Representatives of public institutions and the EU Delegation to Türkiye gathered for the Women-Friendly Cities

The 1st Steering Committee meeting of the Women-Friendly Cities 3 Programme carried out 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, implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Türkiye in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), and participated by 25 municipalities from 7 regions of Türkiye, was held in Ankara with the attendance of high-level officials from relevant public institutions and the EU Delegation to Türkiye. During the meeting, the level of progress in the programme, the achieved gains, and the steps to be taken for the upcoming period were discussed.

Ankara, Türkiye – The first "Project Steering Committee Meeting" of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme, which aims to ensure that everyone living in the city, especially women and girls,  has equal, safe, and unhindered access to fundamental rights and services, and to ensure gender equality in every field, was held in Ankara. During the meeting, the major achievements obtained thus far within the scope of the programme implemented by UNFPA to create an inclusive, sustainable, and supportive environment for strengthening gender equality at the local level were discussed. Additionally, steps that will be taken in the upcoming period, areas of institutional cooperation, and implementation expectations were evaluated in detail.

Hosted by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, the meeting brought together both technical and high-level representatives from the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education, and the Strategy and Budget Office of the Presidency, alongside the European Union Delegation, which finance the programme and the representatives from UNFPA, which implement it.

In her opening remarks, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye Deputy Secretary General Şengül Altan Arslan stated, “Cities are spaces that shape social relations, cultural values, and collective memory. We are intensifying our efforts in this field for the transformation and development of cities.”

"We are proud to work towards a local governance approach where vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls, can live with equal rights and opportunities," said UNFPA Türkiye Assistant Representative Zeynep Başarankut Kan. She added, "In the third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities programme , we are strengthening local equality by collaborating with 25 municipalities and over 200 civil society organizations across Türkiye. We are delighted that this programme, supported by UNFPA expertise, will make a significant contribution to Türkiye’s national equality goals."

Jean Barbe, Head of the Civil Society and Fundamental Rights Section at the EU Delegation to Türkiye, emphasized the role of cities in social change, stating, “Change often begins at the local level. It is at the local level that the most direct impact on the daily lives of women occurs. The "Women Friendly Cities 3" project is significant as it is designed to ensure that cities are places where women feel safe, respected, and empowered.”

Ahmet Hakan Atik, Head of Department of Project Implementation at the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of international cooperation for gender equality, saying, "We can manage the projects we have designed within the framework of the EU’s priorities and Türkiye’s needs together with the representatives of our esteemed institutions gathered around this table."

In her presentation, Women-Friendly Cities Programme Manager Özlem Çalışkan provided information on the progress made in the 3rd phase of the programme which began at the end of 2024, as well as implementation activities, steps to be taken, targeted achievements, and the awareness and communication activities being conducted.

The first steering committee meeting, which concluded with a Q&A session, offered a significant opportunity to review the progress achieved so far in Women-Friendly Cities 3, evaluate coordination among partners, address implementation situational updates, and determine strategic priorities for the next phase of implementation.

Moving into the second year of the programme, the effective operation of Local Equality Mechanisms in municipalities, the preparation of Local Equality Action Plans, and the direct involvement of civil society in implementation will be among the programme primary priorities. Civil society organizations will play a crucial role in realizing equality policies by both offering technical contributions during the planning phase and monitoring implementation at the local level. At the next Project Steering Committee meeting, with the participation of civil society representatives, the goals will include developing Local Equality Action Plans in a participatory manner, increasing the transparency of practices, and strengthening monitoring and accountability processes.

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.