Once every three years, local and regional leaders come together for their most important global gathering: the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders and UCLG Congress. The 2016 edition was held in Bogotá, Colombia from 12-15 October. The Summit saw the adoption of the joint statement of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments on the New Urban Agenda, which was presented at the Habitat III Conference in Quito on 16 October.
In addition, the Congress elected a new Presidency for UCLG for the period 2016-2019 and approved the “Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda” as its main political output and as UCLG’s contribution to the global debate on sustainable development. The Congress also saw the presentation of the Fourth Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD IV) – Co-Creating the Urban Future, which explores how the New Urban Agenda can be achieved everywhere, in cities and regions large and small.
Here are the main highlights of our meetings in Bogotá.
The main political outputs:
New UCLG presidency
The UCLG Bogotá commitment
GOLD IV Report
The main moments:
- Official opening ceremony
- UCLG General Assembly
- The 2nd World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments
- The Network Hub
The themes we discussed about:
- The Learning Agenda
- Permanent Working Platform: Co-creating the city
- The Right to the City at the heart of the New Urban Agenda
- Financing the New Urban Agenda
- Public Space
- Culture as a dimension of urban transformation
- Community forum locally elected women
New UCLG presidency
The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders culminated on Saturday 15th of October in Bogota with the announcement of the new Presidency of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
At the Opening of The World Council Kadir Topbas expressed his gratitude to Enrique Peñalosa, Mayor of Bogota, Colombian authorities for their hospitality and the Latin American Section of UCLG. He also stressed the diversity of exchanges that took place during these four days that reinforces the richness and diversity of the great network of UCLG.
The candidates to the Presidency were Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan (Russian Federation) and Mpho Parks Tau, President of the South African Association of Local Governments and Councilor of Johannesburg (South Africa).
Mpho Parks Tau, President of the South African Association of Local Governments and Councilor of Johannesburg (South Africa) was elected President of the Organisation.
My main priority in my role as President of UCLG will be to foster new partnerships that will provide new solutions to local communities from across the world and implement the sustainable development goals. This new Agenda is a new agenda for all regions of the world that will contribute to its development and learning. The diversity of the new Presidency will ensure it.
Mpho Parks Tau, President of UCLG
[FRENCH] CGLU élit sa nouvelle présidence à Bogota
Read Expression of Gratitude by UCLG President to inmediate past President
Watch: Ban ki-moon message at the Opening of the World Summit
The UCLG Bogotá commitment and Action Agenda
The World Council, UCLG’s principle policy-making body, approved the “Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda” as the main political output of the Congress.
The Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda is the result of an extensive in-depth consultation process with UCLG’s members across the world, including elected leaders and local government professionals representing metropolitan governments, peripheral and intermediary cities, small towns and regional administrations. These consultations included the debates held as part of global processes such as the 2030 Agenda and Habitat III, as well as those carried out by UCLG as part of the research for the fourth report of UCLG’s Global Observatory on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD IV), “Co-creating the Urban Future”.
The Bogotá Commitment argues that current global challenges represent an unprecedented opportunity to drive sustainable development, and that “local and regional governments will need to be at the centre of the public policy process, translating normative ideals into concrete policies and practical investments that will remake human settlements as the primary driver of a new, sustainable era.” It also posits that “the answers generated within urban settlements and territories will pave the way for global solutions”.
The Bogotá Commitment is followed by the Bogotá Action Agenda, a series of local, national and global actions that will be necessary in order to achieve the major global sustainable development agendas, including the 2030 Agenda, The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III.
The Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda is UCLG’s contribution to the global debate on sustainable development, and complements the statement of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments to Habitat III, adopted on 14 October, also in the framework of the UCLG Congress.
Read the commitment!
GOLD IV Report
The Fourth Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD IV) – Co-Creating the Urban Future explores how the New Urban Agenda can be achieved everywhere, in cities and regions large and small. It was presented in Bogotá at the opening of the last day of the 5th World Congress of UCLG. Elected local leaders, academics and experts took the floor to present the publication, its contents and its scope. Since 2008, the GOLD reports have grown into a landmark publication and a reference worldwide for the study of the most pressing issues affecting and driving the decision of local governments around the world. GOLD IV, in particular, addresses the challenges and opportunities that local and regional governments faces for the implementation of the new global development agendas and, particularly, the SDGs, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the New Urban Agenda.
