As municipalities across Europe join the global call to end violence against women on 25 November, the #InsideInclusionEU campaign brings the focus home: What structures are in place to ensure that every employee feels safe, respected and supported at work?
For municipal staff, particularly women and marginalised groups, gender-based violence can manifest not only in community settings but within the institution itself. From harassment and intimidation to coercion and abuse of power, gender-based violence in the workplace undermines trust, safety and the very legitimacy of public institutions. Creating safe and inclusive municipal workplaces requires more than awareness. It calls for institutional commitment, systemic change, and action grounded in accountability.
The evidence is clear
- 62 million women in the EU have experienced gender-based violence since age 15 (FRA, 2021)
- Most incidents in the workplace are never reported due to fear of retaliation, disbelief or institutional silence (EIGE, 2023)
- In municipal contexts, power asymmetries, weak procedures and undertrained leadership often compound the risks
Gender-based violence is not rare. It is widespread. And when tolerated even passively it becomes institutional.
A roadmap for municipalities: The 7P Framework
At FEMCITIES 2025, the DiGiN team joined cities across Europe to discuss practical solutions to address gender-based violence in local governance. A central focus was the 7P Framework, developed through the UniSAFE and GenderSAFE projects and designed to support institutions in creating safe, inclusive environments.
Here’s how municipalities can apply the 7Ps internally:
- Policy – Develop clear internal gender-based violence policies, co-designed with staff, outlining zero tolerance, roles, and procedures
- Prevalence – Use anonymous surveys and internal assessments to understand and monitor workplace gender-based violence
- Prevention – Train all staff, revise codes of conduct, and communicate expectations consistently
- Protection – Set up confidential, trusted reporting systems and protect whistleblowers
- Prosecution – Ensure timely, fair investigations and enforce proportional consequences
- Provision of Services – Facilitate access to counselling, legal aid, and other support for affected staff
- Partnerships – Collaborate with trade unions, NGOs, equality bodies and peer municipalities
Learn more about the 7P model in our latest blog post from FEMCITIES 2025: “Addressing gender-based violence in Municipalities Using the 7P Approach”
What can municipalities do?
A serious approach to addressing workplace gender-based violence includes clear policies, well-defined procedures, institutional training and survivor-centred support. Here are core resources to guide municipalities:
UniSAFE 7P Framework & Toolkit
Developed through an EU-funded research project, this toolkit offers municipalities a comprehensive and operational approach across seven dimensions: Prevalence, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Provision of Services, Partnerships, and Policy. It includes guidance for assessing institutional culture, implementing prevention strategies, and monitoring progress over time.
ILO Convention No. 190 & Employer Guide
The first international treaty recognising the right to a workplace free from violence and harassment. Municipalities can draw from the ILO’s practical guide to build confidential reporting systems, conduct risk assessments, train supervisors, and fulfil legal obligations.
GenderSAFE & FemCities Resources
City-level inspiring practices from task forces to action plans show how municipalities are applying intersectional gender-based violence frameworks internally. These include partnerships with women’s organisations, anonymous surveys, survivor support mechanisms, and clear staff guidance.
Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe)
Ratified by most EU countries, the Convention obliges public institutions to prevent and address harassment and violence, including in the workplace. Municipal compliance is essential for national implementation.
Use the tools: assess, improve, transform
Use the DEI Capacity Assessment Tool to evaluate your institution’s practices in:
- Prevention and protection mechanisms
- Internal reporting procedures
- Staff training and organisational culture
- Policies aligned with EU and international standards
The tool provides a clear benchmark and actionable guidance to support continuous improvement.
25 November: Make the commitment visible
On this day, municipalities can:
- Publicly reaffirm a zero-tolerance stance on workplace GBV
- Review or update internal protocols on harassment and support
- Launch staff consultations or training sessions
- Host a 30-minute staff briefing or info session: Organise a short staff info session to present internal protocols and available support services
- Display posters or digital signage: Display visible materials (posters, screensavers, signage) in municipal spaces to promote a culture of respect and raise awareness about confidential reporting channels
- Share their progress using #InsideInclusionEU and encourage other cities to follow
Gender-based violence is not inevitable, it is systemic. And what is systemic can be changed. Let’s begin with where we work.
