Women Mayors: Empowering Urban Leadership for a Sustainable Future

On 12 October 2026, GWL Voices joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva in convening Women Mayors: Empowering Urban Leadership for a Sustainable Future, an official side event of the sixth meeting of the United Nations Forum of Mayors in Geneva. Featuring women mayors and local leaders from different regions, the event explored the barriers women face in political leadership and how their participation can contribute to more inclusive, sustainable and responsive cities.

Moderated by Ms. Susana Malcorra, President of GWL Voices, the discussion highlighted the importance of local leadership in translating global commitments into tangible improvements in people’s everyday lives, from access to housing, education and care to safe public spaces and transport. Drawing on UN Women data and GWL Voices’ Women in Politics initiative, Ms. Malcorra underscored the persistent underrepresentation of women in local government, particularly in executive positions where their representation remains even lower than in local deliberative bodies. In the six Latin American countries covered by Bridging the Leadership Gap: Women in Local and Regional Governments in Latin America, women held only 17% of mayoralties. Similar disparities are evident in the European Union, where women accounted for fewer than 19% of mayors in 2025.

These gaps have consequences beyond representation. Local governments make decisions that shape communities’ daily lives, and when women are excluded from leadership, their experiences and priorities risk being overlooked. As Ms. Malcorra emphasized, the challenge is not only to increase the number of women in office, but also to ensure they have the resources, authority and institutional support needed to lead effectively.

Addressing the barriers to women’s political participation

Across the discussion, participants highlighted structural barriers that continue to limit women’s access to political leadership, including unpaid care responsibilities, gender-based violence, discrimination and unequal access to resources. Karina Delfino, Mayor of Quinta Normal, Chile, drawing on her experience of entering politics as a young woman, stressed that women’s exclusion from decision-making also means that issues affecting them risk being neglected. She identified care systems that enable women to participate in public life and gender quotas that help advance equal representation as essential measures to close the gap.

Emiriana Sako, Mayor of Durrës, Albania, highlighted the persistence of gender stereotypes in public leadership. Recalling an incident in which an elderly man entered her office and asked where the mayor was, expecting a man to hold the position, she illustrated how deeply ingrained assumptions about leadership remain. Sako also pointed to the importance of gender quotas and legal measures in increasing women’s participation, while warning of the sexist attacks and manipulated images that women in public life can face. As she noted, when women are intimidated or silenced, society loses perspective.

The realities of leading cities as women

Women mayors and local leaders from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, India, Portugal and Switzerland shared experiences that revealed how similar challenges emerge across different political and cultural contexts.

Jane Meagher, Council Leader of Edinburgh, reflected on the shared experiences of women leading cities across continents. “I’m privileged to be among women leading cities in three different continents,” she said, adding that “we have all experienced similar barriers.” She highlighted the particular difficulties of balancing political responsibilities with caring for children and elderly relatives, noting that mayors are expected to remain available at all times. These demands, she explained, disproportionately affect women because of the unequal distribution of care responsibilities.

Jane Meagher also drew attention to the unequal recognition women can receive in political settings, observing: “I suggest an idea and it’s rejected but when a man suggests it, it is accepted.” Her remarks highlighted how barriers persist even after women have reached positions of authority, reinforcing the need to address institutional cultures and social norms as well as access to leadership.

The discussion also explored the concept of the glass cliff: women who reach leadership positions may be expected to resolve longstanding problems immediately, often without realistic timeframes, sufficient resources or institutional support. This creates an additional burden for women leaders and underscores the importance of transforming the conditions in which leadership takes place, rather than focusing exclusively on who occupies political office.

Education and the development of local communities also emerged as important priorities. Julaihah Jamaludin, mayor of Hulu Selangor, Malaysia, emphasized the central role of education in driving transformation. Himgauri Balasaheb Aher, Mayor of Nashik, India, highlighted the importance of expanding opportunities for women to enter politics and participate in decision-making. Reflecting on the value of education, she stressed that its value lies not simply in formal qualifications, but in the ability to make informed decisions and determine what is right.

From representation to action: Transforming cities through women’s leadership

Participants identified practical measures that can strengthen women’s leadership and enable them to deliver change. Gender quotas were recognized as an important mechanism for increasing representation, while accessible care systems were highlighted as essential to ensuring that women can participate in political and public life. Addressing gender-based violence, challenging stereotypes and ensuring that women have the resources to exercise their responsibilities were also identified as priorities.

Christina Kitsos, Mayor of Geneva, highlighted the importance of understanding different perspectives when establishing local priorities, including issues such as access to water. Her reflections reinforced the role of empathy in public leadership, not simply as an attitude, but as a basis for taking action in response to people’s needs.

Marta Prates, Mayor of Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal, emphasized the importance of solidarity and cooperation among women leaders, particularly in helping them balance political and family responsibilities. She highlighted mentoring, sharing experiences and supporting the next generation as ways to create new opportunities for women in public life. As she put it, “Our success cannot be individual; it must support and open the opportunity for others.” She also stressed the importance of collective action: “We have to be one voice together and not the contrary.”

Connecting local leadership with global commitments

In her closing reflections, Ms. Malcorra emphasized that the challenges facing women do not disappear when they take office. These challenges often persist and take new forms once women assume leadership responsibilities. Women need the authority and resources to turn their priorities into action, while institutions must provide the conditions that enable them to lead effectively.

The event reaffirmed that increasing women’s representation must go hand in hand with transforming the systems in which they lead. As Malcorra emphasized, GWL Voices will continue facilitating exchanges of experience and building connections among women in politics, bridging the gap between multilateral commitments and local leadership. Advancing this agenda requires sustained collaboration, practical measures and partnerships that enable women not only to reach leadership positions, but also to exercise their authority and shape a more sustainable future for all.