The Women’s Commission of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CCRE) in 2004 surveyed municipalities across the European Union to find out whether there were any truly women-friendly cities. No ideal city was found. But they did find many exemplary towns and cities, many with municipal gender policies.

The CCRE then asked its national associations to help compile an inventory of best practices. Outlined below are three conditions, which were used for the survey, with examples of towns and cities that are among some 100 on the list of Best Practices.

At the pan-European level, the Community programme supporting twinning between towns stipulates respect for gender equality as a prerequisite for financial support from the European Union’s executive arm, the European Commission.

Parity in local decision-making

Since the beginning of the 1990s, women have been claiming parity in political decisions and better representation in decision-making bodies.

In Barcelona a system of Women’s Councils have been established for each neighbourhood. These councils help ensure that women participate in the implementation of municipal programmes for women.

The Swedish town of Ostergotland has a “mentoring” programme to help newly elected women in their first term to integrate into the municipal administration. It also aims to improve and utilise women’s qualifications, expertise and know-how, help them develop their leadership skills, and to raise awareness among men so that they can take full advantage of the specialist knowledge and roles of women.

Equality mechanisms and instruments

European municipalities are required to designate a trained elected official to deal with gender equality, and a municipal committee is required to review all city projects through the lens of women’s concerns of the city in the light of gender. This committee has to work closely with local NGOs.

They also have to have an equality plan that fights discrimination against women to keep them abreast of beneficial policies and ensure that young people are properly trained on gender equality.

The Italian districts of Modena, Siena and Genoa provinces have instituted a system of gender budgeting, with networking services of these initiatives. The region of Emilia Romagna has commissioned a study on the difference between municipal expenses for men and women, notably in child accommodation, parental allocations and public transport.

The town of Gijón in Spain is undertaking an equity plan covering training and employment, social services and health, violence and security, culture and education, participation in various local associations, and sports, that is subject to constant evaluation and follow-up.

The Scottish city of Glasgow has published a guidebook for all its officials, including its elected representatives to ensure its civil servants do not use language deemed sexist at work.

Equality in all areas of municipal concern

The municipalities are looking at various areas to ensure gender equity. These range from transport, housing, education and training, minority integration, concerns of the elderly, and employment, to safety, crime, health, culture, sports, and even relations among towns.

The German city of Munich’s integration plan ensures that the 23 percent of its residents who come from 181 countries feel at home. It takes into account the needs of foreign women, for example by offering them places to meet and talk, German language courses, as well as places of refuge for women and girls who suffer violence at home. For further information, see the CCRE website, www.ccre.org .

Françoise Gaspard is a member of the United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).