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] Co-creating the Urban Future – Launch of the 4th Global Report of Local Democracy and Decentralization
[FRENCH] Co-créer le future urbain – Lancement du 4ème Rapport Mondial sur la Démocratie Locale et la Décentralisation
[SPANISH] Co-crear el futuro urbano - Lanzamiento del 4º Informe Global de la Democracia Local y Descentralización
Read the Report:
For more info, visit: www.gold.uclg.org
Official opening ceremony
The first day began of the World Summit started with the Official Opening Ceremony, which was attended by the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, the Mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Peñalosa, the President of UCLG and Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş, and Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who introduced a speech from United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.The Mayor of Bogotá welcomed attendees as he launched a programme of learning and exchange, promising four days of "sharing experiences, learning from one another, making cities happier".
The Secretary-General of the United Nations congratulated attendees on this historic gathering in the last few days leading up to the adoption of the New Urban Agenda; Ban Ki-moon affirmed the role of local governments in the process, by stating that "the catalytic role of local governments in the gathering of all stakeholders will be key to ensuring that policies at all levels meet the requirements and needs of communities".
In his address, Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the mayors and delegates, who had come from all corners of the world. The President of Colombia, who was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, said that "the challenge posed by urban and city planning is to translate urban planning into inclusion, social investment, community and the reclaiming of public spaces".
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] Local voices in Bogotá announce a new era of strong and committed local governments
[FRENCH] Les voix locales annoncent à Bogota une nouvelle ère de gouvernements locaux forts et engagés
[SPANISH] Las voces locales en Bogotá anuncian una nueva era de gobiernos locales fuertes y comprometidos
UCLG General Assembly
The UCLG City of Bogotá Peace Prize Award Ceremony
The municipality of Kauswagan in the Philippines was awarded for this courageous leadership and the ability to connect peace building to socio-economic development! The award ceremony took place during the UCLG General Assembly on 14 October in Bogotá, in presence of Mayor of Istanbul and President of UCLG Kadir Topbaş, and was presided by Mayor Ton Rombouts of Hertogenbosch, Vice-President of the UCLG Committee on City Diplomacy and Development Cooperation. Mayor Enrique Peñalosa of Bogotá handed over the award to Mayor Rommel Arnado, who received it on behalf of Kauswagan municipality.
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] And the Winner of the UCLG-City of Bogotá Peace Prize is...
[FRENCH] Et le gagnant du Prix pour la Paix CGLU-ville de Bogota est …
[SPANISH] Y el ganador del Premio CGLU Ciudad de Bogotá por la Paz es...
Read the report:
The 2nd World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments: From Bogotá to Quito
The World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments is the successor to the World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities, held during the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul in 1996. It is through the World Assembly, facilitated by the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, that local and regional governments from across the world have made their official contributions to the Habitat III process.
The 2nd session of the World Assembly, met in the framework of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, gathered over a thousand mayors, councilors and other locally elected leaders that adopted a joint statement reacting to the New Urban Agenda and laying out the vision of the constituency for action beyond Habitat III.
Two days later, on Sunday 16 October, over 600 representatives of local and regional governments and mayors from across the world came together again for the Habitat III Conference in Quito to celebrate the adoption of the New Urban Agenda and to commit to play their part in its achievement.
Mauricio Rodas, Mayor of Quito (Ecuador) opened the event and recalled that the Assembly is the result of months of work by international networks of local and regional governments, coordinated by the Global Taskforce, a coordination a mechanism facilitated by UCLG. Mayor Rodas also emphasized the importance of linking the New Urban Agenda to the SDGs, particularly SDG11 on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements.It represents the most politically significant global gathering of locally elected leaders for the past twenty years. It was the opportunity for local and regional leaders to celebrate the inclusion of many of their key recommendations in the New Urban Agenda and recognize their partnership with multilateral organizations, Member States and, in particular, with civil society organizations. In their joint statement to Habitat III they also commited to action at local and regional levels to contribute to the achievement of the New Urban Agenda, and call for a renewed relationship between the local and regional government constituency and the UN going forward.
