An introductory meeting was held for “Women-Friendly Cities Programme III”, which Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality has joined.

The meeting, organised by the Department of Women’s and Family Services, which acts as the local coordinator of the Programme, took place at the Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre.

The event was attended by UNFPA Regional Coordinator Sinem Mısırlıoğlu, UNFPA Local Equality Specialist Roza Erdede Şaraldı, members of the Metropolitan Municipal Council and representatives of the relevant departments of the Metropolitan Municipality.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Head of the Department of Women’s and Family Services Özden Gürbüz Sümer provided participants with information about Women-Friendly Cities Programme III. Gürbüz Sümer said: “We were included in this project as a result of our gender-based work in municipal services, our strategic plan and the activities of our Women’s Policies Department.”

UNFPA Regional Coordinator Sinem Mısırlıoğlu then gave a presentation on the Programme. Outlining its aims and objectives, Mısırlıoğlu provided information on Local Equality Mechanisms, including the Local Equality Unit, Local Equality Commission, Local Equality Board and the Local Action Plan.

The afternoon session was attended by organisations in the city that can operate in line with the objectives of the Women-Friendly Cities Programme and contribute to its implementation.

At the meeting, UNFPA Regional Coordinator Sinem Mısırlıoğlu also spoke about the role of civil society organisations within local equality mechanisms and the framework for cooperation with these structures under the Programme.

Under the Programme, which will be implemented with the financial support of the European Union, in partnership with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB) and under the implementation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), participating municipalities will act as pioneers of gender equality at local level by building women-friendly cities.