Local Women Leaders in Seine-Saint-Denis Unite to End Violence Against Women in Politics

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Local Women Leaders in Seine-Saint-Denis Unite to End Violence Against Women in Politics

On last 26-28 November 2024, local and regional elected officials as well as experts met in Bobigny, Seine-Saint-Denis, to discuss and highlight the essential position of local and regional governments in ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

On the occasion of the organisation of the three-day long International Seminar “Towards Caring Territories for Women Victims of Violence” convened by the International Observatory of Violence Against Women (OIVF) of Seine-Saint-Denis with the support of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and supported financially by the French Development Agency (AFD), local decision-makers came together to celebrate the crucial role of LRGs in bringing forward policies and practices aiming at ending all forms of violence against women and girls, especially in political and public spheres.

For three days, participants reflected on the lessons learned over the past three years, shared effective local tools, and explored strategies to build partnerships grounded in human rights. The discussions emphasized the key role of local and regional governments in empowering women, fostering new generations of local women leaders, and promoting solidarity with women worldwide.

The event also provided an opportunity to chart pathways toward Beijing+30 and the 69th session of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women (CSW69) foreseen in March 2025, driven by UCLG’s collaboration with the WYDE program “Women’s Leadership Initiative” funded by the European Union and in partnership with UN Women, International IDEA, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Local and Regional Governments championing Caring Territories for Women and Girls Victims of Violence

The second day of the Seminar included a special focus on the International Program “Caring Territories for Women Victims of Violence”, led by the OIVF, with a special approach on the importance of networks of locally elected women.

It culminated with the a session co-organized within the WYDE project, titled “Caring Territories: Empowering Women in Local Politics: Changing Norms, Ending Violence”. The first panel was moderated by Emilia Saiz, UCLG Secretary General, who emphasized that the WYDE Women’s Leadership initiative fosters dialogue to discuss the struggles and obstacles faced by local governments in empowering women.

Carola Gunnarsson, Councillor of Sala, UCLG Special Envoy for Freedom, Solidarity, and Fighting Violence Against Local Political Leaders, and UCLG Vice-President for Europe, drew attention to the rise of both online and physical violence, undermining women’s rights to participate in democratic and political life. Oriane Filhol, Deputy Mayor and Departmental Councillor of Seine-Saint-Denis, shared how she has received multiple threats during awareness campaigns, calling for mechanisms to halt this cycle.

Faced with these challenges, Hawa Sidibé, First Vice-President of the Nouakchott Region, highlighted the importance of REFELA and the 20% quota for women in her country’s assemblies as crucial to shaping their future. Similarly, Fabiana Goyeneche, Director of International Relations for Montevideo, emphasized the strength of the Feminist Municipal Movement in empowering other women to reach spaces of political leadership.

The second panel was moderated by Cécile Roth, UCLG’s Partnerships Officer and ocal Point for Equality, who shared how the WYDE Women’s Leadership initiative aims to address the issue of social norms hindering women’s political participation. Hélène Bidart, Deputy-Mayor of Paris, emphasised the urgent need to act with radical and very concrete measures to face the multiple dimensions of violences against women such as physical or virtual threats or political discredit, now more than ever reinforced by extreme bipolarisation. Mamou Bamba Diabaté, Mayor of Pelengana and President of REFELA-Mali, and Fatimata Sao, Municipal Councillor of Tevrag Zeina, Nouakchott, reiterated the importance of international women’s networks for empowerment. Finally, Marylin Neven, Head of EU Liaison for International IDEA, acknowledged the challenges and explained that the WYDE program aims to transform social norms and inequalities to empower women to participate fully.

Towards Beijing+30 and CSW69: the essential role of the local level in leveraging policies and tools for inclusive and gender-responsive societies

The 3rd and last day of the Seminar included several dialogues about the implementation of caring territories for women victims of violence around the world, and addressing a large range of topics such as the training of professionals, protecting women in shelters and creating the conditions for a culture of partnership with associations and local residents. Following, a session entitled “Towards Beijing +30: Challenges and Perspectives for Caring Territories” gathered local women elected and experts to discuss key messages and the next steps to prepare for this significant milestone.

Ernestine Ronai shared her experience at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, where cities had already demanded the financial resources necessary to implement public policies to combat all kinds of violence. She emphasized the importance of continuing to address all forms of violence against women, as equality is fundamental to human development. Ana Falú, Executive Director of CISCSA and UCLG Ubuntu Advisor, encouraged participants to recognize the progress made while deepening and safeguarding the feminist agenda achieved so far.