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] Local and regional governments need to be part of decision-making at global level: highlights of Habitat III
[FRENCH] Les gouvernements locaux et régionaux doivent participer aux décisions prises au niveau mondial : les faits marquant d’Habitat III
[SPANISH] Los gobiernos locales y regionales tienen que formar parte de la toma de decisiones a nivel global: Momentos destacados de Hábitat III
[ENGLISH] World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments to meet in Bogotá and Quito on the eve of Habitat III
[FRENCH] L’Assemblée mondiale des gouvernements locaux et régionaux se réunit à Bogotá et à Quito à la veille d’Habitat III
[SPANISH] La Asamblea Mundial de Gobiernos Locales y Regionales se reúne en Bogotá y Quito la víspera de Hábitat III
[ENGLISH] Local networks call on the UN and Member States to #Listen2Cities at Habitat III
[FRENCH] Les réseaux de gouvernements locaux invitent les États membres des Nations Unies à écouter les villes à Habitat III
[SPANISH] Las redes de gobiernos locales piden a los Estados miembros de Naciones Unidas que escuchen a las ciudades en Hábitat III
[ENGLISH] UCLG and its members at Habitat III
[FRENCH] CGLU et ses membres à HABITAT III
[SPANISH] CGLU y sus miembros en HÁBITAT III
News by Sections & Committees:
5 questions on the New Urban Agenda: Citiscope interviews CEMR secretary general
‘Local governments are innovation boosters’ explains CEMR President
Don’t miss UCLG Africa Events at Habitat III
Habitat III Special Session: Urban Land Management: Building the Foundations for the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda
The main publications you should not miss:
Relive the highlights of UCLG at the Habitat III Conference through the IISD Coverage:
See the Quito coverage 
Download the final summary
Read the Policy updates:
Local Authorities Bring Input to Habitat III Draft Outcome
Our Global Agenda: Local and Regional Governments and the New Urban Agenda
So, what’s new in the final draft New Urban Agenda?
Local Governments and Habitat III: An Essential Alliance
The New Urban Agenda and the SDGs: Synergies and Challenges Ahead
- What the Mayors said:
Parks Tau - Mayor of Johannesburgo - South Africa http://webtv.un.org/search/interview-with-parks-tau-mayor-of-johannesburgo-south-africa/5172666912001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Manuela Carmena - Mayor of Madrid - Spain http://webtv.un.org/search/entrevista-con-manuela-carmena-alcaldesa-de-madrid-espan%CC%83a/5172666905001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Kadir Topbas - Mayor of Istanbul - Turkey http://webtv.un.org/search/interview-with-kadir-topbas-mayor-of-istanbul/5172657297001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Mario Ferreiro - Mayor of Asunción - Paraguay http://webtv.un.org/search/entrevista-a-mario-ferreiro-alcalde-de-asuncio%CC%81n-paraguay/5172657304001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Iñigo de la Serna - Mayor of Santander - Spain http://webtv.un.org/search/entrevista-con-in%CC%83igo-de-la-serna-alcalde-de-santander-espan%CC%83a/5172666889001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Dina Oyun - Mayor of Kyzyl - Russia http://webtv.un.org/search/entrevista-con-dina-oyun-alcaldesa-de-kyzyl-rusia/5172629659001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Mayor of Astrakhan - Russia http://webtv.un.org/search/interview-with-mayor-of-astrakhan-russian-federation/5172621736001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
Daniel Martinez - Mayor of Montevideo - Uruguay http://webtv.un.org/search/entrevista-alcalde-de-montevideo-daniel-martinez-uruguay/5172619022001?term=habitat%20iii&languages=&sort=date
- Video sessions of the World Mayors Assembly, Habitat III:
The Network Hub within the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Bogotá became the perfect platform for the exchange of knowledge and expertise among participants and to strengthen cooperation within local and regional governments, institutions, academia and civil society.
