On 5–6 June 2025, Yellow Window joins local and international actors at FEMCITIES 2025 in Athens to engage in a much-needed dialogue on gender-based violence at municipal level. This year’s conference, hosted under the theme “Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Policy Responses” focuses on multi-level interventions from victim protection to policy reform and provides a vital space for sharing strategies that work.
Yellow Window, as a long-standing partner in advancing institutional change, participates in this exchange by bringing insights from its participation in the UniSAFE and GenderSAFE projects. At the heart of this work lies the 7P Framework, a holistic approach for designing and assessing gender-based violence policies within institutions. First published in Social Sciences (Mergaert, Linková & Strid, 2023), the 7P model extends beyond conventional prevention, protection and prosecution frameworks, introducing seven interconnected pillars.
How Municipalities Can Implement the 7Ps Internally
1. Policy
Municipalities can strengthen their commitment to tackling gender-based violence by developing clear internal policies that outline shared values, institutional responsibilities and zero-tolerance principles. Involving a diverse group of staff in shaping these frameworks ensures relevance and ownership.
2. Prevalence
Understanding the scale and nature of gender-based violence within the workforce is an important step toward meaningful action. Regular, anonymous staff surveys and internal reviews can support evidence-based decision-making and signal that the issue is taken seriously.
3. Prevention
Creating a safe and respectful work environment involves ongoing education. Awareness-raising initiatives, Consistent messaging through trainings, campaigns and codes of conduct contribute to culture change at all levels of the municipality.
4. Protection
Ensuring that employees feel safe and confident to report incidents is fundamental. Effective protection measures include clear reporting procedures, confidentiality safeguards, protection from retaliation and access to designated contact persons or support teams.
5. Prosecution
When incidents occur, it is essential to have robust internal procedures in place. Transparent investigation processes, timely responses and proportionate sanctions help ensure institutional trust and accountability.
6. Provision of Services
Whether through in-house services or partnerships with external providers, municipalities can support affected employees by facilitating access to counselling, legal guidance and occupational health services. Supporting staff wellbeing is integral to an inclusive workplace.
7. Partnerships
Progress is stronger when built together. Collaboration with trade unions, local organisations, equality bodies and other municipalities can strengthen shared learning, advocacy and systemic change.
Addressing gender-based violence within municipalities requires more than reactive measures. It demands a proactive, structured and institution-wide response. The 7P framework offers a comprehensive roadmap to support this shift, helping local governments move from commitment to implementation. As municipalities continue to be at the forefront of public service delivery and organisational innovation, embracing such holistic approach is key to fostering safe, inclusive and equitable work environments for all.
FEMCITIES 2025 provides an important opportunity to share knowledge, reinforce solidarity across cities, and elevate local responses to gender-based violence as part of broader efforts toward gender equality. We look forward to continuing these conversations and advancing institutional change in collaboration with committed partners across Europe.
Explore the 7P framework and practices at www.unisafe-toolkit.eu
Reference
Mergaert, L., Linková, M., & Strid, S. (2023). Theorising Gender-Based Violence Policies: A 7P Framework. Social Sciences, 12(7), 385. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070385