Nelly Ouassenan, Deputy-Mayor of Cocody and copresident of the International Observatory for Participatory Democracy (IOPD) for Gender Equality outlined the crucial role of the Network of Women Local Elected from Africa (REFELA) in facilitating the exchange of experiences on common challenges and practices and consolidating new relationships across local leaders from the region. Mayor of Banjul and President of REFELA, Rohey Malick Lowe, also stressed the importance of women networks in coming up with innovative ideas and moving grounded narratives up to international conversation on gender-based violence.

The debates also featured several key messages shared by the participants, including the need to ensure equality for local women officials driving equal public policies, continue leveraging and strengthening partnerships with civil society and international women’s networks, secure more and better fit resources and guarantee financial autonomy for local initiatives, raise awareness among future generations so that women know their rights from a young age and reaffirm the key role of local and regional governments in ending gender-based violence.

Catalyzing a Movement and Advocacy for Equality: The Critical Role of Locally Elected Women Networks

Finally, the session entitled “Catalyzing a Movement and Advocacy for Equality: The Role of Networks of Locally Elected Women” addressed the critical position of networks in discussing the role, needs, aspirations and common priorities in diverse contexts of locally elected women’s networks to advance the Feminist Municipal Movement, in order to contribute to develop collaborative strategies for international advocacy, aligning efforts among locally elected women and their networks in preparation for the celebrations of Beijing+30, and highlighting those networks as essential actors for the equitable representation of the local government constituency and its role in leading the way to equality.

Maria Alejandra Rico Falla, Head of Programmes of UCLG opened the session recorded the main tracks of UCLG activities organised under the WYDE initiative umbrella: enhancing networks and opening spaces for women local leaders, building vision on capacity building and mentoring, strengthening and consolidating institutional capacity and enhancing the link with civil society to transform social norms. Cécile Roth, UCLG Partnerships Officer and Focal Point for Equality, stressed the need to gather priorities and visions for the future through local movement-building not only in the networks inwards, but also outwards, as a collective sense and sorority.

Following the welcoming words of UCLG Secretary General Emilia Saiz and Mayor of Banjul and President of REFELA, Rohey Malick Lowe, the first segment of the session allowed Nelly Ouassenan, Deputy Mayor of Cocody and copresident of the IOPD for Gender Equality, Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, Vice Chairman of Ikorodu and National Chairman of the Association of Local Government Vice Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGOVC) to share inspiring words on how knowledge sharing practices, reciprocal empowerment and transmission through those networks are key to develop a common narrative and articulated vision to reinforce advocacy processes worldwide.

Following, Mamou Bamba Diabaté, Mayor of Pelengana and President of REFELA-Mali, Gertrude Nadia Sèna Dossa, Deputy Mayor, Head of the 2nd District of Porto Novo and Member of the YELO network, as well as Élise Pereira Nunes, Deputy Mayor of Tours in charge of Gender Equality and International Relations and President of the Gender Equality Unit of Cités Unies France (CUF) reflected on opportunities for joint strategies towards Beijing+30 and the way to build on a collective process towards the effective realisation of gender equality and women’s empowerment across the globe.

The session then facilitated an open discussion between the panelists and the audience, including enlightening comments from Tamyris Elpidio, Coordinator of the Gender Thematic Unit of Mercociudades from Niterói; Claire Tawab Kebay, Deputy Mayor in charge of Early Childhood and the Fight against Discrimination in Grigny; Aissata Bâ, Mayor of Sebkha and member of the YELO Network; Hawa Sidibé, first Vice President of the Nouakchott Region; Kiné Fall, Second Elected Secretary of the Ziguinchor Departmental Council; Ernestine Ronai, Head of the International Observatory of Violence Against Women (OIVF), Seine-Saint-Denis Department; Fabiana Goyeneche, Director of International Relations in Montevideo; and Ana Falú, Executive Director of CISCSA and UCLG Ubuntu Advisor.

The “Towards Caring Territories for Women Victims of Violence” programme has laid the foundation for global change, as emphasized by Emilia Saiz. From the creation of observatories to the economic empowerment of women, local initiatives are essential to combating all kinds of violence against women. This seminar demonstrated that local governments, in collaboration with civil society and global networks, have the power to transform realities and build a more equal future.

Looking ahead, UCLG will continue to champion, through strategic milestones in 2025, the review of the challenges and opportunities for local governments in localizing the Beijing Platform for Action, including the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, the High-Level Political Forum and the review of SDG 5, and the World Social Summit, as well as other events focusing on women's political participation, peace, culture, and more. These will be key moments for reaffirming local governments’ role in achieving equality and fostering resilience. Stay tuned for updates as we advance a shared agenda for democracy, empowerment, and local feminist leadership in the months to come.

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Local Women Leaders in Seine-Saint-Denis Unite to End Violence Against Women in Politics