See below some of the main moments:
UCLG and UN Habitat renew their longstanding MoU to ensure closer cooperation towards the implementation of Habitat III
During the UCLG World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders held in Bogota in October 2016, UCLG and UN Habitat renewed the long existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the role of local and regional governments in the UN agency's future programmes. This MoU aims to provide a framework of cooperation within which UN-Habitat and UCLG shall collaborate in areas of common interest, in particular local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, public space and the New Urban Agenda.
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] UCLG and UN Habitat renew their longstanding MoU to ensure closer cooperation towards the implementation of Habitat III
[FRENCH] CGLU et ONU-Habitat renouvellent leur accord de partenariat pour une coopération plus étroite dans la mise en oeuvre d'Habitat III
[SPANISH] CGLU y ONU Hábitat renuevan su Memorando de Entendimiento de larga antigüedad para asegurar una cooperación más estrecha en la aplicación de Hábitat III
Launch of the Public Space Framework by and for Local Governments
The Public Space Policy Framework by and for Local Governments was launhed at the Network Hub in the framework of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders.
During the launch, participants were reminded about the important role of local governments in relation to public space, as the well-being of all citizens, including vulnerable groups, depends on the influence of the immediate surrounding environment. Therefore, public spaces are a common good, a public asset of high value with a direct impact on the quality of life of all citizens. Building on this responsibility, urban policies should be developed at the local level to address people’s needs.
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] UCLG Public Space Policy Framework by and for Local Governments in Bogotá and Quito
[FRENCH] Le cadre politique sur les espaces publics par et pour les gouvernements locaux à Bogotá et Quito
[SPANISH] El Documento Marco de Políticas de Espacio Público de y para Gobiernos locales de CGLU en Bogotá y Quito
Read the Public Space Framework:
- Watch: Video sessions of the local leaders at the World Summit:
Third Learning Forum
The UCLG World Secretariat celebrated the 3rd Learning Forum in the framework of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders. The Summit was a unique opportunity to explore diverse learning methodologies and further develop a common understanding of the importance of learning, as well as, the 
challenges we face as a learning network and the link to decentralized cooperation. Deriving from the discussions and the collective work with members and partners, the UCLG Learning Agenda was further shaped and some main learning activities were programed to be developed during 2017.
In total six sessions comprised the 3rd Learning Forum and four different methodologies were tested: world café, temporary think-thank, gallery of good practices and peer review:
- The plenary “Learning Forum: Concepts and Trends” provided a diverse range of points of views on the importance of learning for cities, in cities, universities, enterprises and networks.
- The session on “the art of strategic facilitation” co-organized by MILE built on the key elements for learning: work with good strategies, count with quality facilitation and build partnerships.
- The session on sustainable urban transport was co-organized by Connective Cities and presented the methodology of the gallery of good practices. The objectives of the session were to learn about urban mobility, which is seen as a priority theme to deal with in the future.
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The UCLG Committee on Local Finance and Development, the Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy co-organized a peer review based on the case of the city of La Paz.
Expert participants comment on the case and shared their expertise drawn from the question stated by La Paz: Are we ready to go from strategic planning towards participatory strategic planning?
- The session on city-to-city and South-South and Triangular cooperation on decent work, co-organized by the ILO presented experiences on decent work and cooperation based non the temporary think-tank methodology. The objective of the session was to open a fruitful discussion and bring to light several criteria for a meaningful city-to-city cooperation on decent work.
- The session on public space was coordinated by the UCLG Committee on Urban Strategic Planning. The main objective of the session was to discuss with different actors tangible ways to implement the public space policies, presented in the UCLG Public Space Policy Framework.
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] Local governments can help to achieve the SDGs by learning from one another
[FRENCH] Les gouvernements locaux peuvent aider à atteindre les ODD en apprenant les uns des autres
[SPANISH] Los gobiernos locales pueden ayudar a lograr los ODS aprendiendo los unos de los otros
Main documents:
- Watch: Video of the Third UCLG Learning Forum:
Permanent Working Platforms: Co-creating the City
The Right to the City and the Future of Cities
At the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders two Permanent Working Platforms using the concept of "co-creating the city" were launched. This initiative aimed to explore new ways of debating and communicating with civil society and experts in futurology.
