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As the twelfth edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) continued in Cairo, speakers at a Women’s Roundtable explored key issues impacting women at the local level. Topics such as housing, finance, and partnerships for empowering women took center stage. These discussions were framed by the Beijing Platform for Action, a global agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment adopted by the United Nations in 1995.
‘It All Starts at Home’
One of the key speakers, Dr. Maimuna Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia’s Special Envoy for Sustainable Urbanization, shared her thoughts on women’s role in decision-making. While women make up half of the world’s population, Dr. Sharif emphasized they are often excluded from crucial decision-making processes, even on issues like climate change, which disproportionately affect them.
“Women are not at the table when decisions are made, even on issues that hit us the hardest,” Dr. Sharif said in an interview with UN News. “The role of women is vital. It starts at home, and we need to focus on localization to address their needs. Leaders at all levels should genuinely involve women in decision-making.”
Dr. Sharif, also a former head of UN-Habitat, the agency that organizes the biennial Forum, stressed the need for holistic approaches that combine both “software” and “hardware.” The “software” refers to moral support, including access to education, public services, employment, and housing. The “hardware” involves governance structures that ensure women’s involvement not just in strategy but also in policymaking.
The Importance of Education and Leadership
Sarah Syed, a 20-year-old climate justice activist from Toronto and a member of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board, shared her views on youth engagement at WUF12. “We need to keep up the momentum and ensure that by the end of this Forum, we have a clear plan to engage young people,” she said.
Syed highlighted the importance of investing in young girls’ education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She also called for greater funding and resources for women’s startups and entrepreneurship.
“Women have the ability to lead,” Syed asserted. “We must support women in indigenous communities, local governments, and urban planning councils to take leadership roles.”
Creating Safe Spaces for Women in Afghanistan
Wednesday’s roundtable focused on the challenges women face in cities and towns, particularly at the local level. Stephanie Loose, Country Program Manager for the UN-Habitat Afghanistan Country Office, shared insights on the agency’s work in Afghanistan. She emphasized the need to ensure women have access to safe public spaces and adequate housing.
“It’s crucial that women have safe public spaces and access to secure housing,” said Loose. “Home is where they need to feel safe, especially in areas where laws have excluded women from public life.”
Loose described how UN-Habitat has worked with local communities in Afghanistan to create gender-sensitive spaces, even in informal settlements like those in Kabul. Through consultations with both men and women, community leaders identified ways to make these spaces culturally accepted while ensuring women could still use them safely.
Empowering Women Through Sustainable Projects
Another key speaker, Betty Osei Bonsu, Country Manager of Green Africa Youth Organization in Uganda, discussed the organization’s work in empowering women and girls through sustainable initiatives.
“Our Zero Waste Cities project aims to address climate change, disaster risk reduction, and the circular economy,” Ms. Bonsu explained. “One example is our work with women and girls in mining areas, where we help them grow mushrooms and produce soap from cocoa husks. We also support beehive farming and green manufacturing.”
The organization has empowered over 120 women and young people, helping them turn waste into resources and generate income. “Resilience is female,” said Ms. Bonsu. “Women are at the forefront of addressing these issues.”
Moving Forward: A Global Call for Women’s Empowerment
The discussions at WUF12 serve as a reminder that empowering women at the local level is essential for achieving broader goals of sustainability and equality. Whether through leadership opportunities, access to education, or secure housing, women must be at the table in decision-making processes. As the forum continues, the call for stronger partnerships and greater inclusion of women in urban planning remains a central theme.
