’s rights as well.

In the course of history, we also witness that there is no unique development in all nation-states. Have a look at Switzerland: towards the end of the 19th century, it was the country where ambitious women went to study and obtain university degrees. Despite being a safe haven for women searching to gain knowledge, women’s full suffrage was granted in Switzerland only in 1971. That is almost 80 years after New Zealand, 65 years after Finland and 50 years after many current EU Member States.

Looking at history helps to understand that the development of women’s rights in our European countries doesn’t follow a simple logic of always getting better in terms of more acceptance and more equal rights. It happens in some fields and it doesn’t in others. And this is not only true when looking at Switzerland’s history, it goes for all European countries.

We have come a long and successful way in many countries in terms of equal rights for men and women in Europe, including political rights. But it is only quite recently that the disparity between women and men in decision-making has come to be viewed as a challenge to democracy. At the close of the UN’s first world conference on women in Mexico in 1975, a then-adopted action plan stated that the increased and equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making would speed up development and foster peace.

It took the international community another 20 years to assert the fact that women’s rights were an integral part of human rights and to promote specific actions accordingly to ensure respect for these rights. That was done in 1995 at the 4th World Conference on women held in Beijing.

Two decades later, UN Member States committed to Sustainable Development Goal 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, a dedicated objective among the 17 SDGs to be achieved by 2030, as well as a cross-cutting thread underpinning all these Global Goals.

Equality at risk

Unfortunately, challenges and catastrophes put equality and human rights at risk. In situations of disaster and war, such as the current war in Ukraine or the recent devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, the burden of keeping life going on overwhelmingly falls on women. It is mainly them who protect and feed their families, serving their communities. How is it then that they are so easily overlooked, abandoned and abused, in such circumstances?

Added to the exploitation and sexual violence perpetrated against women in crisis and conflict situations, there is an astounding lack of awareness of their hygienic, reproductive and childcare needs. To address these challenges effectively and sustainably, it is imperative that women’s voices are heard and that women have an equal seat at the table. It is they who know what the stakes are and who can chart the proper course towards safety, peace and prosperity. That is not to say that the burden of righting the world’s wrongs is upon the shoulders of women, but that we cannot continue as we have for so long, neglecting the experience, expertise and potential of 50% of the population.

My question is: how can it be that in the European Union where nine in ten people think that promoting gender equality is important to ensure a fair and democratic society (Special Eurobarometer 465, 2017), it is not more effectively translated into action?

As local elected officials, we call for the swift adoption of the current proposal for a Directive combatting gender-based violence, decisive for European women, but also for the ones fleeing wars and disasters and finding refuge in our municipalities. We also count on MEPs to embrace these issues in their upcoming innovative humanitarian aid strategy, following the new Chapter 39 of the CEMR European Charter for Equality of women and men in local life.

As countless news articles show and we, as citizens, witness, it doesn’t matter if a woman is rich or poor, lesbian or straight, non-disabled or disabled, young or old, cisgender or trans, just being seen as or perceived as a woman exposes one to discrimination or be treated as less than human. Putting this to an end is a foremost duty of European governments and civil society organisations that refer to any democratic traditions in Europe. Athena or Aphrodite may maybe part of a fabled past, but all over the globe, their battles are not a myth.

This article was first published on Euractiv.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Local Insights

Training Local Police

Training Police - News 2023

Training local police forces on conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine

Sexual violence has been used as a weapon of war in conflicts since time immemorial. Tragically, there is no exception with Russian armed forces invading Ukraine. Not only are women, men and children getting sexually assaulted, but they carry with them the stigma and trauma long after.

As part of its mission, the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine (EUAM) has been advising and supporting the civilian security sector to ensure “effective and accountable law enforcement agencies”, “a trusted judiciary”, and “prevention of secondary stigmatisation of survivors” of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). In addition to providing advice, the EUAM has been providing training to the police, courts and prosecutors.

In July of 2022, a Ministry of Internal Affairs academy event was organised with 50 cadets from Lviv and Donetsk Police academies to raise their awareness about gender stereotypes. The EUAM has also organised community safety dialogues in Chernivtsi, Lviv and other Western Ukrainian territories which are “aimed at enhancing trust between civil society, authorities and law enforcement through a frank exchange of views and cooperation.” Priorities identified in the dialogues include “community safety, support for internally displaced people, fighting gender-based violence and disinformation.”

