An international conference entitled ‘Reforming Power for Equality: Women’s Political Participation and the Future of Democracy’ was hosted in Stockholm on 23-24 September. The event was organised by SALAR International in partnership with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

The event brought together about 100 leaders, politicians, and experts from 48 countries to discuss how to strengthen feminist leadership and develop democracy at the present stage.

With the support of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme ‘Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine’, Ukraine was represented at the conference by Nataliia Petrenko, Head of the military administration of the Shulhynka community (Luhansk region) and representative of the Women in Governance network, and Yuliia Savelieva, Polaris gender expert.

During the two-day event, panel discussions and dialogues were held on women’s participation in politics and the role of local government in creating more inclusive societies. Speakers from Africa, Europe, Latin America, and other regions of the world shared their experiences and practices of making governance more responsive to women’s needs.

Key highlights of the event:

• Strengthening alliances, networks, sharing experience, and mentoring as important tools for collective action and the promotion of gender equality — developing mutual support and joint learning.
• Emphasising the key role of feminist leadership in shaping inclusive local policies and political systems.
• Analysing how local and regional authorities can promote gender-sensitive governance.
• Using Swedish experience at the local level and concrete achievements as a benchmark for gender equality and democratic renewal, providing practical examples that inspire broader change.
• Promoting gender-disaggregated data as a basis for evidence-based local planning and action on gender equality.
• Engaging men as active partners in promoting gender equality and inclusive change.

The Ukrainian context proved to be particularly important, as Russia’s full-scale war has created new challenges for women in politics and for democracy in general. The delegation presented the newly created Women in Government network, which is a joint initiative of three national associations of local governments: the AAATC, the VAG, and the UAROR. Together with the participants of the event, they elaborated a vision for the network’s future development.

‘The Women in Government network is about mutual support and exchange of experience among women politicians on the peer-to-peer principle, about security and self-confidence, about helping to solve challenges faced by women in politics. In addition, my mission as a politician is to remind the world of the threat facing democratic Ukraine, namely the attack on the principles of freedom and respect for diversity, equality, and the value of every human being. The masculine, militant way of organising the world, which is what Russia’s dictatorship strives for, shows us that life and privileges are only possible for the strong and armed. This is a risk not only for women, but for the whole of civilisation,’ says Natalia Petrenko, Deputy Chair of the AAATC, Head of the Luhansk Regional Branch of the AAATC, Head of the Shulhynka Community in the Luhansk Region.

‘Laws that effectively protect against discrimination and violence in all areas of life, including politics, the formation of the value of equality, and countering impunity for violations of rights at all levels are the key to expanding women’s political participation. To this end, Ukrainian civil society organisations are consolidating their positions, the Polaris Programme is being implemented, and decentralisation reform is underway. Without exaggeration, women’s participation and influence in these processes is vitally important,’ said Yuliia Savelieva.