LOCAL EQUALITY ACTIONS PLANS
Local Equality Action Plans (LEAPs) are strategic documents that consider the rights and needs of everyone living in the city, in line with the goal of quality between women and men, and determine the roadmap that local governments will follow regarding service planning and resource distribution with this equality goal.
The plans developed and supported under the Women-Friendly Cities Programme include concrete steps that municipalities will take to ensure that women and girls can equally benefit from municipal services and the economic, social and cultural opportunities offered by the city through these services, that they participate equally in all areas of urban life, and that they are equally represented in decision-making processes.
LEAPs are prepared as realistic and result-oriented documents that analyze the current situation in the city and offer applicable solutions. They include holistic and integrated goals and action areas within a very broad framework, from education to health, from employment to urban planning, from infrastructure to transportation, from social development to urban resilience against crises and participation in decision-making processes. For instance, it sets out holistic actions that complement each other in the areas of women's participation in the workforce, the development of employability skills, easy access to educational opportunities, safe and accessible transportation services, the creation of a violence-free living environment and equality of opportunity.
The strongest aspects of the plans are that they are prepared with a participatory approach, in a context where good governance principles are adopted, and that they are implemented and monitored through the necessary transparency and accountability processes. Public institutions, especially municipalities, women's associations and non-governmental organizations operating in different thematic areas, universities, professional chambers and private sector representatives directly contribute to the process through organized workshops and joint evaluation meetings.
Local Equality Action Plans (LEAPs):
-
Comply with national and international documents such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration, the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life, the Strategy Document and Action Plan for the Empowerment of Women, and the National Action Plans on Prevention of Violence Against Women,
-
Aim for equal, active and safe participation of women and vulnerable groups in urban life,
-
Support the development of a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable service approach in local governments. Thus, it also contributes to increasing the institutional resilience of urban and local governments.
LEAPs are not just planning documents; but are an effective tool that enables the local implementation of an inclusive and transformation-oriented urban vision based on equality between women and men. It shows the vision and willingness of the municipality, city administrators and citizens in this direction.
To highlight the diverse experiences of municipalities in the field of equality between women and men, to ensure the dissemination of good practices, and encourage the participation of all citizens in the implementation of these plans, you can view the province-based Local Equality Action Plans we have shared here.