25 Municipalities Collaborate for Women-Friendly Cities

The activities under the third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities (WFC) Programme, implemented with the financial support of the European Union, under the leadership of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), continue to support women in Türkiye in achieving equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life. A High-Level Local Government Workshop was held in Ankara on April 6-7 to review recent developments in participating provinces, prioritize strategies and policies regarding equality, and strengthen coordination between programme partners and the 25 participating provinces.

ANKARA, TÜRKİYE – Under the coordination of the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the financial support of the European Union, and in partnership with UNFPA and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), a workshop was organized in Ankara as part of the 3rd phase of the Women-Friendly Cities (WFC) Programme which aims to ensure women live equally, safely, and without barriers across all areas of urban life. The workshop was attended by Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT); Mariam Khan, UNFPA Türkiye Representative; and heads of departments from 23 WFC municipalities. During the event, programme partners and participating municipalities reaffirmed their commitments to the Women-Friendly Cities.

The High-Level Local Government Workshop facilitated a review of recent progress in the participating provinces. The sessions evaluated processes related to the establishment and strengthening of Local Equality Units in municipalities, as well as the creation and implementation of Local Equality Action Plans. Sessions were held to prioritize strategies and policies regarding gender equality and to bolster coordination among the 25 provinces. In this context, municipalities shared their ongoing projects and successful case studies within the scope of the WFC Programme.

Institutionalizing the Vision of Equality

The two-day workshop was opened by representatives of the programme partners, UNFPA and UMT.

Emphasizing that the Women-Friendly City approach is not merely a technical topic, UMT Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan stated: "Women-Friendly Cities Programme represents a strategic understanding that integrates an equality perspective into all municipal policies, budgets, and service processes. To bring this vision to life, we need this approach to be embraced at the department head level and incorporated into institutional processes."

Thanking the municipal representatives for their determined efforts toward the set goals and commitments since the program's inception, UNFPA Türkiye Representative Mariam Khan said: "Building on the successes we have already achieved, prioritizing the integration of participation and gender equality into all municipal work is critical for the successful implementation of Women-Friendly Cities. Gains in these areas will allow localized needs to be reflected more efficiently in plans and services."

What is Done in Women-Friendly Cities?

Under the WFC programme, which involves 25 municipalities across Türkiye’s 7 regions, significant progress has been made with the establishment of 15 Local Equality Units and 17 Equality Commissions to date. While 11 municipalities have already begun implementing their Local Equality Action Plans, many have also taken vital steps toward strengthening gender equality services by opening counseling centers within their Directorates of Women and Family Services.

Within the scope of the programme, it is aimed to create and start implementing Local Equality Action Plans in all 25 municipalities through training sessions, mentoring support, and developed guidelines that will continue throughout 2026. Municipalities have also taken significant steps to strengthen service delivery for gender equality by establishing counseling centers within their Directorates of Women and Family Services.

Within the scope of the programme coordinated by the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, with 5 million Euros of financial support from the European Union, and implemented by UNFPA Türkiye in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, 25 municipalities from 7 regions of Türkiye will work together to ensure gender equality at the local level by November 2027.