Welcome to The Gender Diplomat!

🌎 Continuing with the focus on the European elections, here's a topic that isn't necessarily on everyone's mind: what is the role of local and regional authorities in navigating policies and debates on integration and equality in Europe, and why is this important? So this week, the spotlight is on…

🇪🇺 The role of local authorities in integration and equality policy with Annelies Coessens *

* Annelies is the Gender & Diversity Officer at CEMR

📚 Background: Europe's rich history of migration has created a culturally diverse tapestry within our societies. Local and regional authorities are often the first responders and spearhead integration efforts, including measures to promote social inclusion and facilitating access to housing, employment, and healthcare services. This also implies that initiatives by associations like the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) are essential in amplifying local voices and ensuring inclusive policies.

💭 Problems: Migration and gender equality are increasingly contentious issues, especially amidst the rise of populist and far-right movements, and with political discussions taking a negative turn. Over the past decade, discussions on gender equality have evolved significantly while there is growing recognition of persistent disparities. Monitoring equality issues, and how these intersect with migration, is crucial to applying an intersectional perspective and to address the complexities and combined effects of social issues.

Simultaneously, migration remains a highly contentious topic. While some advocate for stricter immigration policies and border controls, others emphasise the humanitarian imperative and the socioeconomic benefits of inclusive migration policies. As discussions surrounding these issues intensify in the lead-up to the elections, the EU must amplify its efforts to ensure that the voices of marginalised groups are heard, and their rights protected through local authorities.

🔄 Implications: In this context, the importance of lobbying and advocacy work in general cannot be underestimated. These serve as vital mechanisms to amplify marginalised voices, challenge misconceptions and push for meaningful policy changes towards a more inclusive and equal society. Indeed, a bottom-up approach is imperative for people-centred policies: local authorities, as the first actors, need support to ensure that their voices are heard at both national and European level. This also requires greater grassroots commitment, political coherence and efforts to bridge ideological divides.

 🧠 Reflections: With the European elections just around the corner, local authorities must advocate and collaborate with policymakers, stakeholders and civil society reps to shape the discourse and influence political decisions, ensuring voices are heard at all levels. Here are some take-home ideas: How can we ensure that intersectionality remains central to debates on migration and equality in policymaking? How can we empower local authorities to navigate fickle political tides and advocate for inclusive policies?

⚡ Growing in and out of your 9 to 5

JOBS

• Policy advisor @ European Digital Rights.

• Traineeships @ European Economic and Social Committee.

• Policy coordinator @ European Partnership for Democracy.

• Communications manager @ Migration Policy Group.

• PR intern german-speaking @ EP Greens/EFA Group.

• Researcher on Debt Relief and Conflict Resolution @ EIP.

• Administrative Assistant to the EUSR for Human Rights @ EEAS.

• Account manager @ GIRL MOVE Academy.

• Engagement officer @ UNICEF Guiné Bissau.

GROWTH

• How to be a ‘supercommunicator’ (NPR).

• The best career path isn’t always a straight line (TED Talk).

• Time to stop referring to the “developing world” (World Bank).

• Productivity and multitasking (Forbes).

EVENTS

• Working at UNFPA (Portuguese MFA).

• Solving tech's gender diversity crisis (Bright Network).

• Diversity on boards - 10 practices to drive change (Women on Boards).

• Political reintegration of women ex-combatants (Berghof Foundation).

• The New Pact on Migration and Asylum (European Policy Centre).

• The story of an elected woman (CEMR).

See you next week!👩🏻‍💻