The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders included two sessions using this methodology, one on the right to the city, and the other on the future of cities.
The platform on the "Right to the City" brought together participants from civil society with the aim of co-creating a guide to practical strategies for the implementation of the Right to the City. This guide consisted of a series of concrete, pragmatic public policy tips, with practical examples.3. 'The Right to the City of Learning'
4.'The Right to the Democratic City'
The platform on the "Future of Cities" saw futurologists explaining the major patterns of change in cities. Local governments from around the world shared their experiences of City Labs. The result of this platform was a collection of key concepts that local and regional governments should take into account, despite their absence from the debates at Habitat III.
Relive the hangouts
Right to the Fair City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0JiAlgNDSI
Right to the Sustainable City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhlHD4QzihY
Right to the Learning City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO39s8_tpu4
Right to the Democratic City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kgd3wZiiUw
Right to the Diverse City: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgkPvvdSXns
Read the news:
[ENGLISH]The only sustainable city is one co-created by all of us
[ENGLISH] New forms of collaborative work to co-create the city at the UCLG World Congress
[FRENCH] De nouvelles méthodes de travail collaboratif pour co-créer la ville seront présentées lors du sommet mondial de CGLU
[SPANISH] La cumbre mundial de CGLU contará con nuevos formatos de trabajo colaborativos para co-crear la ciudad
[ENGLISH] The right to the city as a civic practice
The Right to the City at the heart of the New Urban Agenda
Local and regional governments, representatives of civil society, the academic world and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights met at the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Bogotá to debate how to ensure that the Right to the City is guaranteed. 
The Right to the City is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities for social justice and sustainability in the 21st Century. Having emerged from people's ability to learn of, tackle and jointly resolve territorial problems and from the human aspiration for justice in urban settlements, it is developed through local government regulations and public policies.
The session explored the policy implications of the Right to the City in terms of access to public goods, the co-creation of the city, and the recognition and promotion of diversity. Speakers shared ideas on how local and regional governments can integrate the Right to the City into their daily work.
Read the Global Charter Agenda for Human Rights in the City:
See the Right to the City in press:
After Habitat III: a stronger urban future must be based on the right to the city
The “Right to the City” and the New Urban Agenda
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] The Right to the City will be a central theme of the UCLG world congress in Bogota
[FRENCH] El Derecho a la ciudad ocupará un lugar central en el congreso mundial de CGLU en Bogotá
[SPANISH] Le Droit à la ville sera au cœur du congrès mondial de CGLU à Bogota
Financing the New Urban Agenda
The Global Observatory on Local Finance
The UCLG World Congress in Bogotá saw the launch of the first edition of this Global Observatory, an essential tool for the follow-up of local government financial capacities to implement the SDGs.
What are the real capacities of local governments to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The Global Observatory on Local Finances is an essential tool to raise awareness and strengthen the dialogue among the international community and central and local governments, in order to improve fiscal decentralization worldwide.
The UCLG World Congress in Bogotá unveiled the first edition of a study on the state of local finances in 100 countries around the world realized jointly with UCLG and OECD, with financial support from AFD. This study is a first step towards the Global Observatory on Local Finances which will be will be an essential tool for the follow-up of local government.
The Global Observatory in press:
Barcelona, Madrid y París exigen a los Estados más influencia y financiación para las ciudades
The New Urban Agenda: Opportunities and Challenges for Financing Sustainable Cities
Two efforts to improve data on city finances
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] The Global Observatory on Local Finances will be launched at UCLG World Congress in Bogotá
[FRENCH] L'Observatoire mondial des finances locales sera lancé lors du Congrès mondial de CGLU à Bogota
Take a look at the Global Observatory on Local Finance:
The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders saw the celebration of the Third Learnig Forum. Six sessions in total comprised the Learning forum in which one of these was focused on public space. 
