“Sexism is rooted in the historically unequal power relations between women and men and needs to be addressed as a form of violence against women,” reaffirmed Jelena Drenjanin, Congress Spokesperson on Gender Equality, on the occasion of the Forum of Equal Rights and Opportunities, hosted by the City of Kyiv on 3 September 2020. Speaking in the panel discussion on effective practices to combat domestic and gender-based violence, she stressed that “the Congress advocates for introduction of strong legislation and support to victims with the involvement of local authorities. We are committed to supporting local and regional authorities in raising awareness of the magnitude and consequences of sexist attitudes and prejudice.”

Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress, underlined that local politics was an important area for ensuring equality as it is often an entry point for women into political life. The equal participation of women and men in public life and in decision-making is essential to building more inclusive societies, and is a prerequisite for the respect of fundamental rights. “This is why the Congress encourages local and regional authorities to take appropriate measures so that women can find their place in public office on an equal footing with men,” he added.

The Forum was opened by Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko, Chair of the Association of Ukrainian Cities and aimed to exchange practices and challenges in implementing gender equality policies at local level. The event gathered together the representatives of other European capital and large cities, such as Athens, Bern, Helsinki, Stockholm, as well as Poznan and Bristol, local elected representatives from Ukraine, members of the Parliament and the Government and international stakeholders in Ukraine.

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