On 23–24 September, Stockholm hosted the international conference “Reshaping Power for Equality: Women’s Political Participation and the Future of Democracy.” The event was organised by SALAR International together with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). It brought together around 100 leaders, policymakers, and experts from 48 countries to discuss how to strengthen feminist leadership and advance democracy in today’s world.
From Ukraine, with the support of the Swedish–Ukrainian Polaris Programme "Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine", the conference was attended by Natalia Petrenko, representative of the Women in Governance network, Head of the Military Administration of Shulhynska hromada (Luhansk Oblast), and Yuliia Savelieva, gender expert of Polaris.
Over two days, the programme featured panel discussions and dialogues on women’s political participation and the role of local governments in building more inclusive societies. Speakers from Africa, Europe, Latin America, and other regions shared experiences and practices that help make governance more responsive to the needs of women.
Key highlights of the event:
– Strengthening alliances, networks, experience sharing, and mentorship as vital tools for collective action and advancing gender equality – fostering mutual support and shared 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-responsive governance.
– Using Swedish local-level experience and concrete achievements as a reference point for gender equality and democratic renewal, showcasing practical examples that inspire broader change.
– Promoting gender-disaggregated data as a foundation for evidence-based local planning and gender equality actions.
– Engaging men as active partners in advancing gender equality and inclusive transformation.
The Ukrainian context was particularly significant – Russia’s full-scale war has created new challenges both for women in politics and for democracy as a whole. The delegation presented the recently established Women in Governance network, a joint initiative of three national associations of local self-government bodies – All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, and Association of District and Region Councils – and, together with international participants, contributed to shaping a vision for its further development.
“The Women in Governance network is about mutual support and peer-to-peer exchange among women politicians, about safety and confidence, and about addressing the challenges faced by women in politics. In addition, my mission as a politician is to remind the world of the threat faced by democratic Ukraine – an assault on the principles of freedom, diversity, equality, and human dignity. The masculine, militarised worldview pursued by Russia’s dictatorship allows privileges only for the strong and the armed. This is not only a threat to women, but to civilisation as a whole," said Natalia Petrenko, Deputy Head of AAATC, Head of its Luhansk regional office, and Head of Shulhynska hromada, Luhansk Oblast.
“Laws that effectively protect against discrimination and violence in all spheres of life, including politics, fostering the value of equality, and countering impunity for rights violations at all levels are the foundation for expanding women’s political participation. This is precisely why Ukrainian associations of local self-government have joined forces, why the Polaris Programme is operating, and why the decentralisation reform is being implemented. Women’s participation and influence in these processes are not just important – they are absolutely essential,” stressed Yuliia Savelieva.