After years of being undervalued, 2015 saw unprecedented international recognition of the role of public spaces in sustainable development in the 2030 Agenda, thanks, in part, to the advocacy of local government networks. Target 7 of SDG 11 on sustainable cities and human settlements is to “provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.” Public space is also a key component to achieving SDGs 3, 5, 6 and 13.
Public space is a powerful tool to drive local economies, promote cultural expression, empower women and tackle social segregation. The session on public space was coordinated by the UCLG Committee on Urban Strategic Planning. The main objective of the session was to discuss with different actors tangible ways to implement the public space policies, presented in the UCLG Public Space Policy Framework.
Read the Public Space Policy Framework:
Public Space in press:
El derecho a la ciudad contra el espacio urbano como mercancía
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] Local governments believe in the power of public space
[ENGLISH] UCLG Public Space Policy Framework by and for Local Governments in Bogotá and Quito
[FRENCH] Le cadre politique sur les espaces publics par et pour les gouvernements locaux à Bogotá et Quito
[SPANISH] El Documento Marco de Políticas de Espacio Público de y para Gobiernos locales de CGLU en Bogotá y Quito
[ENGLISH] Learning is instrumental to shape the future we want!
[FRENCH] L’apprentissage est essentiel pour façonner le futur que nous souhaitons !
[SPANISH] ¡El aprendizaje es fundamental para dar forma al futuro que queremos!
Culture as a dimension of urban transformation
The function of culture as a dimension of sustainable development is increasingly worldwide recognized. Truly "sustainable cities" will not happen unless heritage, creativity, diversity, knowledge and participation become "operational" in urban policies.
Culture as a dimension in urban transformation is essential to building people-centred societies. Sustainable cities should be based in the right to the city and guarantee that cultural rights are at the centre of the construction of citizenship and peace in our societies.
The Wolrd summit of Local and Regional Leaders explored the key role played by cities and local governments in shaping the future of people and living urban spaces. In Bogota, the Policy Dialogue on "Culture as a dimension in urban transformation" provided key examples and tools on how to make culture a priority in the sustainable development of cities.
UCLG Congress also analysed the need for cities to be acknowledged in, and empowered by, the New Urban Agenda of Habitat III.
Read the Agenda 21 for Culture:
Read the news:
Community forum of locally elected women
Women still make up fewer than 20% of councillors and just 5% of mayors worldwide, but the signs are that a new generation of women leaders is emerging at local level, just as the global urban population is set to explode
"We can't exclude half of humanity from political decision-making." Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris 
There has never been a more exciting time in terms of women's leadership at local level across the world. In Europe, cities such as Paris, Rome, Barcelona and Bucharest now have women mayors in office for the first time. In Africa, the network of elected local women, REFELA, is celebrating its fifth anniversary and going from strength to strength. In India, women have taken the helm in the state governments of Jharkhand, Goa and Puducherry. In Japan, Tokyo has recently elected its first woman governor, Yuriko Koike. In the USA, its capital city, Washington D.C., is currently led by its second African American woman mayor, Muriel Bowser, and in Latin America, women mayors are consolidating their leadership and implementing agendas to transform the lives of their citizens.
On 14 October 2016, some of the world's foremost locally elected women leaders gathered at the UCLG World Congress in Bogota to share the unique challenges and experiencies of female leadership in our cities. At the session, organized by the UCLG Standing Committee for Gender Equality, the mayors discussed their policy priorities for the coming 3 years and the partnerships necessary to implement the New Urban Agenda with a strong gender perspective.
Panelists taking part in the session included Mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena, Mayor of Bangangté and President of REFELA Celestine Ketcha Courtès, Mayor of Tevragh Zeina, Fatimetou Abdel Malick, and Raisa Banfield, Deputy Mayor of Panamá.
Must read documents:
Read the news:
[ENGLISH] Locally elected women gather for unique forum on gender equality at the UCLG Congress in Bogotá
[ENGLISH] 2016: a tipping point for women mayors and gender equality in cities
[FRENCH] 2016: un moment clé pour les femmes en milieu urbain