More than a year after the beginning of this violent conflict, many women and girls have suffered from sexual violence whether they stayed or fled their homes. With awareness and adequate initiatives, local and regional governments can better support victims of conflict-related sexual violence.

Additional resources

2023 International Women’s Rights Day series: “Five new Charter articles illustrated through local actions”

This article is part of a series published by CEMR to celebrate 2023 International Women’s Rights Day. This series informs on impactful initiatives carried out by local and regional governments to promote gender justice.

These projects embody the updated European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life as they show how five of its nine new articles can be put into practice. Together, they represent an inspiring step towards a more gender-equal Europe.

The updated Charter is available currently in English, French and easy-to-read English versions.

Any questions regarding the update or the actions highlighted in this series can be directed to contact@ccre-cemr.org or the relevant national coordinator for the Charter in your country.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Local Insights

Women’s Health

Women's Health - News 2023

The City of Liverpool fosters women’s health

While it may not seem obvious at first thought, some of Europe’s local and regional governments have competencies which allow them to make impactful policies and programming around sexual and reproductive health. A case in point is the City Council of Liverpool, which has put in place an effective collaboration with the National Health Service (NHS).

In the UK, women experience poor sexual and reproductive health in a higher proportion than their male counterparts. The situation is even more dire in lower socioeconomic or deprived areas. To improve women’s access to health services in Liverpool, a network of women’s health hubs was set up “across the city’s 10 primary care networks”. This was made possible through a joint commissioning group set up between the council and local NHS.

The hubs offer a range of services from long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as coils (IUD), contraceptive implants and injections, to cervical screening, psychosexual services and treatment for menopause and heavy periods.

As data available in 2019 illustrated, the women’s health hubs have a positive impact: the rate of LARC prescribing locally increased from 13.1 per 1,000 women to 15.2 per 1,000. Additionally, wait times have been shortened and the City estimates that the increase in LARC distribution has prevented 415 unintended pregnancies.

If this model of specific health hubs expands beyond the city’s and the country’s borders, thousands of women could be positively impacted in their health, daily life and autonomy.

Additional resources

Contraception Policy Atlas Europe 2023

 

2023 International Women’s Rights Day series: “Five new Charter articles illustrated through local actions”

This article is part of a series published by CEMR to celebrate 2023 International Women’s Rights Day. This series informs on impactful initiatives carried out by local and regional governments to promote gender justice.

 These projects embody the updated European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life as they show how five of its nine new articles can be put into practice. Together, they represent an inspiring step towards a more gender-equal Europe.

The updated Charter is available currently in English, French and easy-to-read English versions.

Any questions regarding the update or the actions highlighted in this series can be directed to contact@ccre-cemr.org or the relevant national coordinator for the Charter in your country.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Gender equality, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, Local Insights, Publications

Guide on intersectionality

Intersectionality - News 2023

From toddlers to adults: municipalities embrace intersectionality at all ages

Read full study

Intersectionality and diversity are at the heart of gender equality. As identities and lived experiences of people are not merely additive but intersecting and complex, it is necessary to include these dimensions in public policies to build a more equal society. In France and Italy, two municipalities are already working on it. From a multi-format help desk to representative toys, they show us that intersectionality is a concrete and transversal matter.

Creating an anti-discrimination help desk in Bologna

The municipality of Bologna is committed and active in its pursuit of equality and justice for all, both within its own administration as well as in service of its residents.

The city created a multi-annual positive action plan to implement its equal opportunities objectives and to address inequalities linked to gender, disability, age and sexual orientation. The plan includes measures to ensure accessible documents and websites, to provide training courses, and to organise exchanges of experience.
Since 2021, Bologna has been part of a campaign promoted by Period Think Tank – Data to Count —  to allow open and public access to data measuring the impact of public policies on gender dimensions.

Bologna, in cooperation with the Regional network against discrimination in the Emilia Romagna Region, offers residents an anti-discrimination help desk service. Its purpose is to welcome, listen, guide and support victims, direct and indirect witnesses of discrimination on a racial, ethnic, or religious basis.

