LPSA’s Thematic Working Group (TWG) on Gender Equity & Women’s Empowerment held a meeting on February 26, 2025 (07:00 EDT / 13:00 CET / 15:00 EAT), focusing on how local governments can effectively tackle gender-based violence (GBV). The session aimed to move beyond policy discussions to concrete actions, exploring collaborative approaches and highlighting effective interventions. The meeting featured presentations from experts in academia, local government, and civil society.
Jacqueline Muthura, Co-Chair/Coordinator of the LPSA Gender Equity & Women’s Empowerment Working Group, opened the meeting, emphasizing the shared commitment to advancing gender equity and strengthening local governance in the fight against GBV.
Dr. Michelle Maziwisa from the Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria provided an overview of GBV and its connection to decentralization in Africa. She emphasized structural inequalities, misogyny, and harmful traditional practices as key contributors to GBV.
Miodrag Kolic from the Network of Associations of Local authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) discussed how local governments can ensure public services address women’s safety needs, presenting a methodology for identifying gender aspects in solid waste management services.
Annelies Coessens from the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and Councillor Flo Clucas explored the issue of digital violence and its impact on women’s political participation. They highlighted the need for online safety policies, digital literacy training, and legal frameworks to criminalize online GBV. Councillor Clucas shared experiences from the UK, detailing measures taken in Cheltenham to support councillors and encourage women’s participation in politics.
The panel discussion, moderated by Paddy Siyanga-Knudsen, explored strategies for fostering cooperation among various stakeholders. Cecile Roth and Benedetta Cosco from United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Secretariat discussed the role of international networks in facilitating movement building among locally elected women and feminist local leaders.
Wangechi Wachira, Executive Director of the Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREA) in Kenya, discussed civil society and local government collaboration, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based models (e.g., the RESPECT framework), county-level policies, dedicated staff, coordination, and engagement with women-led accountability groups.
Dr. Anne Marie Kagwesage, Chairperson of the Local Government Women’s Network in Rwanda, shared strategies including, the advisory role of the Local Government Women’s Network, Isanga one-stop centers, safe shelters, training and capacity building programs, partnerships with organizations, and initiatives to engage both men and women
Key takeaways included the importance of comprehensive approaches combining prevention, protection, and prosecution; the need for collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector; and the critical role of addressing structural inequalities and promoting women’s economic empowerment. The meeting underscored that while legislative frameworks exist globally, implementation gaps persist due to resource constraints, cultural barriers, and lack of coordination across government levels.
A video of the meeting is available on YouTube. The links below provide access to the video segments of the different agenda items.
| Agenda Item | Contributor |
| 1. Introduction and Welcome Remarks | Jacqueline Muthura LPSA Co-Chair and Coordinator, LPSA Gender Equity & Women’s Empowerment Working Group |
| 2. Local Government Initiatives to Tackle GBV: Experiences from Africa | Dr. Michelle R. Maziwisa Programme Manager, Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria |
| 3. Gender Mainstreaming & Inclusive Participation in Local Public Services for Safer Cities | Miodrag Kolic Project Manager, NALAS (Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe) |
| 4. Addressing GBV and Digital Violence in Women’s Political Participation | Annelies Coessens Policy Officer, Gender, Equality, & Migration, CEMR Councillor Flo Clucas Councillor & Cabinet Member, Cheltenham Borough City Council |
| 5. Elevating the Debate: Collaborative Approaches to Empower Local Governments in Addressing GBV | Cécile Roth Partnerships Officer, United Cities and Local Governments Benedetta Cosco Policy Officer, United Cities and Local Governments |
| 6. Enhancing CSO and Local Government Collaboration to Scale GBV Prevention Efforts | Wangechi L. Wachira Executive Director, Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREA), Kenya |
| 7. The Role of Local Government Women’s Networks in Supporting Local Governments to address GBV | Dr. Anne Marie Kagwesage Chairperson, Local Government Women’s Network in Rwanda |
| 8. Closing Remarks | Paddy Knudsen Siyanga LPSA Gender Equity & Women’s Empowerment Working Group |
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