The SCC participated today in the “Alliance of Women Councillors” Workshop, organized by Helvetas with the support of the Swiss Embassy within the framework of the Strong Municipalities (BtF) project and with the participation of women representatives selected at the national level to talk about the priorities of the Alliance, the national and local perspective and to define the work plan for the period 2024-2027.

Ms. Sabine Piccard, representative of SADC in her welcoming speech emphasized the importance of the support provided by the Swiss Embassy in the creation of the Alliance as an impetus to strengthen the voice of women in all directions in order to achieve sustainable development objectives.

The Mayor of Durrës, Ms. Emiriana Sako and the Mayor of Lushnje, Ms. Eriselda Sefa, invited to this event, spoke about their experience in their respective municipalities.

Ms. Sako highlighted the need for coordination of women councilors with mayors regarding the gender element to advance the gender equality agenda with the aim of motivating women to become part of policymaking, while Ms. Sefa said that municipalities now have a budget dedicated to training staff regarding gender-related issues with the aim of providing the highest quality service to the community.

Among other things, Ms. Adelina Farrici, Executive Director of the ICS added that representation at the municipal council level has achieved gender equality and also today we have eight women mayors representing local government, showing that women are succeeding by competing equally with men and thus enabling the creation of an environment to develop women’s ambitions in terms of inclusion in policymaking.

Ms. Farrici also launched the creation of the Alliance of Women Councillors, emphasizing that joining forces of the three alliances would lead to radical changes in the direction of gender equality.

This workshop had a special importance as the elections of the Presidency of the Alliance of Women Councillors were also held, which will lobby and advocate on behalf of all women at the national level, transforming their voice into an echo as one of the main pillars of society and education of the future.