A report published this week by the Office of the Israel State Comptroller includes an important chapter on the issue of gender equality in local authorities.
Adva Center has been a pioneer on behalf of gender equality in Israeli localities since 2009, in close cooperation with local officials: advisors on the status of women as well as other relevant functionaries. Among Adva initiatives: encouraging the design of strategic programs aimed at the bolstering of gender equality on the local level, and accompanying their implementation, including the integration of increased gender equality into local policy making and the training of local officials as well as interested local residents vis-a-vis gender equality issues, among them how to analyze local budgets from the point of view of gender equality.
We at Adva Center celebrate the publication of this official report that focuses on enhancing gender equality in local authorities; it constitutes no less than recognition of the importance of the issue for social resilience and democracy in Israel. It is no secret that the local authority is a central arena of decision-making: Local policies, priorities and resource allocation have a direct influence on the lives of residents. For this reason, implementation of the principle of gender equality into local governance is of decisive importance, as local governments are employers whose behavior affects local employees as well as being entities whose decisions and resource allocations have a direct impact on persons residing in the locality.
The findings of the report, based on an extensive, in-depth analysis, point to, among others, the need for local governments to create strategic plans to increase gender equality as well as annual and long-term work plans that include measurable outcomes, including the reduction of gender gaps in the appointment of senior officials and the determination of salaries, the strengthening of the position of gender equality advisor, among others by providing her with greater support and increased resources for her crucial work. Other elements of the recommended plans: improving data gathering processes in localities and promoting gender analysis of local budgets.