The help desk offers three formats to make reports and obtain advice: a permanent office is open in the Intercultural Centre Zonarelli; a telephone number is serviced during weekdays and a WhatsApp number is available to leave vocal messages at any time; finally, an online form can be filled out to make reports.

Promoting understanding and acceptance through play in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles

As part of their commitment to the European Charter for Equality, the French municipality of Saint-Médard-en-Jalles has drafted a 2022-2024 Equality action plan. The plan includes an objective to raise awareness among staff working with children, youth, and adults about non-stereotyped education.

In addition to providing trainings to staff and encouraging them to reflect on inequalities within the municipal structure itself, they take action to present models of girls, boys, women, and men that go outside the stereotyped roles children are so frequently presented with.

For example, in the structures welcoming young children, the municipality is rethinking the types of toys that are purchased to include dolls with varying skin tones, characters with disabilities, and games representing people from all walks of life.

Additional resources

2023 International Women’s Rights Day series: “Five new Charter articles illustrated through local actions”

This article is part of a series published by CEMR to celebrate 2023 International Women’s Rights Day. This series informs on impactful initiatives carried out by local and regional governments to promote gender justice.

These projects embody the updated European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life as they show how five of its nine new articles can be put into practice. Together, they represent an inspiring step towards a more gender-equal Europe.

The updated Charter is currently available in English, French and easy-to-read English versions.
Any questions regarding the update or the actions highlighted in this series can be directed to contact@ccre-cemr.org or the relevant national coordinator for the Charter in your country.


Read the study here

For more information, contact:

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Local Insights

Gender Violence

Gender Violence - News 2023

Tackling gendered violence against elected women and staff

The issue of increasing incivility, harassment abuse and violence directed at elected representatives is not a new one. However, it is a threat that continues to grow along with the disenchantment and mistrust many citizens feel towards government and institutions.

While quite a few studies and surveys examine the issue faced by public figures, the gendered dimension of the harassment and violence that elected women face at all levels, including the local and regional, must not be ignored.

Along with the increase in women’s participation in political life, comes increasing exposure to a continuum of abuse, violence, and sexist attitudes. Some studies suggest that while women may not encounter more abuse online, the abuse that women receive is gendered in its content.

A 2020 report for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities on Fighting Sexist Violence against women in politics at local and regional levels takes stock of the increase of incivility, insults and attacks from both peers and citizens against women who become visible in the political arena. It also gives hints as to how local and regional governments should tackle this disturbing phenomenon. If nothing is done, it may be driving women out of public life and undermining the roots of the democratic process and equal participation and representation.

Recommended actions include:
• “Raising awareness among elected representatives, council staff and citizens on violence against women in politics and its negative impact on the exercise of democratic rights;”
• “Introduc[ing]or revis[ing] codes of conduct in national assemblies, governmental bodies and institutions, explicitly prohibiting sexist speech and sexual harassment, introducing effective complaint and sanctions mechanisms and assist local and regional governments with the implementation of measures regarding sexist violence against women in politics;”
• “Conduct [ing] periodical surveys and studies and establish official statistics, at all levels of government, on the issue of violence against women in politics, including attacks perpetrated in the private sphere;”

Other tools and resources are available to women politicians to help them engage safely with social media. The UK-based non-partisan organisation Elect Her works to motivate, support and equip women in all their diversity to stand for political office in Britain. As part of their mission, they partnered up with Glitch, a charity seeking to end online abuse. Together they offer an online learning course to equip women in public office with the skills to be safer, more resilient and more confident in online spaces.

Finally, a useful guide to security on Facebook and Instagram for women in politics was produced by Meta in collaboration with the Elues Locales network. It provides practical tips on prevention and protection (passwords, pirated accounts, etc.) as well as how to moderate content and report abuse.

Additional resources

2023 International Women’s Rights Day series: “Five new Charter articles illustrated through local actions”

This article is part of a series published by CEMR to celebrate 2023 International Women’s Rights Day. This series informs on impactful initiatives carried out by local and regional governments to promote gender justice.
These projects embody the updated European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life as they show how five of its nine new articles can be put into practice. Together, they represent an inspiring step towards a more gender-equal Europe.

The updated Charter is available currently in English, French and easy-to-read English versions.

Any questions regarding the update or the actions highlighted in this series can be directed to contact@ccre-cemr.org or the relevant national coordinator for the Charter in your country.

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