Izmir and Manisa Share Experiences for Gender Equality
- tco-comms
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Izmir and Manisa Metropolitan Municipalities came together in Izmir within the scope of the third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities (WFC) Programme, which aims to strengthen gender equality starting at the local level. Officials from Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which has been part of the programme since its first phase, and Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, which joined in the third phase, exchanged information on programme requirements and good practice examples.
Izmir, Türkiye – Local governments and civil society organizations play a leading role in achieving gender equality as they have the knowledge on the diverse needs of communities and have immense experience in addressing these challenges. The third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme, which supports the empowerment of women in all areas of life in Türkiye, began in 2025 with the financial support of the European Union, under the coordination of the Directorate for EU Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye. Under the 3-year programme, 25 provincial municipalities from 7 regions of Türkiye are working in cooperation with civil society organizations to take steps toward achieving gender equality at the local level within the scope of the programme. In this context, transfer of knowledge and the sharing of good practices among municipalities are important components of the programme.
Hosted by the Women’s Studies Branch Directorate and the Equality Unit of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Equality Unit, the Department of Social Services, and the Department of Strategy Development of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which has been a member of the WFC Programme since its first phase launched in 2006, shared its experience regarding the programme’s core requirements implemented during the first and second phases. These included the establishment of a Local Equality Unit, the creation of an equality commission within the Municipal Council, the establishment of the Women’s Studies Branch Directorate, and the opening of a Women’s Counseling Center. Izmir also shared its plans for the third phase, particularly the establishment of a Local Equality Council.
Representatives of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, which joined the programme in its third phase, spoke about the women-friendly initiatives they have already launched. Following the signing of the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life (CEMR) and the Women-Friendly Cities Protocol, Manisa Metropolitan Municipality promptly established a Local Equality Unit. In the coming period, the municipality will begin its efforts to establish a local equality commission and to prepare a two-year Local Equality Action Plan.
Manisa and Izmir Metropolitan Municipalities will continue their dialogue and cooperation on challenges and solutions related to gender equality in their cities, in coordination with public institutions and organizations, through a participatory governance approach, in line with Local Equality Plans, and with the support of civil society organizations.
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 are working to ensure gender equality at the local level. Through various mechanisms, the programme aims to promote the widespread adoption of gender-equal practices, while enabling local governments to observe successful initiatives in other provinces and engage in experience sharing.
