25 Municipalities from 7 Regions of Türkiye in the 3rd Phase of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme

Under the coordination of the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, with the financial support of the European Union, and implemented by the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA Türkiye in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), the 25 municipalities that will take part in the third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme, launched in 2025, have been announced. Over the next three years, 25 municipalities from Türkiye’s seven regions will work in collaboration with civil society organizations to promote equality between women and men at the local level.

ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — Launched in 2006 to enhance the contribution of local administrations in Türkiye to achieving equality between women and men, the Women-Friendly Cities Programme continues with its third phase, initiated in 2025. The 25 municipalities that will take part in this new phase have been announced: Adana, Adıyaman, Ankara, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Edirne, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Giresun, İstanbul, İzmir, Kars, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, Muş, Nevşehir, Niğde, Ordu, Şanlıurfa, and Tekirdağ.

Implemented under the coordination of the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, with the financial support of the European Union, and implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Türkiye in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), the Programme will continue for three years. These 25 municipalities will work to ensure that everyone living in the city, especially women and girls, can access all fundamental rights and services equally, safely, and without barriers, and to promote equality between women and men in all areas.

Under the programme, municipalities participating in the 3rd phase will receive capacity-building support to take strong and sustainable steps toward achieving equality between women and men at the local level. In these cities, Local Equality Units will be established or strengthened, and Local Equality Action Plans will be developed and implemented to promote women-friendly initiatives in areas such as safety, health, and transportation. This will make the empowerment of women a core area of work for local governments. Civil society organizations, with their local expertise and connections, will be a critical component of the programme, working with municipalities in areas such as accessing vulnerable groups, identifying problems, developing policies, providing equality-focused services, and adopting a rights-based, inclusive, and participatory local governance approach.

The program’s objectives also include raising awareness to prevent violence against women and supporting the establishment of women’s counseling centers and shelters. In addition, efforts will be made to increase women’s participation in economic and social life by strengthening childcare and care services, making physical spaces more accessible for everyone including persons with disabilities, and expanding safe transportation routes. Moreover, the program will support women’s employment and leadership, as well as increase women’s representation in decision-making mechanisms.