Activities of the Local Projects
Local Projects and Transnational Exchange
The main focus of the project activities is the implementation of the local
projects and the transnational exchange about experiences, methods and results.
The mainstreaming of the results and products of "Sister Cities Going Gender"
takes place at theFinal Results of the project "Equality in European local
and regional authorities", CEMR, in Brussels. In order to build up a network
of European cities that supports the implementation of gender mainstreaming
for a democratization of decision-making processes in the long run, further
partner cities which already have established good gender practices are going
to be contacted and asked to present their experiences and models at the two
working meetings of "Sister Cities Going Gender".
Local Projects
Every European City and partner is developing a Local Project:
- Frankfurt, Germany: Democratization of procedures of political decision-making and decision-making bodies by introducing gender mainstreaming as a compulsory tool into the community
- Rotterdam, Netherlands and Rome, Italy: Transparency with regard to the unequal mechanisms of distribution of community budgets by introducing gender budgets in exemplary areas
- Venice, Italy: Empowerment of women in community administration and in communal politics by empowerment trainings
- Torino, Italy: Transparency with regard to the career mechanisms and the structural obstacles for men and women in reaching leading positions by a comparative analysis in the administration, in the profit and in the non-profit sector
- Verein Autonome Österreichische Frauenhäuser, AÖF, Vienna, Austria: an expertise on the danger of decreasing positive action programs for achieving an equal participation of both genders in processes of decision-making in the course of the implementation of gender mainstreaming
- Transnational Project: Council of European Municipalities and Regions, CEMR, Paris, France: "Equality in European Towns"
Methods to be used
"Sister Cities Going Gender" recognizes the introduction of the strategy of
gender mainstreaming in community administrations and politics as a methodological
approach. It makes the structural obstacles for the representation of women
in leading positions transparent and develops solutions with long-lasting effects
for a stronger participation of women. The local projects of "Sister Cities
Going Gender" provide a mix of methods of approaches with different aims: changing
the structures in politics and administration (e.g. gender budget) and approaches
which support positive action for women supporting their empowerment to reach
leading positions (trainings, expertise). This approach thus understands gender
mainstreaming as a double strategy to achieve an equal participation of women
and men in positions of decision-making.