Globally, women make up just 31% of elected officials in local government, underscoring the persistent challenges of gender inequality in leadership and decision-making. In Europe, the situation is similar, with significant gender gaps in municipal workplaces and governance. This International Women’s Day, we call on municipalities to take action to close these gaps and foster truly inclusive communities.
Municipalities play a critical role in advancing gender equality. As employers, policymakers, and community leaders, they can set the tone for equitable practices and opportunities. However, achieving lasting change requires concrete actions and evidence-based strategies.
Some statistics on Gender Equality in Europe
- As of 2021, the gender pay gap in the EU stands at 12.7%, indicating that women earn, on average, 12.7% less per hour than men. European Commission
- The gender pay gap varies significantly across EU Member States, ranging from -0.7% in Luxembourg to 21.3% in Estonia.
- The new European Commission, formed in 2024, has seen a decline in female representation, with only seven out of 27 commissioners being women—the fewest since 2004.
What municipalities can do
This year’s International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on progress and commit to future action. By using the DEI Capacity Assessment Tool, municipalities can create equitable policies, foster inclusive workplaces and set a precedent for gender equality in governance.
The DEI Capacity Assessment Tool provides municipalities with the means to evaluate their current efforts and identify areas for improvement. By leveraging this tool, municipalities can pinpoint areas where processes can be improved to ensure fairness with actionable insights to help municipalities advance women into decision-making positions.
Municipalities across Europe are invited to:
- Explore the DEI Capacity Assessment Tool and assess their gender equality efforts.
- Share their progress and inspire others to follow suit.
📢 Celebrate Women’s Day: Commit to evaluating and advancing your municipality’s gender equality efforts. Start your journey today with the DEI Capacity Assessment Tool.
Let’s work together to build inclusive municipalities where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. Together, we can make gender equality a reality.
