Community Forum Locally elected women

One of UCLG's most valuable functions as a global network is its ability to bring together locally elected leaders from across the world to share their challenges, experiences and knowledge. This is particularly true in the case of women, who are still vastly underrepresented; it is estimated that women make up fewer than 20% of councillors and just 5% of mayors worldwide. UCLG hopes its 2016-2019 mandate will be a tipping point for women presence in the organization and to its work fostering women participation across the world.There has never been a more exciting time to bring together locally elected women from across the world. All women and girls in our cities and territories must be empowered to participate in economic, cultural and political life. Female empowerment is both a goal and a means of sustainable urban development and integrating a gender perspective into all local policymaking is essential to the achievement of SDG 5 and the New Urban Agenda.