A new women-friendly step from Niğde: Equitable transformation in local government
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
Setting out with the slogan “Equality Begins Locally” and aiming to ensure gender equality in all areas of life, Niğde Municipality, one of the 25 provincial municipalities participating in the third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities (WFC) Programme, took a new step today by organizing its first Local Equality and Women’s Workshop under WFC 3. Organized to support a more equitable and inclusive approach in local government, the workshop brought together Niğde Mayor Emrah Özdemir, Niğde Deputy Governor Soner Divli, and participants from various sectors to discuss the city's needs and solution proposals to make Niğde a more women-friendly city. Leman Yenigün, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services, also attended the workshop via video conference.
Niğde, Türkiye - The third phase of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme, which supports the empowerment of women in all aspects of life in Türkiye, carried out under the coordination of the Directorate for EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the financial support of the European Union, and in partnership with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), is being implemented across 25 provinces in Türkiye's seven regions. Niğde Municipality is among the participants aiming to create more inclusive, safe, and accessible living spaces for all residents, especially women and girls.
On April 14, 2026, the Municipality hosted the first "Local Equality and Women’s Workshop" under the third phase of the WFC Programme. Organized to institutionalize the gender equality approach in every field of urban management, the workshop also marks the first workshop focused on women's rights in the history of Niğde Municipality.
“A Future Where Women Have a Greater Say”
The opening speeches of the workshop, which brought together representatives from public institutions, local governments, civil society, and academia, were delivered by high-level officials, including Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Leman Yenigün, Wife of the Governor of Niğde Hacer Akmeşe, Niğde Mayor Emrah Özdemir, Wife of the Mayor of Niğde Duygu Özdemir, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Türkiye WFC Programme Manager Özlem Çalışkan.
Attending the workshop via video conference from Ankara, Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Leman Yenigün stated; “Cities where women take a stronger place in employment, local decision-making processes, and social life grow more inclusively and become more resilient to crises. Because the development of the local level means the development of Türkiye as a whole.”
Niğde Mayor Emrah Özdemir emphasized that the ultimate goal of Niğde Municipality is to reach a point where gender equality no longer needs to be an issue to discuss; “Our true target is the point where there is no longer a need for a workshop regarding women, no need for a specific directorate for women within the municipality, and no need for any efforts to implement positive discrimination. Joining the Women-Friendly Cities Programme has been a great beginning for us on the path toward this goal,” he said.
UNFPA Women-Friendly Cities Programme Manager Özlem Çalışkan highlighted that; “Women-Friendly Cities are the key to a more inclusive, safer, and more habitable future for everyone living in the city, especially women and girls,” she added; “Niğde is one of the strong local examples building this future today.”
Shaping Niğde’s Future under 7 Key Headings
Following the opening speeches, seven strategic working groups were established, consisting of representatives from academia, civil society, and the public sector. An evidence-based approach was used to examine the needs for ensuring gender equality in Niğde across various thematic areas from health and safety to education and employment, and multi-stakeholder solution proposals were developed. These proposals focused primarily on increasing access to urban services, strengthening care services, and expanding information and awareness efforts.
Carefully examining the resulting solution proposals, Niğde Deputy Governor Soner Divli discussed with participants on integrating these outputs into province-wide policies. “I am confident that the action plan arising from today’s work will provide an excellent guide for many future steps. In the decisions we make, I will look to the points you have highlighted, written, and voiced here to ensure we are making the most accurate choices,” he said.
Sustainable Equality and Development through Local Equality Action Plans
The strategic working groups will continue their activities after the workshop. The workshop outputs, which focus on women's needs and solution proposals, will guide the municipality’s budgeting and planning processes. At the same time, they will direct women-friendly policies by creating a strategic roadmap for institutionalizing a more inclusive and rights-based management model in Niğde.
In this context, the Local Equality Action Plan to be prepared will prioritize the needs of women in many areas, from health and transportation to employment and social services. Carried out under the slogan “Strong Women, Strong Cities,” these efforts aim to transform Niğde into a more equal and participatory city for all its residents, particularly women and girls.
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.
