Mayor's Guide: Accelerating Gender Equality. Strengthening Communities by Advancing Women and Girls
This is a USA-focused guide for American mayors on how to promote gender equality in cities and local government. It features many case studies –one of them on CEDAW implementation in San Francisco- recommendations, links to complementary studies, documentaries, resource groups and pages, etc.
The purpose of the guide is to provide U.S. mayors a “toolkit” of readily accessible resources, tangible solutions and existing programs that accelerate the advancement of women and girls in local communities. We hope it is widely shared with elected officials and key influencers at every level. Despite many gains for women over the past century, there is still significant gender disparity in society. Women are still grossly underrepresented at the top levels of government, business, media and academia. Women still earn less than men and face different economic, social and political challenges. Mayors have significant opportunities to affect the lives of women and girls by how they govern. For example, our cities train police officers to respond to domestic violence; address workplace conditions and pay; hire staff to run the city; and provide opportunities for civic engagement, such as appointing residents to boards and commissions. With specific attention paid to gender equality within each of these functions (and more), mayors can ensure that women and girls are fairly treated and represented. This guide is designed to support mayors who want to govern with a gender lens to determine how all decisions, municipal policies and programs—including budgeting, training and hiring—affect women and girls. With that awareness, mayors can improve the lives of women and girls, strengthen families, and create stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities for all.
This is a USA-focused guide for American mayors on how to promote gender equality in cities and local government. It features many case studies –one of them on CEDAW implementation in San Francisco- recommendations, links to complementary studies, documentaries, resource groups and pages, etc.
The purpose of the guide is to provide U.S. mayors a “toolkit” of readily accessible resources, tangible solutions and existing programs that accelerate the advancement of women and girls in local communities. We hope it is widely shared with elected officials and key influencers at every level. Despite many gains for women over the past century, there is still significant gender disparity in society. Women are still grossly underrepresented at the top levels of government, business, media and academia. Women still earn less than men and face different economic, social and political challenges. Mayors have significant opportunities to affect the lives of women and girls by how they govern. For example, our cities train police officers to respond to domestic violence; address workplace conditions and pay; hire staff to run the city; and provide opportunities for civic engagement, such as appointing residents to boards and commissions. With specific attention paid to gender equality within each of these functions (and more), mayors can ensure that women and girls are fairly treated and represented. This guide is designed to support mayors who want to govern with a gender lens to determine how all decisions, municipal policies and programs—including budgeting, training and hiring—affect women and girls. With that awareness, mayors can improve the lives of women and girls, strengthen families, and create stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities for all.